PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - Baton Rouge shop takes 5 months to change a Liberty CRD glow plug!!!

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- - Baton Rouge shop takes 5 months to change a Liberty CRD glow plug!!! (http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/279492-baton-rouge-shop-takes-5-months-change-liberty-crd-glow-plug.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by okyoureabeast (Post 2489023)

I personally think that the shop should be held accountable for everything.

Here is the Louisiana Attorney General's website. They include a link for automotive repair fraud.

http://www.ag.state.la.us/Article.aspx?articleID=37&catID=0

Good luck. I would get an attorney and not pay a single cent to those loons.

This is EXCELLENT advice!

I had a situation buying a car on Ebay from a dealer in Harrisburg, PA., me in Colorado. The car shipped with an undisclosed problem (big surprise) that the dealer would not own. I got online and filed a complaint with the
Office of the PA State Attorney General. They sent an investigator to the Dealer and basically told him to settle with me or surrender his license to operate. Then insist on having the repair/replacement done elsewhere at no cost including the tow fee to the next shop.

Hey there, fellow CRD owner. In case you havent already found it:
http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=5

is a great resource for the Liberty CRD, I would post this thread over there and you will probably get quite a bit of feeedback.

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85 (Post 2489286)

Welcome to the world of ceramic glow plugs :eek:

-J

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sir Sam (Post 2490101)

Just found this pic over there.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1276948373

One could only hope that the fella who pulled these plugs made sure the rest of it was out of the combustion chamber. Starting that engine with that tip still in there would "F" up the head, cylinders and pistons quickly!.

Whiskeydan, I am going to guess a chunk of a glow plug was left in the chamber and the technician started the motor. :eek:
That's your serious damage and that is why they think your inlaws need a new motor.

Also found from a thread in the above site.

Quote:

So I got round to checking the FSM and find the cautions interesting, especially the last one

CAUTION:
- Never bend, bump or knock the ceramic glow
plugs.
- Ceramic glow plugs must not be handled loose
in a container. Store, handle, and transport them
only in original boxes.
- If there is any doubt about the proper condition
of a glow plug, do not use it anymore.
- Do not clean the glow plugs with abrasive or
aggressive media.
- Avoid dipping the glow plug into fluids.
- Read Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs). If a
glow plug problem is indicated, do not start the engine.
CAUTION: Disregarding these instructions may cause severe engine damage.

VW has had issues with these ceramic plugs, had a recall and went to steel versions of the plugs. Many engines were damaged because the of the tips breaking off. They would also break during the removal process and the technicians had to remove the head to get the rest of it out of the chamber. Some of technicians were careless enough to start the engines with them in it which cause oil consumption and other issues later on for the owner.

Ceramic glow plugs are great for instant starting. But reliability is questionable regardless of who manufactured the motor. If there are steel versions available, I'd get rid of the ceramic plugs and put in steel version instead.

.

.

Your biggest problem when dealing with incompetent mechanics is that they are incompetent, do not have the ability to fix the the problem or it wouldn't be a problem, and are usually BROKE. Start the regulating authorities process & see what happens. Don't spend much on an attorney as legal fees are more than you are out now and it is a waste of money to sue broke people. Get the car & figure out the best way to fix it either at another shop or by doing it yourself. Make minimal investment in this screw up. Collect what you can & move on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Junkman (Post 2490155)

Your biggest problem when dealing with incompetent mechanics is that they are incompetent, .....

And here's what they can cause.

This poor fella from TDIClub.com was shown the removed ceramic glow plugs from his engine and on one of them had a chunk missing. The service manager assured him all of the pieces was removed. A month later his engine started eating up a quart of oil every 600 miles.

After complaining to the original shop that did the work and getting nowhere, he had the head removed at another shop and found this. :eek:

Notice the indentation on the head. Evidence a glow plug was there.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1276956488

Top of the piston,
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1276956505

Cause of the oil consumption.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1276956518

View down into the cylinders.
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...1&d=1276956535

.

Update:

Shop has installed another engine at their expense. My inlaws went to pick it up yesterday when the shop assured them it would be finished. Now another excuse...

They were told it wasn't ready as they had to order the "special oil". Sounds like another stall tactic to me.

I know a couple that I use for company outsourced work. I will pm a couple to you.

I work at a Mack Trucks shop. Our new motors have copper cups surrounding the injectors (common failure point at this time) We have had several of these cups break off during removal for replacement. This used to mean cylinder head removal to retrieve the piece. Now, we remove the intake manifold, manually open the intake valve, push a small air line down the injector hole and force the end of a shopvac hose into the intake port. Blow air down the injector hole and suck the little piece right out. This might work for these GP problems.

How big a hole into the combustion chamber does the CDI injector have?

Sixto
87 300D

If it's like the TDI the tip of the glow plug barley pokes through the cylinder head into the bowel area of the piston. In this case the whole ceramic tip of the plug busted off and slid down into the cylinder.

-J

IF your in-laws ever get it back they should immediately sell it.