Mechanic took our Expedition for a drive and seized the engine

A few weeks ago I took our 2000 EB to local mechanic because I was hearing a clunking noise near the right rear of vehicle and thought it was needing strut repair. A few days later they called me to tell me that the engine seized when they drove it down the road. They are claiming the cause was that it had only one quart of oil and it was filled with metal shavings. Just had the truck smogged in July and passed, the engine was not burning oil. No evidence of any oil leaks on our garage floor where we park it. We purchased the truck new and it has less than 68,000 miles. The engine was running very smoothly. Oil light only lit up with all other lights when starting truck. Have had no other mechanical problems with truck. My husband did an oil change 4 months ago, we still have the oil in the drain container...no metal what so ever. Oh, and by the way, we were having record low temperatures the day they drove the car "down the road". (High temp for day was 6 F, Night temp was -12 F.)

When I stopped by the shop and spoke to mechanic that drove the car until it seized he told me that he heard the clunking sound I had mentioned. He also said he heard a ticking sound that became louder, then the engine just stopped and a shop friend towed it back to shop.

The owner took the original stance that this was all our fault and he would not take any responsibility for the engine seizing. After a little discussion and I guess, mentioning that we brought him in a well running vehicle and that his shop drove the truck after hearing noises, not immediately stopping and maybe checking the fluids it was definately his problem. He countered with charging us with no labor. After waiting several weeks for a price on parts (at his cost) he is including some labor and wants us to pay $3000+ to put in a remanufactured long block. We think that we should pay him no more than $500 and that's just to be nice. Maybe we've been too nice?

I'm no gear head, but I used to own a volkswagen bug when I was young and am familiar with an engine that's grinding metal. Typically the engine runs rough. Right? Does any one have any suggestions on cause of engine seizing? My husband and I are not sure on how to handle this one. Does anyone have any suggestions. We'd welcome any comment. Thanx!

Stuck in between rock and hard spot.

A few weeks ago I took our 2000 EB to local mechanic because I was hearing a clunking noise near the right rear of vehicle and thought it was needing strut repair. A few days later they called me to tell me that the engine seized when they drove it down the road. They are claiming the cause was that it had only one quart of oil and it was filled with metal shavings. Just had the truck smogged in July and passed, the engine was not burning oil. No evidence of any oil leaks on our garage floor where we park it. We purchased the truck new and it has less than 68,000 miles. The engine was running very smoothly. Oil light only lit up with all other lights when starting truck. Have had no other mechanical problems with truck. My husband did an oil change 4 months ago, we still have the oil in the drain container...no metal what so ever. Oh, and by the way, we were having record low temperatures the day they drove the car "down the road". (High temp for day was 6 F, Night temp was -12 F.)

When I stopped by the shop and spoke to mechanic that drove the car until it seized he told me that he heard the clunking sound I had mentioned. He also said he heard a ticking sound that became louder, then the engine just stopped and a shop friend towed it back to shop.

The owner took the original stance that this was all our fault and he would not take any responsibility for the engine seizing. After a little discussion and I guess, mentioning that we brought him in a well running vehicle and that his shop drove the truck after hearing noises, not immediately stopping and maybe checking the fluids it was definately his problem. He countered with charging us with no labor. After waiting several weeks for a price on parts (at his cost) he is including some labor and wants us to pay $3000+ to put in a remanufactured long block. We think that we should pay him no more than $500 and that's just to be nice. Maybe we've been too nice?

I'm no gear head, but I used to own a volkswagen bug when I was young and am familiar with an engine that's grinding metal. Typically the engine runs rough. Right? Does any one have any suggestions on cause of engine seizing? My husband and I are not sure on how to handle this one. Does anyone have any suggestions. We'd welcome any comment. Thanx!

Stuck in between rock and hard spot.

A reputable shop should have insurence for this plus you might contact your insurence for advice. Also their are consumer advocates that might be able to assist.

A few weeks ago I took our 2000 EB to local mechanic because I was hearing a clunking noise near the right rear of vehicle and thought it was needing strut repair. A few days later they called me to tell me that the engine seized when they drove it down the road. They are claiming the cause was that it had only one quart of oil and it was filled with metal shavings. Just had the truck smogged in July and passed, the engine was not burning oil. No evidence of any oil leaks on our garage floor where we park it. We purchased the truck new and it has less than 68,000 miles. The engine was running very smoothly. Oil light only lit up with all other lights when starting truck. Have had no other mechanical problems with truck. My husband did an oil change 4 months ago, we still have the oil in the drain container...no metal what so ever. Oh, and by the way, we were having record low temperatures the day they drove the car "down the road". (High temp for day was 6 F, Night temp was -12 F.)

When I stopped by the shop and spoke to mechanic that drove the car until it seized he told me that he heard the clunking sound I had mentioned. He also said he heard a ticking sound that became louder, then the engine just stopped and a shop friend towed it back to shop.

The owner took the original stance that this was all our fault and he would not take any responsibility for the engine seizing. After a little discussion and I guess, mentioning that we brought him in a well running vehicle and that his shop drove the truck after hearing noises, not immediately stopping and maybe checking the fluids it was definately his problem. He countered with charging us with no labor. After waiting several weeks for a price on parts (at his cost) he is including some labor and wants us to pay $3000+ to put in a remanufactured long block. We think that we should pay him no more than $500 and that's just to be nice. Maybe we've been too nice?

I'm no gear head, but I used to own a volkswagen bug when I was young and am familiar with an engine that's grinding metal. Typically the engine runs rough. Right? Does any one have any suggestions on cause of engine seizing? My husband and I are not sure on how to handle this one. Does anyone have any suggestions. We'd welcome any comment. Thanx!

Stuck in between rock and hard spot.


You might be able to claim it under comprehensive on you insurence. You would be out your deductable but the insurence company will persue the shop for reimbersment and you can some control on the repair.

I personally would not pay anything. I would talk to a lawyer and let them know you are doing so.

1) They shouldn't have driven your car if they too heard noises like that.

2) I don't even believe they are replacing the motor. I would ask to see the old one and check the serial numbers against one another.

3) They are trying to blame you for not checking oil, etc - and yet they did not check when they heard noises and even went as far as to drive it down the road? They are the experts, not you, they should have known better if it was such an obvious thing.

Ya know, I've been a mechanic for a very long time and have been in your mechanic's shoes. I have never cheated a customer, but stuff has a wierd way of occuring when we have the car. Before I refuse to pay for an engine (which 3000 dollars is more than resonable for a reman longblock for that vehicle) or before I get a lawyer, why don't tou take it to another mechanic and see what he has to say. The 2000 Expedition is a good truck, but they were prone to cylinder head gasket failures, especially the right head. Usually they are indicated by a little seep but I have seen occasions where they've just spewed oil faster than you can add it. As far as stopping when they head the ticking, they probably should have but by then it was probably too late anyway. I'm not saying you aren't getting hosed, but I am saying that it is possible that it is a coincidence and you should investigate and know what you are talking about before you crucify this shop. I've found that most shops are honest and above the board but the few shady operations out there give us all a bad name.