Help Me!

[lianawyant]

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time to the board and I'm hoping that someone can help me answer a few of my questions.

I have a 1992 Honda Prelude Type S with an Automatic transmission and a F22B1 engine.

Here is my ordeal:

I totaled my car in October of last year. Since then I have been trying to rebuild the car back to normal.

I bought an entire new R34 Skyline bodykit, a new radiator frame support, new radiator, new battery, and a new hood. I figured my journey would be done and my car would be back to normal. This was all completed in February of 2005 (I procrastinated.)

In April of 2005, I received the news that I needed a new engine. There was a hole in my block that could not be fixed. I had a F22A1. I called Polk Performance, in my area, and told then that I needed this engine for my car. I read the number RIGHT off of my block. After almost two months of waiting for my engine to come in, this is after they received the wrong engine for my car in ONCE, they received the wrong engine again - a F22B1. They told me that it was the wrong engine, but it was better than the one that I had. Being a girl, I believed them. Keep in mind that I did not have the actual compressor that made this a V-TEC, so it was non-VTEC.

I got the car and atleast two days later I was told that I need to get all new belts because Polk Performance did not replace them. I spent $200 replacing the belts and also recharging the battery at Arnold's Automotive.

I thought my ordeal was done AGAIN. Having my car back for almost two weeks, it began overheating. I took it into another shop, Sherill's Automotive, and they told me that I needed a new distributor and that whomever installed my engine did a bad job and did not hook back up the oxygen sensor or tighten some of the bolts on the engine mount. While I was in, I also got a new AC clutch so that I could have air conditoner and also they replaced my radiator hose, which was causing the overheating. They also checked all of my fluids. I left there paying $900 after a month of work.

I think I'm done again. Now, just out of the shop two more weeks, I have to pull over because my car begins smoking out of the hood and the exhaust with this horrible smell. Not only that, antifreeze was everywhere because of the overheating. We checked the oil and didn't see ANY, which was odd to me, because it had just been checked not even two weeks earlier -- and was fine.

I took it to Arnold's Automotive again and got it checked. They told me that the oil was completely gone as well as the water. They put 1qt of oil in it, started it up, and now the engine is knocking and is basically shot. We check them both regularly and I was given no oil light, no ANYTHING. SO, I spent $3,000 for the wrong engine, to only last me not even a total of 1 month (considering the week it was in Arnold's and the month it was in Sherill's just SINCE April.) I FEEL that this is unacceptable and I believe that Polk Performance is liable. I pay $3,000 for an engine for one month and they did a crappy job?

Here is what I need you for. Do you think that I should contact them and request something to be done. Do you think I have a lawcase on my hands? I need to know what should be done on my part, because I have NEVER encountered anything like this.

PLEASE HELP ME WITH YOUR OPINIONS! I AM LOST!

[Gohan Ryu]

Did you get any type of guarantee or warranty from Polk before they did the work? In writing? If you did they need to honor that and replace/repair the engine. If they don't want to honor the contract you'll need some legal advise (from either a paralegal or a lawyer, paralegals are cheaper).

If you didn't get any type of guarantee you should talk to a lawyer to see if there is some type of "implied guarantee of service" law that will cover you.

[lianawyant]

I did NOT get any type of guarantee with the engine, that I know of. But I will definately check. Thank you a lot for your advice!