Turning up a Detroit, help or hinder?

You mentioned somewhere else in this thread that you were using the Jakes when the valves let go. Just curious, how responsive were the Jakes before, and after the "super overhaul"

The reason I ask, is because now they mention the damage and the $3000 to deal with the damage to the Jakes.

I'm wondering if they may have had incorrectly set Jakes after the overhaul, or something like a stuck solenoid made her lose her cookies. All it takes is one boned exhaust valve to get the ball rolling.

I don't know what is going on, but I think there is a little buck passing between the person who rebuilt your engine and Detroit Diesel. I know you have know them for a long time, but I would have gotten an invoice specifically stating what was rebuilt in a "super overhaul", because now you have had a "super failure" and it's costing you a lot of super money.

They use Kryptonite liners.

From the sounds of it, I'm guessing an extra bunch of money but not a whole lot more than a regular overhaul.

Well, your 94 didn't fail, so there was no hitch to speak of. I'm not going to say it was a shoddy rebuild, because if a guy screws up a set of valve keepers, it'll come apart pretty quickly. I'm putting money on the fact that that little super overhaul didn't include the Jakes.

Cutting the block and bores is a given if you blew a head gasket. Yes, it is additional money. Were the heads done in house, or were they remans? You need a copy of the original rebuild invoice.

It's rare they cut the block/bores incorrectly - it won't mic out correctly before assembly. No, this was a valve-train failure. The crank will only get damaged if the valves gets through the piston.

I'm with you, Les.

This is what caught my eye. If the Jake was damaged directly above the failed cylinder, it would be toast. Actually, beyond being good as a core. But, when you said, "They needed rebuilt...." I'm willing to bet good money that they weren't rebuilt during your super-overhaul and were the contributing factor to you dumping a set of valves. If a Jake slave cylinder sticks, you are going to bone a valve in a hurry. And the rocker arm is destroyed as well.

Ask Haney and I bet even though he's primarily a Cat man, he'll tell you what a Jake can do to a valve-train on a good day.

And no one, including the Detroit rep picked up on the fact that the Jake's were damaged or malfunctioning, so that's why you are getting a warrantied long block.

I'm only guessing, but I'd be willing to wager money I'm on the mark.

They're backpedaling! Now if they wanted to give you something worth quite a bit more book value, swap all of your investments over to it, line it up, move your tires and stand behind it, I'd think about it.

So far, you have lost 16K in revenue (you said), towing, and now $3000 to rebuild the Jakes and they are going to have to replace a motor with a long block.

I'm sure you paid out of pocket for the rebuild, or was that their dime?

Keep your truck. You have a lot invested into it now. You'll have a brand new motor, good for 800,000 miles provided that turbo doesn't let go. I'd have them give you something in writing that the turbo is good for service.

Don't sweat that. It's a lot better of an option than the warranty on a swap truck that you know nothing about. Look up reman long block warranty directly from Detroit Diesel.

That's obvious BS.

They don't want to ask Detroit to pay, because they don't want Detroit figuring out that those non-rebuilt Jakes toasted their engine.

Atta girl.

 

Tell them that you are going to consult with your lawyer to see what they think about the situation. See what happens then....

 

Call Detroit and explain the whole thing to them while you're at it. I hate middlemen. This is all starting to sound suspiciously familiar.

 

I agree with SHC. Once you say that then they start thinking things like well if a lawyer gets involved then that means we are going to get reported to the BBB and that can screw them out of a lot of money by loosing them tons of work.

 

I think I'd lawyer up, not just say it. Sometimes all it takes is a nice note on the lawyer's letterhead to get the ball rolling. $3,000 will buy you a lot of representation, and if it goes that far (court), you'll most likely get that money back on top of every thing.

 

I think I would be on the horn to an attorney without delay. If you don't, or you don't pay the $3K, you will lose the truck. Sounds like these guys want to play hardball.

 

Have you contacted that attorney yet? You have excellent documentation here.

 

It's not a matter of "He said, she said"

You are a customer. You bought a truck. Shortly thereafter, you lose a head gasket, which costs you money and downtime.

You get a rebuild, which isn't done correctly, one way or another, because rebuild fails and once again, more downtime and more money out of your pocket.

Always get it in writing. Your 11 years of trust is one sided, and they are backpedaling big time, because this whole fiasco is costing them money too. Whatever profit they made selling you the truck is long gone.

To me, it sounds like they short-cutted on your "super rebuild" ( which in my 31 years and being around a lot of Detroits, never heard of), and now they are paying for it.

Yeah, let them and DD hash it out. There are a bunch of lies flying back and forth, and they are trying to cover their ###. You'll get a new motor, but they'll have to lie and probably eat the cost of the Jakes before it all shakes out.

I'm not versed on the nuances between a 12.7 and 14L. But if they are having problems bringing the valves into spec and it's not tagged correctly, I would almost guess it's not the right engine.

Once again, I would demand paperwork and a serial number off that block so you can make sure your 14 is still a 14.

Oh, I'm sure he is. Sounds like a flustercluck.

They should have at least let you pull a Penske rental out under their name and let you pay the fees and suspend a truck payment while this whole thing is going on.

How much time have you lost total between the 2 motor jobs now? I would seriously consider litigating if it drags on much longer.

At this point, I woudn't trust anything you hear. Paperwork, documentation and serial numbers, warranties. If they will not provide it, start pursing more aggressive avenues.