Sunk 1500 dollars in a bad motor

[Stinger357]

I took my 1997 explorer in and had 1500 dollars in work done to the engine, and an alignment and 2 new tires. Well I should have had them do a compression test before doing the upper and lower intake manifolds. Come to find out 2 cylinders are not compressing correctly, not really sure what that means but the mechanic told me I could drive it until I can sell it. I really dont want to sell it, he said the only thing I could do is rebuild the engine or get another one. But the cost of that would be the same as getting a used car anyway. So can someone shed some light on what the cylinders mean he said it was the O-ring on the piston or something. Oh whoa is me.

 

[boominXplorer]

What engine?

 

[Stinger357]

4.0 v6 SOHC.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Well thats sucks, but any mechanical problem on that pile of crap sucks of course thats because its a pile of crap engine. Oh well everyone already knows that.
If you dont want to sell it then have it fixed.
Are the guys who kind of ripped you off already willing to work with you on a reduced price to slap a different motor in it because they know they kind of ripped you off ? If not I would never use that shoppe again but maybe you can find another better mechanic to swing a new motor into it. Think late model 05-06 Mustang for the best version of their worst engine.

Its really blows to have just dropped 1500 on it and get not much but you did get some critical items fixed like the alignment and tires. If its leaking on 2 cylinders it sounds like he said a gasket but headgaskets are not a common.
And him telling you its ok to drive it until you sell it and even talking about driving or selling a truck with 2 dead holes is shady at best.
Sounds like they wanted the $1500 and did not care whether they would see you ever again or not, very fly by night/amatuerish type behavior.
I would guess $1500 to swing a good used engine into it, what can you buy for $1500 ? A clapped pile of crap with bad alignment and bald tires ?
YMMV

 

[2000StreetRod]

one bank low compression?

If all of the cylinders on one bank have low compression then your timing chain on that bank has probably slipped. If it is the left bank and no damage has been done to the valves then you can repair it yourself for about $200 in parts. SOHC V6 Timing Chain Inspection & Repair

 

[jremington59]

I took my 1997 explorer in and had 1500 dollars in work done to the engine, and an alignment and 2 new tires. Well I should have had them do a compression test before doing the upper and lower intake manifolds. Come to find out 2 cylinders are not compressing correctly, not really sure what that means but the mechanic told me I could drive it until I can sell it. I really dont want to sell it, he said the only thing I could do is rebuild the engine or get another one. But the cost of that would be the same as getting a used car anyway. So can someone shed some light on what the cylinders mean he said it was the O-ring on the piston or something. Oh whoa is me.

How is the engine running? Is it smoking or using any oil?

 

[my98nnj]

but any mechanical problem on that pile of crap sucks of course thats because its a pile of crap engine.

Seriously?

Are the guys who kind of ripped you off already willing to work with you on a reduced price to slap a different motor in it because they know they kind of ripped you off

Seriously?

The OP even stated in his original post that he didn't ask for a compression test before he contracted them to do the work.

So how is that the mechanic or shops fault and why should they be willing to do further work at a reduced rate?