Tuner blew my motor. Legal help! - Page 4 - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

venom2034 · 06-02-2014, 06:32 PM

You automatically assume the risks of a tune the second you pass the keys over to the shop. Nothing is guaranteed once you tamper out of the oem specs. There is just too many variables to point fingers at who did what. Sucks you had to take a loss but all we can say is welcome to the game.

racepar1 · 06-02-2014, 06:51 PM

A bad tune is not going to spin a rod bearing, that's an oiling issue. A bad tune could burn a hole in the piston and maybe melt the turbo seals if it's WAY too lean. While I DO agree that he should have done a better job of listening to what the customer wants, I am skeptical that he blew your engine. It sounds like your oil pump took a dump, which is a very common SR issue and not the "tuner's" fault. If it lost oil pressure it could easily spin a bearing and blow the turbo. A bad tune wouldn't necessarily cause either of those issues. Without paperwork you're fucked no matter what though. The bottom line is that modifying a car is a risk that you MUST be willing to take responsibility for. Most shops would have you sign a liability waiver to that extent, and then you'd still be fucked even with the paperwork.

Spring Break '92 · 06-02-2014, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unometeeter

Turbos just don't go, i don't care what the age, it's the conditions that they are maintained and used that determines there durability.

Bullshit. They have bearings. Bearings are wear parts. I know someone who had a ball bearing Garrett turbo go out. More importantly, how do YOU know how your turbo was maintained and used back in the 90's when your turbo and SR motor were running around in Japan doing god only knows what?

Whitesil80315 · 06-02-2014, 07:54 PM

Not to sound like a dick and Im sorry for your situation but....why waste the money on tuning for a stock sr thats already been reliable for you for a whole 2 years already?

Back on topic, Unless you rebuilt the engine yourself you have no real idea how much abuse that engine has taken while it was in japan. If its a redtop hell it could have close to 90k on the engine and just because someone power washed it you would have no idea. Once you start getting a car on the dyno and doing hard pulls and multiple heat cycles it will start taking toll on engine parts.

I don't imagin the tune was the cause of a rod bearing unless he was deaf cause it would take some serious knock/detonation to kill bearings.

OutlawLui · 06-02-2014, 07:57 PM

just save up for that long block ..

ixfxi · 06-02-2014, 11:19 PM

at this point

i dont see what the problem is.

pull motor. disassemble block. overhaul w/ new bearings

quit being a pussy

Rusker · 06-03-2014, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project_PhiL

Easier said than done. May seem weird to you but we don't all have a couple grand laying around. I hope this isn't his DD. DD racekars aren't cheap lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'd suggest finding a new hobby. Honestly...

Rusker · 06-03-2014, 11:48 PM

OP it sounds like you fucked up. Now the real question is what are you going to do about fixing it?

spools420a · 06-04-2014, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nujabe

Well.. I had a few bad runs with tuning. First I had these guys make me a s13sr to s14 harness and tune my car in a week.. Well they fucked the harness up and melted my split fire coil packs on the dyno. as much as I wanted them all dead I knew couldn't get any thing out of them and it would have been a waste.. Even though they made the harness that ruined my new 500 dollar coil packs.. I love how all these tuners hide behind legaltys.. But like every one said this is the game you play. I hope you take the dude for every thing he's got.

people like you is why theres no good tuner shops,you try to "take them for everything they got" as soon as theres a mechanical problem thats has nothing to do with the tune..grow up.

Croustibat · 06-04-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project_PhiL

Easier said than done. May seem weird to you but we don't all have a couple grand laying around. I hope this isn't his DD. DD racekars aren't cheap lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I wonder what happens in the mind of people that want to run in an old sports car with a modified turbo engine without a couple grand laying around for repair and maintenance.

Seriously guys, that is the price of modified cars. If you can't afford that, don't try to run one or be prepared to sell it for cheap when (not if) it breaks.

No money for rainy days ? No race car, no modified car, no fast cars. Get a cheap reliable daily. When you get money, buy that much wanted car.

Project_PhiL · 06-04-2014, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Croustibat

I wonder what happens in the mind of people that want to run in an old sports car with a modified turbo engine without a couple grand laying around for repair and maintenance.

Seriously guys, that is the price of modified cars. If you can't afford that, don't try to run one or be prepared to sell it for cheap when (not if) it breaks.

No money for rainy days ? No race car, no modified car, no fast cars. Get a cheap reliable daily. When you get money, buy that much wanted car.

