Overheated to 250, died on side of highway, left stranded

[jrblackman]

Originally Posted by boxster6354

Hey guy been reading the thread and also sorry for the loss, but I had one question:

With you having a loan on the car I would assume you had to provide full coverage insurance on the car, why not put a claim for total loss ?

Auto insurance does not cover mechanical break down.

[986_inquiry]

my 986 did have some costly maintenance coming up, so before dropping 7k on used engine install i do need to remember I have a few more thousand to spend

I bumped up this thread the day before the blown engine Best Tires / best price and performance

because the same mechanic who looked at the coolant said the tires should be replaced in a few thousand miles. Also said I should have the brake pads, rotors and sensors replaced when replacing tires

my top is old, I don't think it's original but there are some areas that are looking pretty worn, i posted about it and have been keeping an eye on it Saint Louis specific - local shop to fix rear window or replace top?

and my lenses are burnt.
Finished headlight mods: HID + De-Amber + LED turn signals, city lights & fog lights
Previous owner must have put bulbs in that were too powerful and burnt the plastic a bit. Not a major problem, headlights work fine and I don't know if it limits lighting without a good headlight to compare to, however it's definitely an eyesore and should be replaced

and we never did figure out why the engine was overheating. Hopefully a new engine would fix all problems but who knows

so.... if i replace the engine, i still have all of that to look forward to. Not saying a new Boxster wouldn't have it's own list of problems, but I would be replacing the engine knowing all these issues would be coming up.

[Bruce Wayne]

Don't kid yourself, Reid Vann isn't going to "warranty" a used engine any more than Jake can. At least Jake is honest about it!

Have to agree with that !

no one is going to warranty a used engine unless, it's had a complete strip down and rebuild, as it depends on how the engine has been treated previously. A an engine that has been rebuilt is going to be a different cost, than Jake's fair offer.

if you go for another car, you'll also have to bear in mind that you could be buying someone else's trouble if it has not been well maintaned.

as a suggestion, why not consider a cheapie run around like a pick up or 4x4 like a ford explorer with a tow hitch, that way you can rent a trailer for the day to move the boxster about.

matt has made you very kind offer providing his help and tooling, so get it home, drop the engine and you and matt have a look if the engine is reworkable; either way its going to have to come out at some point..

if the whole engine and block is toast that's one answer, if its repairable then there is another answer.

then keep your eyes peeled for say a boxster with a front end damage going through salvage and get the engine or heads from it. before replacing the engine, do the ims / rms, maybe the headers and any other bits, it'll take a bit of time sure, but with a spare car for winter and car you can tow with you will end up with a box that has been gone through mechanically and 4x4 or pick up when the winter sets in.

just a suggestion

[Jake Raby]

this sort of sounds... scary....

Reality can be scary and this is real. Too many people today live in a virtual world of lies, deception and Unicorns bounding over rainbows..

Mechanical things can and will break and it will happen at the most inopportune time possible. I have dealt with mechanical things all my life and flew in flying mechanical coffins as a CH46 aircrew member, having 3 in air mechanical failures... That said, I don't ride roller coasters for a very good reason.

No candy coating of reality here... Its a used engine being sold at a price thats more than fair, but when it leaves there isn't a warranty. We only warranty engines that our minds have designed and our hands have assembled from scratch and that we have proven in the rigors of our testing regimen. The cost of such an effort begins at 18,000 dollars and it takes a minimum of six months to create.

At least Jake is honest about it!

Yes, I am way too honest and straight forward; but thats the only way to be when working with an engine foundation where we have documented 23 modes of failure. Being honest and direct is how I built this company from scratch and have gone 15 years without a single conflict of any significance.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

Have to agree with that !

no one is going to warranty a used engine unless, it's had a complete strip down and rebuild, as it depends on how the engine has been treated previously. A an engine that has been rebuilt is going to be a different cost, than Jake's fair offer.

if you go for another car, you'll also have to bear in mind that you could be buying someone else's trouble if it has not been well maintaned.

as a suggestion, why not consider a cheapie run around like a pick up or 4x4 like a ford explorer with a tow hitch, that way you can rent a trailer for the day to move the boxster about.

matt has made you very kind offer providing his help and tooling, so get it home, drop the engine and you and matt have a look if the engine is reworkable; either way its going to have to come out at some point..

if the whole engine and block is toast that's one answer, if its repairable then there is another answer.

then keep your eyes peeled for say a boxster with a front end damage going through salvage and get the engine or heads from it. before replacing the engine, do the ims / rms, maybe the headers and any other bits, it'll take a bit of time sure, but with a spare car for winter and car you can tow with you will end up with a box that has been gone through mechanically and 4x4 or pick up when the winter sets in.

just a suggestion

that's ok, I would still rather go with Reid Vann, at least they picked out the engine and put it in, because if I bring in some engine it doesn't matter where I say it came from, if there's problems they're going to look at me and say "should have taken the engine we offered". I haven't met a mechanic yet that liked their customers turning down the parts they offered and buying it cheaper from somewhere else

that said.... it does seem like it'll be cheaper to just keep the boxster, buy another vehicle, and put some money away for either a new engine or S if it comes along. $7,000 could go a long way towards buying a S.

Reason I went with a base 986 in the first place was because I wasn't sure if this is what I wanted, I'd never had a convertible, much less a Porsche, and only 2 seats? But it was everything I thought it would be and more, completely exceeded my expectations

I'll just have it towed home and put in the garage and buy a beater in the meantime.... at least I will still be a porsche owner :ah:

[Bruce Wayne]

Mechanical things can and will break and it will happen at the most inopportune time possible. I have dealt with mechanical things all my life and flew in flying mechanical coffins as a CH46 aircrew member, having 3 in air mechanical failures...

i would then understand completely Jake's demands on mechanical equipment, painful as a boxster engine failure may be, a CH46 intermesh *will* ruin your day.

