Return-Path: Received: from CMU-CS-IUS2.ARPA by CMU-CS-A.ARPA; 10 Jul 84 12:37:47 EDT Date: 10 Jul 1984 12:10-EST From: Jon.Webb@CMU-CS-IUS2.ARPA Subject: Major auto repair experience / Lee Himmel To: Harry.Bovik@a Message-Id: <458323801/webb@CMU-CS-IUS2> I had the unfortunate experience of needing an engine replaced. I took the car to Lee Himmel Servicenter, on the strength of other people's recommendations. At the time I took the car there, I thought all it needed was a new headgasket, but when Lee took off the head and looked, he found the gasket was in good shape, but the engine block was cracked. Lee found a used engine for me, after considerable trouble (my engine is slightly rare), and installed it for me. The price for installation was fair, though about $150 more than he predicted based on a rough estimate. The engine seemed to be installed well. There was no guarantee on the engine except the junkyard guarantee (that is, if the engine was bad, Lee would charge me for the labor to take the engine out and put a new one back in, but not for the parts cost of the replacement engine, which would be provided by the junkyard). This is not so great a guarantee, but I took it, and it has seemed to work out. However, I had some other problems with the car. First, it overheated with the new engine. I took it back to Lee, and he replaced the thermostat. This didn't help, but it cost about $20. It also is not the smartest thing to do, because it's not too hard to determine that a thermostat is working. Working on the car myself, I found all it needed was the cooling system flushed (rust deposits in the new engine) which I think Lee should have figured out. Also, Lee used soft rubber hoses to connect the engine vacuum to the vacuum modulator line, which isn't too bright -- the soft hoses collapse when the vacuum is high enough, which makes the transmission shift abruptly. I think my experience with Lee Himmel Servicenter shows that they're honest, competent (for mechanics), and reliable. But I think I'll work on my car myself in the future, except for major repairs. When I need major repairs, I'll take the car to Lee Himmel.