That's why my rb isn't my daily!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Flyin_bryan · 06-04-2014, 09:27 AM

Ok guy's put all the blame aside and let's say he did win the battle against the shop, guess what, look at the fine print at the bottom of the judgement it says. ( IT IS UP TO THE PLAINTIFF TO RETRIEVE THE SUM OF THE JUDGEMENT) which means even if he did win its up to him to collect from the shop not the courts, Which is a whole other mess of courts paperwork and shit!. I agree with the majority here that, t
he shops have no recourse for their actions, it sucks but that's the way it is.

Kingtal0n · 06-04-2014, 09:39 AM

I think the lesson here is to learn to do everything yourself, and learn to blame yourself for everything.

Nikzilla · 06-04-2014, 09:42 AM

What King said ^^

If you learn to do everything yourself, you avoid the fallout drama of fuckups.

When I take something to a machine shop to get welded, I get angry if it's off by even 1 mm, but if I do it myself I have noone but myself to blame. I can do it better next time.

ziptie · 06-05-2014, 04:22 AM

I had a similar situation. Spent thousands building a motor only for the tuner to advance the timing too much without realizing. Melted a piston after an hour of driving.

I took it to another tuner who looked at it and wrote up a report based on the tuning maps on the ecu and the damage. The report advised the engine issue was a direct result of the previous tune. I went back to the original tuner (before pursuing any sort of legal help) and he ended up paying for it to be rebuilt... which took a year. If it was a stock motor i might not have bothered with the hassle of it all trying to recoup my losses. But it was several thousand dollar engine rendered worthless in an hour because of his incompetence.

I should finally be picking up my car tomorrow. I feel your pain and wish you all the best.

simmode1 · 06-05-2014, 07:12 AM

^^^ Not the same situation. At all.

JBB · 06-05-2014, 07:34 AM

^^ Agreed. Also, you are letting the same shop that messed up your engine the first time rebuild it? That sounds like a great idea

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziptie

I had a similar situation. Spent thousands building a motor only for the tuner to advance the timing too much without realizing. Melted a piston after an hour of driving.

I took it to another tuner who looked at it and wrote up a report based on the tuning maps on the ecu and the damage. The report advised the engine issue was a direct result of the previous tune. I went back to the original tuner (before pursuing any sort of legal help) and he ended up paying for it to be rebuilt... which took a year. If it was a stock motor i might not have bothered with the hassle of it all trying to recoup my losses. But it was several thousand dollar engine rendered worthless in an hour because of his incompetence.

I should finally be picking up my car tomorrow. I feel your pain and wish you all the best.

AFSil80 · 06-05-2014, 08:23 AM

Interesting how the OP said the tuner was avoiding him...and then the tuner comes on here and tells his side of the story (which clears everything up) and now the OP hasn't responded.

Hmmmm...

wolfpack · 06-05-2014, 08:44 AM

I was thinking the same thing...

simmode1 · 06-05-2014, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFSil80

Interesting how the OP said the tuner was avoiding him...and then the tuner comes on here and tells his side of the story (which clears everything up) and now the OP hasn't responded.

Hmmmm...

Ahhh... The old rep system would be so handy right about now.

redline racer510 · 06-05-2014, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmode1

ahhh... The old rep system would be so handy right about now.

agree^^^^^^^

Agent S14 · 06-05-2014, 10:05 AM

op is an idiot thread

Grocery Cart · 06-05-2014, 10:06 AM

I know I'm going against my own comment.. But why is this still close to the top on new posts every time I log on!
Tuner ended this, OP hasn't replied. Are we waiting for retaliation or are we just letting it drag on?

*fliprayzin240sx* · 06-05-2014, 12:36 PM

^^^I think we're all just in for LuLz...

simmode1 · 06-05-2014, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grocery Cart

Tuner ended this, OP hasn't replied. Are we waiting for retaliation or are we just letting it drag on?

Unfortunately, my firewalls at work prevent me from posting the gif of MJ eating popcorn. But you guys get the message.

Grocery Cart · 06-05-2014, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simmode1

Unfortunately, my firewalls at work prevent me from posting the gif of MJ eating popcorn. But you guys get the message.

I gotchu.

redss · 06-05-2014, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WRX_Fan_0717

No buddy I NEVER even told you your motor was blown. I said the 20 year old unknown mileage turbo went out on me. You could move the coldside 5mm or more by hand. It's impossible to hear anything over a slapping turbo.
I said replace the turbo with a junker and keep cost down to possibly dig into your oiling problem. Period end of story. Never said the motor was nuked.

I just found out 2 days ago or so that motor did spin a bearing. I have been working nonstop getting customer cars out including today. I don't get days or time off man I don't have the luxuries of constantly calling you. It wasn't a tune matter anyway.

