EIL_V8
Member
Hi guys, I have a bit of a problem.
UZZ31 Toyota Soarer from 1991.
Just had timing belt + water pump installed by Australian mobile mechanic company "Lube Mobile".
Worst job ever! DO NOT TRUST THESE CLOWNS WITH YOUR VEHICLE!
Mechanic put water pump gasket on wrong, couldn't work out timing, had to call 3 other guys to help him, then broke a distributor, shorted my starter motor and smoked my battery - now car will not crank.
Anyway.
Here is the issue I need help with.
Car eventually got started after a new starter motor was installed and we went for a 5 minute test drive to local shop and back.
Upon returning home, turning car off, and turning it back on, it will not crank.
The dash lights short out when key is trying to crank, but come back on when key is released.
I have no alarm or immobilizer.
I've had battery on and off many times with zero issue in the 10 years of ownership.
The battery terminals appear tight like a toiga. I am getting 12.5v.
Can anyone lend me any advice? I do not wish to call another mobile mechanic.
Thanks all, appreciate it.
P.S.
After speaking with rude management in regards to the repeated failures of this mechanic they have said they will refund the initial cost of water pump fitting (around $600), and think that is the end of it. The manager said "we cannot help you anymore" basically, and left the car in a no start condition.
I am still down one denso starter motor and will have to possibly take them to court for the cost of a new mechanic if I have to call another to replace their new generic pos starter motor in the case of this being the cause of the non cranking issue.
The way I see it, in the end they came to my house (for free), spent 20+ hours here screwing around, and destroyed my starter motor, replacing it with a $100 garbage unit.
I calculated their labor costs because of their horrible mechanics mistakes - Around 25 hours at $145 per hour. They have spent $3625 in labour fees attending my vehicle as the mechanic is incompetent. This is why they do not want to do any further work to the vehicle no doubt, and are trying to fob me off with the refund.
UZZ31 Toyota Soarer from 1991.
Just had timing belt + water pump installed by Australian mobile mechanic company "Lube Mobile".
Worst job ever! DO NOT TRUST THESE CLOWNS WITH YOUR VEHICLE!
Mechanic put water pump gasket on wrong, couldn't work out timing, had to call 3 other guys to help him, then broke a distributor, shorted my starter motor and smoked my battery - now car will not crank.
- Mechanic had started the car 3 times with timing out of sync and left the fan bracket resting on crank whilst starting it, leading to horrible scraping noises which did not seem to bother him. I had to yell at him to stop.
- After I installed new ignition parts and started the vehicle a week later, I found water seeping from thermostat housing, water pump, and between engine and transmission.
- The water pump gasket failure had flooded the intake valley (in between the V of the 2 heads where the starter motor lives), and the coolant had shorted the starter motor - and started seeping out the rear of the valley through the transmission and engine drain hole (at flywheel).
- The negative battery terminal was also producing smoke for the 10 seconds it was trying to crank when the starter motor was shorted out which may have screwed my battery and be the cause to this non crank issue; The battery reads 12.5v though...
- Mechanic came back a week later and replaced starter motor with some kind of crap generic unit with the name of "OEX".
- I am not happy about this. My factory Denso motor was whisked away and I was left with garbage.
- I do not know what further damage has been done, all I know is the car will not crank now.
Anyway.
Here is the issue I need help with.
Car eventually got started after a new starter motor was installed and we went for a 5 minute test drive to local shop and back.
Upon returning home, turning car off, and turning it back on, it will not crank.
The dash lights short out when key is trying to crank, but come back on when key is released.
I have no alarm or immobilizer.
I've had battery on and off many times with zero issue in the 10 years of ownership.
The battery terminals appear tight like a toiga. I am getting 12.5v.
Can anyone lend me any advice? I do not wish to call another mobile mechanic.
Thanks all, appreciate it.
P.S.
After speaking with rude management in regards to the repeated failures of this mechanic they have said they will refund the initial cost of water pump fitting (around $600), and think that is the end of it. The manager said "we cannot help you anymore" basically, and left the car in a no start condition.
I am still down one denso starter motor and will have to possibly take them to court for the cost of a new mechanic if I have to call another to replace their new generic pos starter motor in the case of this being the cause of the non cranking issue.
The way I see it, in the end they came to my house (for free), spent 20+ hours here screwing around, and destroyed my starter motor, replacing it with a $100 garbage unit.
I calculated their labor costs because of their horrible mechanics mistakes - Around 25 hours at $145 per hour. They have spent $3625 in labour fees attending my vehicle as the mechanic is incompetent. This is why they do not want to do any further work to the vehicle no doubt, and are trying to fob me off with the refund.
Last edited: