Junkyard Engines?

[bpopp]

I wish I had known about this place a month ago. It's great. Here's my sad story. A few weeks ago I came out to my 99 4.0 V6 SOHC Explorer and tried to start it. It half-cranked and then made a pretty nasty noise that sounded like a tin box of bolts being dropped off a 10 story building (okay, maybe not that bad). I tried to crank it a couple more times to no avail. It would turnover, but not start. I had it towed to a local dealership and they called me about an hour later saying they had very bad news and that it was a "complete engine failure". They offered to buy the truck for $500 or to replace the engine for $4700+. I was suspicious, so I had it towed again to my house hoping to take a closer look. The guy that towed it the second time had me crank it for him and said that my timing belt had slipped due to the faulty cam tensioner (he could hear it slipping). He seemed genuine and seemed to know what he was talking about, so I had him take it to his shop for a closer look.

He called a couple days later and said that the valves were, indeed, bent and that he had another "low-mileage" engine he could sell me for around $2000. He claimed the engine was @ around 30,000 miles. I was a little skeptical about why he would have such a low-mileage engine for a 99 Ford Explorer, but he didn't know the VIN number so I had no way to check.

This is where it gets a little suspicious. I did quite a lot of research after I realized what happened to my car and discovered that the problem with the cam tensioner is a very-well known problem. I asked him if he would do the cam-tensioner fix before he put the engine in. He kind stammered a little bit and then said that the engine was a 93 engine and that that issue wasn't a problem on this engine. I said "93??" and he said, no, I mean "2003". At the time, it seemed a little suspect, but this guy is up there in years (retired Ford mechanic). I shook it off as him being a little absent-minded.

Of course, all of this happened at the worst possible time so I didn't have a whole lot of time to research what to do. I looked into ordering a long-block and installing it myself, but I am just starting a new job and couldn't afford to be without a vehicle. I thought about scrapping it, but I just couldn't see getting rid of such a great vehicle for a few hundred bucks. I went ahead and had him put in the engine and so far it has been running great.

Unfortunately, a few days after I got the truck back, my serpentine belt snapped down the middle. Half of it stayed on so I was able to cut off the broken part away and drive to auto-zone to replace it. When I looked at the part number, it was for a 99ish engine (an 03 used a slightly different belt).

I went to another mechanic today who was checking out my tranny for me and when I told him this story he mockingly said, "heh.. yeah, junkyard engines are all "low mileage" engines". He also said that the 4000 mile warranty the guy gave me on the engine was pretty crappy. I've seen in these forums that there's a little bit of animosity between dealers/garages/hobbyists so maybe he was just being catty?

Could he have put a 2003 engine in a 99 explorer very easily. Wouldn't he have had to change the tranny in order to use an 03? Is there any way to see what kind of car the engine came out of? I don't know how much recourse I would have since I didn't get anything in writing, but at least I'll know never to use the guy again. I'd also really like to know whether the cam tensioner is still suspect. Without a VIN number, I don't know of any way to check. Is it generally a bad idea to buy junkyard engines/trannys like this? Are you better off paying a little more and going with a remanufactured engine?

I know I sound like a real chump, but the silver lining in all this is that it's really awakened in me the desire to learn about cars. I have been reading my service manual cover-to-cover. I did a full break job two weekends ago (including bearings) and changed my shocks this weekend. It's a great feeling to do something for 1/3 or 1/2 of what a mechanic would charge and most importantly, know that it is being done right. I don't ever want any of my friends or family to be in this position again. Thanks for any advice/suggestions you might have.

 

[JIGAWHAAT]

I blew my engine in my 97 xlt a while back. I bought a junkyard engine from a 98 with 75000 on it for $750.00. payed another $800.00 for the install. Other then a surging idle when cold (think its just the iac) The engine is a horse. I am actually glad now that I blew my old engine (was'nt at the time). the new to me engine runs stronger then my old one big time! That being said. Do I recommend buying a junkyard engine. Yes and no. Yes because I got lucky with mine. No because I am sure there are a ton of people who were not so lucky with there boneyard engines. Its a crap shoot IMO. Even with a warranty, If your "new" engine fails. You still need to have it pulled, find another one and have it installed, And hope it also does not fail. Its a roll of the dice IMO

 

[tipdrill]

Does the engine have any labeling? SOHC or EFI?

The OHV model i believe says EFI on the outside. They didn't put that engine in 2003 models, but it was the only v6 in '93

 

[ñòóKýçrÕôK]

The problem with junkyard engines is they come from a junkyard. Anything they came out of was in the junkyard for a reason. Motors from wrecked cars are risked at having cracked blocks. Motors from just "junked out" cars have the risk of being run to death. My father was a junkyard owner when I was just a kid and he would deliberately sell people junk motors n trannys knowing they'd be back but by then he could have them another "low mileage" replacement pulled. If you got a good one then congrats to you because although I have heard success stories the number of failure stories has greatly outweighed it. Remanufactured blocks are usually going to be your best bet. Jiga was right. It's a crap shoot. Sometimes lucky, sometimes not.