[Jake Raby]

Originally Posted by Bruce Wayne

i would then understand completely Jake's demands on mechanical equipment, painful as a boxster engine failure may be, a CH46 intermesh *will* ruin your day.

Never had a rotor phase issue.. Can't say that for transmission issues, flight control issues, hydraulic issues or engine flameouts. Nothing like having to beat on a flight control at 5,000' to get the damn engine to light off again :-)

[Squozen]

Given that your mobile phone bill will show calls to the mechanic over several days (corroborating your story), I don't understand why you're not calling your lawyer.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Squozen

Given that your mobile phone bill will show calls to the mechanic over several days (corroborating your story), I don't understand why you're not calling your lawyer.

and.... what, exactly? "Your Honor, clearly the cellphone records show I called him, so we can just assume I was asking him about the engine, so obviously he owes me $7,000 for a new engine because he gave me bad advice."

sorry that was snippy, but i'm not paying a lawyer a few grand just to lose in court too

[Jake Raby]

that's ok, I would still rather go with Reid Vann, at least they picked out the engine and put it in, because if I bring in some engine it doesn't matter where I say it came from, if there's problems they're going to look at me and say "should have taken the engine we offered".

I agree with that leverage from working local. What can break, will break.

[Uller God]

I kind of like Bruce Wayne's idea, pick up a beater pick-up truck and used trailer. You can have someone drive the pick up while you sit in the Box on the trailer and zip around town with the top down. You get the best of both worlds!

On a serious note, hope things work out for ya.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Uller God

I kind of like Bruce Wayne's idea, pick up a beater pick-up truck and used trailer. You can have someone drive the pick up while you sit in the Box on the trailer and zip around town with the top down. You get the best of both worlds!

On a serious note, hope things work out for ya.

No, I've half-assed it this long and look where it got me. From here on its all professionals for the Porsche, tow trucks and Reid Vann. Because if something bad happens again, at least I won't look back and say "I should have called XYZ!"

[ltusler]

Are you a member of your local PCA region? I'd be willing to bet that if you are active there is someone thats able and has a lift to do the swap with you helping. We do it all of the time in my shop. You buy the beer and lunch/dinner. It will take 2-3 guys about 10 hours to do the swap. You then leave the shop owner with a bunch of extra beer and perhaps a nice donation of a Porsche specialty tool and everyone is happy. Get the engine from Jake with the IMS, water pump/tstat, and RMS upgraded. This is not brain surgery, thses cars were designed with manufacturing and assembly in mind, the magic is inside the engines where Jake plays.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by ltusler

Are you a member of your local PCA region? I'd be willing to bet that if you are active there is someone thats able and has a lift to do the swap with you helping. We do it all of the time in my shop. You buy the beer and lunch/dinner. It will take 2-3 guys about 10 hours to do the swap. You then leave the shop owner with a bunch of extra beer and perhaps a nice donation of a Porsche specialty tool and everyone is happy. Get the engine from Jake with the IMS, water pump/tstat, and RMS upgraded. This is not brain surgery, thses cars were designed with manufacturing and assembly in mind, the magic is inside the engines where Jake plays.

I am a member, I contacted the local chapter president about a week ago, haven't heard back

[tonycarreon]

**deleted**

[Jake Raby]

My engine sold today.

[Overdrive]

^^^Squozen has a good point there. You may want to get your hands on that. Even if you don't have a record of the conversation, you do have a record of the calls leading up to the car's failure.

[Crono0001]

This was also someone at the guy's wedding. He may not want to press the matter further if they're old friends

[Overdrive]

I understand that, but someone you know personally who ends up costing you several thousand dollars in damaged car should do what's right to make good on it instead of dodging the responsibility, especially if that person was someone worthy of being in your wedding.

[986_inquiry]

Originally Posted by Overdrive

I understand that, but someone you know personally who ends up costing you several thousand dollars in damaged car should do what's right to make good on it instead of dodging the responsibility, especially if that person was someone worthy of being in your wedding.

you would think....

phone calls are not proof of what the conversation was about. I'm sure I could call an attorney tomorrow and they'd say "Oh yes Sir you have a TERRIFIC case here! Guaranteed winner it is! Here just give me a $500 retainer and we'll get started... ok thank you for that, alright now I need another $200 for court fees or some nonsense.... alright that's good.... Oh they asked for a continuance, new court date, I'm gonna need another $500 if you want to continue this... what, you don't want to? But you've already paid $XXX, don't stop now! You're sooooo close to winning! (5 grand later) Oh shucks we lost, wanna appeal? That's gonna cost 10 grand, but you have a great case, I'm sure you'll win!"

Yeah.... no. I was landlord, rented out houses, spent my fair share of time chasing down renters, paying lawyers.... it's not as much fun as it sounds. Lawyers lie. A lot.

Actually, if I sued, his insurance might just settle, I'd get.... probably not 100%, but something worthy of my time.

i'm considering it. It's been a week. I'm still hoping he'll come to his senses and realize he's responsible for this...

Because I was just thinking about it today: he works on coolant system and within 50 miles engine blows from coolant system issues. And he doesn't think he's responsible at all. Really?

____here's what happened________
Me: Hi Mechanic please work on coolant system, there is a flashing light and it's scary
Mechanic: *tinkers* ok coolant good to go!
Me: (25 miles later) Um.... light's still on, it's getting hotter
Mechanic: Keep driving
Me: (5 miles later) Uhhhhhhh.... ok now it's at max
Mechanic: Keep driving
Me: (20 miles later) Engine's blown
Mechanic: WHY DID YOU KEEP DRIVING?!?
Me:

:ah: