I'm trying to get the differences between the first and second time you pulled the #1 dv for a timing check.

Uh, you didn't install the dv upside down so the plunger jammed it?

-John

 

Is the dial indicator missing the tip now? What did he torque the DV nut to? Sounds like the mech should eat this one. You drove it in, he worked on it and fixed it.

 

The thing is, is that I watched carefully when he was taking the delivery valve out but I didn't watch him as he put is back in. then when the truck would not start afterwards we thought it was a problem with fuel. So he took it ( the DV back off ) off again to re check timing. I was over reading the shop manual and he walked up with the DV and some chuncks of metal and showed it to me. the more I think about it I feel like the only way that the collar on the center piece of that DV valve could have gotten snapped off all the way around is that he put it in upside down. I am starting to feel bad because I just gave my credit card number to the pump shop for the 1200 dollars of work they did and I am feeling like I really shouldn't have to pay for it. Can anyone tell me if there is any other possible way that Dv could have snapped like that. I could also use some advise on how to handle this conflict also. the guy hasn't owned up to anything and he truely feels bad, but I am the one who just moved here, my wife is in grad school at CSU and already broke as a joke and now I feel like I am payin for this guys mistake. What should I do?

 

Thats a tough situation , I haven't read all the post , the beginig and then check most of yours , it sounds like its still not fixed, hopefulley he's wiiling to work with you , heres what I'ld do when I had a simaler situation in my shop, finish fixing so you can know as much as possible [ if the truck is not fixed then both sides are not convinced as to what was wrong] and thats if you didn't through endless parts at, it but found out through diagnostics and just stick with it, and then make a list and subtracked whats reasonable [ thats can be tricky ,becouse some times the manual will say replace with known good part and test over] You've got a little leverage , you'er willing to pay for the right fix , just try to not get upset , if he made an honest mistake and is willing and you think that he's not over his head . Then you've got the choise of small claims court as a last resort , but that will require convincing the judge that the other guy has to pay.

 

What did the pump shop say was wrong with your pump to cause a $1300 repair? Pump shops see tech screw ups and usually can tell what caused the failure.Debris in #1 delivery also means the injection line must come out as well as the injector. No telling how far pieces went/lodged.

Talk to the guy when you get the story from the pump shop.

 

I had all the injectors recalibrated at this time. I am willing to bet that the initial problem was the lift pump cause I was only getting about 10#s psi max. when the pump was off I replaced that too. The more research I do and the more I look at the diagrams I think the only way to get the collar on the center piece of the DV to get totally sheared off is to put the thing in upside down so the the plunger rams up into it. I don't think there is any other way that could happen. The pieces of that collar are what went down into the plunger and basically siezed the rack of the pump. they replaced about 15-20 parts inside my pump and the #1 plunger was really expensive. I really feel like I am in a bind as what to do to now cause I feel like I am paying for the mechanic's mistake.

 

Do you get any impression weather he's willing to work with ya at all , if it seems hopeless then when you mention small claims court you might add that you belong to DTR and that may couse a significant loss in buis. in future just something to through out there to make him think that he's not going lose nothing. Big butt between here and the pump shop make sure that you find out what ??

 

I haven't figured out the best way to bring it up and If that is what happened it was an honest mistake, just a real big one. I wouldn't want him to lose business over it but I am in no position to pay for all this. My wife is in Vet school and we are already in enough debt.

 

Do you know for sure what caused your original problem and has it been fixed also why not pay the pump shop did they treat you unfair, why get them involved.

 

The pump shop has been paid already. Also I don't know for sure what caused my initial problem but with the low fuel pressure from the lift pump I really think that is what it was.

 

Ask the pump shop if there was anything wrong with the pump besides the broken part in ? , if thats all that was wrong and the lift pump was tested wrong then the broken DV was by logic a problum that was creatated by mistake, then go back to the shop that made the mistake and make this point and talk to them just like your talking to us here [ be calm and honest ] explain that you can'nt to take on there mistake and you need your truck and that you would perfur to have a mutual agreement, but he put you in this situation and with out an agreemnet he is forcing a 3rd party to get involved , in this state they have some sort of orginazation tha will help in disputs before going to court , I think that this is someting that you could look into . I think that what ever you do , do not get up set it will only make you feel worse and it never makes things work out.

 

Well today I had lunch with the mechanic and I was able to put all this stuff out on the table. I must say that this guy was a real stand up guy! Once I was able to talk and be comfortable we were able to work it out and I left the meeting happy and I think that both of us were satisfied. The mistake was made in complete honesty and this was just one of those situations where once the problem occured we had to just let it take its course. I have no hard feelings and I plan on making more upgrades through this mechanic.

I would like to thank everyone who posted here and for all your help and advice. This is a great Forum!

Chad Patten

 

As a customer , mechanic , and shop owner , I know that its hard to find a good shop , machanic , and customer , glad everybody found each other.