They just found out the motor nuked a bearing after the turbo was purchased and shipped then installed. Like maybe day before yesterday? I have been working non stop and haven't even looked at the car since I decided the turbo was done and pulled it apart for free and checked it for you.

I had 9-10 cars the last couple of days and working on 25 plus days without a day off. Believe me I was getting around to calling you. Bryan called you from the shop two days ago or so? Last we talked was right after your turbo went. 2 weeks prior. There was no inclination the motor was faulty at that time. I just expressed concerns over the oil pressure situation. Also, he (Bryan) would be more of the guy to let you know the motor was dead. You're now mixing up two different scenarios that were weeks apart. I'm the tuner I'm not a mechanic. I tune. Going online and defaming me YOU BETTER BELIEVE I will drop everything to put my rebuttal. You're negligence is now affecting my hard earned credibility that puts food on my table.
It's you're own doing own up to it and don't go online to figure out a way for me to pay for it. I'm not sure if you just don't understand the situation or you truly in some messed up way believe I'm actually somehow responsible.

It's pretty simple man. You oil starved your turbo which causes heat, that nuked the turbo. I had no inclination to believe it was a bearing I raised the fact of if the turbo went from starvation I was worried about the internals. At the time the a turbo seems to die from age after talking to you about my worries.

Also it isn't hard to piece together if your oil pressure as low enough to cook a turbo it would not be a stretch to cook a bearing from starvation. It's common sense man.
I can also tell you without a doubt in my mind that bearing was damaged on the drive out as well as the turbo. You are right a blown turbo won't cause a spun bearing with the minimal amount I drove the car. The ROOT OF THE BLOWN TURBO would which is low oil pressure. Also you lied again you bought that FPR only be used the Nismo one you bought was faulty. We didn't make you buy anything. You wanted too. Also you told us you just bought the car, but now you have this extensive history with it? Lol

I will no longer entertain this thread. You may pickup you car Monday or you will be charge storage fees daily.
I would not suggest walking into my office.

I'm sorry if I'm coming off as a prick, but this is behind ridiculous. And defamation is illegal. I'd chose your words wisely. Because your lack of common mechanical knowledge let's attack the tuner and his reputation? I guess that's just today's society.

You are nice guy. If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't have been so nice.

simmode1 · 06-05-2014, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grocery Cart

I gotchu.

winter · 06-05-2014, 07:51 PM

And people wonder why my motor is not "ready" , because I replaced everything on it before trying to tune it only for it to possibly detonate...it's depressing to see people instantly point fingers and blame. Do it right the first time, or not at all.

06-02-2014, 07:57 PM	#95
OutlawLui Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Anaheim CA Age: 35 Posts: 1,491 Trader Rating: (19) Feedback Score: 19 reviews	just save up for that long block .. __________________ .

06-03-2014, 11:48 PM	#98
Rusker Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington Posts: 351 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	OP it sounds like you fucked up. Now the real question is what are you going to do about fixing it? __________________ 1990 S13/SR20

06-04-2014, 09:39 AM	#103
Kingtal0n Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Florida Age: 38 Posts: 4,649 Trader Rating: (17) Feedback Score: 17 reviews	I think the lesson here is to learn to do everything yourself, and learn to blame yourself for everything. __________________ 5.3/4l80e/turbo 240sx playthrough: https://tinyurl.com/turbo240

06-05-2014, 07:12 AM	#106
simmode1 Post Whore! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Addison, TX Posts: 5,526 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^^^ Not the same situation. At all. __________________ "Simplicity is the key to brilliance." - Bruce Lee

06-05-2014, 08:23 AM	#108
AFSil80 Zilvia Addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Savannah, GA Age: 36 Posts: 776 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	Interesting how the OP said the tuner was avoiding him...and then the tuner comes on here and tells his side of the story (which clears everything up) and now the OP hasn't responded. Hmmmm... __________________ - Peter --66 LeMans--89 240SX--14 Juke RS--

06-02-2014, 06:32 PM	#91
venom2034 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: flushing, Ny Age: 30 Posts: 453 Trader Rating: (10) Feedback Score: 10 reviews	You automatically assume the risks of a tune the second you pass the keys over to the shop. Nothing is guaranteed once you tamper out of the oem specs. There is just too many variables to point fingers at who did what. Sucks you had to take a loss but all we can say is welcome to the game.

06-02-2014, 06:51 PM	#92
racepar1 Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Age: 38 Posts: 9,006 Trader Rating: (106) Rides Gallery: racepar1 Feedback Score: 106 reviews	A bad tune is not going to spin a rod bearing, that's an oiling issue. A bad tune could burn a hole in the piston and maybe melt the turbo seals if it's WAY too lean. While I DO agree that he should have done a better job of listening to what the customer wants, I am skeptical that he blew your engine. It sounds like your oil pump took a dump, which is a very common SR issue and not the "tuner's" fault. If it lost oil pressure it could easily spin a bearing and blow the turbo. A bad tune wouldn't necessarily cause either of those issues. Without paperwork you're fucked no matter what though. The bottom line is that modifying a car is a risk that you MUST be willing to take responsibility for. Most shops would have you sign a liability waiver to that extent, and then you'd still be fucked even with the paperwork.

06-02-2014, 07:54 PM	#94
Whitesil80315 Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Agawam MA Age: 40 Posts: 462 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Not to sound like a dick and Im sorry for your situation but....why waste the money on tuning for a stock sr thats already been reliable for you for a whole 2 years already? Back on topic, Unless you rebuilt the engine yourself you have no real idea how much abuse that engine has taken while it was in japan. If its a redtop hell it could have close to 90k on the engine and just because someone power washed it you would have no idea. Once you start getting a car on the dyno and doing hard pulls and multiple heat cycles it will start taking toll on engine parts. I don't imagin the tune was the cause of a rod bearing unless he was deaf cause it would take some serious knock/detonation to kill bearings.

06-02-2014, 11:19 PM	#96
ixfxi Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bangin on my chest Account: BANNED #fucksupreme Age: 79 Posts: 5,923 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	at this point i dont see what the problem is. pull motor. disassemble block. overhaul w/ new bearings quit being a pussy

06-04-2014, 09:27 AM	#102
Flyin_bryan Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: oklahoma Age: 55 Posts: 38 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Ok guy's put all the blame aside and let's say he did win the battle against the shop, guess what, look at the fine print at the bottom of the judgement it says. ( IT IS UP TO THE PLAINTIFF TO RETRIEVE THE SUM OF THE JUDGEMENT) which means even if he did win its up to him to collect from the shop not the courts, Which is a whole other mess of courts paperwork and shit!. I agree with the majority here that, t he shops have no recourse for their actions, it sucks but that's the way it is.

06-04-2014, 09:42 AM	#104
Nikzilla Zilvia Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Los Angeles Age: 26 Posts: 291 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	What King said ^^ If you learn to do everything yourself, you avoid the fallout drama of fuckups. When I take something to a machine shop to get welded, I get angry if it's off by even 1 mm, but if I do it myself I have noone but myself to blame. I can do it better next time.

06-05-2014, 04:22 AM	#105
ziptie Leaky Injector Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 30 Posts: 116 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	I had a similar situation. Spent thousands building a motor only for the tuner to advance the timing too much without realizing. Melted a piston after an hour of driving. I took it to another tuner who looked at it and wrote up a report based on the tuning maps on the ecu and the damage. The report advised the engine issue was a direct result of the previous tune. I went back to the original tuner (before pursuing any sort of legal help) and he ended up paying for it to be rebuilt... which took a year. If it was a stock motor i might not have bothered with the hassle of it all trying to recoup my losses. But it was several thousand dollar engine rendered worthless in an hour because of his incompetence. I should finally be picking up my car tomorrow. I feel your pain and wish you all the best.

06-05-2014, 08:44 AM	#109
wolfpack Zilvia Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: The Shop Posts: 247 Trader Rating: (6) Feedback Score: 6 reviews	I was thinking the same thing... __________________

06-05-2014, 10:05 AM	#112
Agent S14 Zilvia Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston Age: 34 Posts: 296 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	op is an idiot thread

06-05-2014, 10:06 AM	#113
Grocery Cart Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 582 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	I know I'm going against my own comment.. But why is this still close to the top on new posts every time I log on! Tuner ended this, OP hasn't replied. Are we waiting for retaliation or are we just letting it drag on?

06-05-2014, 12:36 PM	#114
fliprayzin240sx Man w/ CTSV & a Car Seat Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 17,998 Trader Rating: (19) Rides Gallery: fliprayzin240sx Feedback Score: 19 reviews	^^^I think we're all just in for LuLz... __________________ If you think Zilvia has too many assholes... CLICK HERE!!!

06-05-2014, 07:51 PM	#119
winter Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Age: 35 Posts: 310 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	And people wonder why my motor is not "ready" , because I replaced everything on it before trying to tune it only for it to possibly detonate...it's depressing to see people instantly point fingers and blame. Do it right the first time, or not at all. __________________

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