My engine failed, options?

[l0cke]

A few weeks ago I bought a nice 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid for $3300. Single-owner with a folder full of maintenance records and a clean carfax. New IMA battery, new CVT, 156k miles. Had it inspected, everything good.

Last week I drove from Santa Rosa, California to Colorado Springs, Colorado on a somewhat odd route. ~1600 miles, 43 mpg. Everything was still going fine.

Yesterday I was driving to Longmont Colorado and something went wrong. On I25 in Denver my car lost a ton of power and made an awful knocking noise. I got off and parked, then called AAA. Had a towed to an AAA shop with good reviews.

They called me today and told me the bad news. Somehow the engine is basically full of oil, totally ruined. However, they can get a new engine for $1100 and about $1900 in labor, so $3k. 12-month warranty on the new engine. Everything else on the car is in good shape.

I kinda need a car, so do you think it's worth it for a new engine? My other option would be to find a new used car on CL for about the same price, and sell my Civic for parts (which I've got no idea how to do).

Also, how is that price for getting a new engine? I googled around and it seems average.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's probably a rebuilt engine, not a new engine?

 

[l0cke]

It's probably a rebuilt engine, not a new engine?

Ah, yeah, a rebuilt engine.

 

[thomsbrain]

"Full of oil"? That's a weird description. I'd want to know more about what really went wrong, just to know if this was purely bad luck or the result of a specific mistake by a previous mechanic.

$3000 wouldn't be a crazy price for a rebuilt engine, all in. And the resulting car would likely have a lot more life in it than spending $3000 on a different used car. You got a really good deal on the Civic you have and are unlikely to find another that cheap. And if you fix it, you'll basically have a mostly new engine, a new IMA battery, and new transmission. That thing will run forever.

Stinky situation to be in, though.

 

[SSSnail]

Wait, from where did the engine get the excess oil?

But, being that the mistake wasn't because of the car itself that failed, you'll probably better off just put in another engine. At least now you'll have some warranty on the engine, should it becomes full of oil, again.

 

[LTC8K6]

Coolant getting into the oil = full of oil?

 

[razel]

Good to know that engine replacement prices aren't too bad for hybrids. So yes, that is a good price and worth paying for since you already have a new transmission and new batteries. I suspect that the IMA maybe next, unless that's included since it's 'in engine', but regardless, it'll still have another 50k of life left, still worth it.

 

[nakedfrog]

"Full of oil"? That's a weird description. I'd want to know more about what really went wrong, just to know if this was purely bad luck or the result of a specific mistake by a previous mechanic.

Yeah, I've never heard that particular diagnosis. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

 

[l0cke]

Yeah, I've never heard that particular diagnosis. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

I guess I explained it poorly. Something inside the engine broke, it makes a very loud knocking noise. I have a video if anyone wants to see.

The mechanic told me they couldn't determine exactly what it was that broke without tearing the whole thing apart. Whatever broke messed up everything else, and there were fluids in places there shouldn't be. I can ask for a better description though.

I still haven't committed, but I think I will go with the new engine. :thumbsup:

 

[NutBucket]

The IMA isn't likely to fail. Plus, rebuilt battery packs aren't terribly expensive. I too agree you got a good deal on the car and it was likely just a fluke the engine let go. I'd rebuild and keep on truckin'. $3k is truly a crapshoot for a used car.

 

[skyking]

very true. you could get $3000 of all new headaches to deal with.

 

[yottabit]

A few weeks ago I bought a nice 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid for $3300. Single-owner with a folder full of maintenance records and a clean carfax. New IMA battery, new CVT, 156k miles. Had it inspected, everything good.

Before you go spending any money on the engine I'd look into your state's laws regarding private party sales. See if there is any warranty or grace period since it's only been a few weeks

At the very least I would be calling up the PO, and asking if he had any inclination at all that the motor might be on it's last legs. Then maybe judge from their reaction what to do from there. There are some dirty tricks you can do to hide some problems on cars

It's kind of fishy that you blew the motor out of the blue if everything else was indeed properly maintained. Granted 156k isn't low mileage but it's also a Honda...

If you don't feel like dealing with any of that then I don't feel like the pricing for the rebuilt engine is out of line

 

[Beer4Me]

A few weeks ago I bought a nice 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid for $3300. Single-owner with a folder full of maintenance records and a clean carfax. New IMA battery, new CVT, 156k miles. Had it inspected, everything good.

Last week I drove from Santa Rosa, California to Colorado Springs, Colorado on a somewhat odd route. ~1600 miles, 43 mpg. Everything was still going fine.

Yesterday I was driving to Longmont Colorado and something went wrong. On I25 in Denver my car lost a ton of power and made an awful knocking noise. I got off and parked, then called AAA. Had a towed to an AAA shop with good reviews.

They called me today and told me the bad news. Somehow the engine is basically full of oil, totally ruined. However, they can get a new engine for $1100 and about $1900 in labor, so $3k. 12-month warranty on the new engine. Everything else on the car is in good shape.

I kinda need a car, so do you think it's worth it for a new engine? My other option would be to find a new used car on CL for about the same price, and sell my Civic for parts (which I've got no idea how to do).

Also, how is that price for getting a new engine? I googled around and it seems average.

Either a head gasket breached and caused oil and coolant to mix or someone botched your last oil change and over filled massively?
IMHO, $3k parts/labor and 1 year warranty doesn't sound too bad of a deal assuming you're going to keep the car, and you'd likely be able to resell it again for practically what you paid after you fix it. Good luck finding a reliable car for $3k or trying to part out your Civic Hybrid for parts. I'd say get the replacement engine. At worst, you could always get a 2nd quote from another shop.

 

[Greenman]

Either a head gasket breached and caused oil and coolant to mix or someone botched your last oil change and over filled massively?
IMHO, $3k parts/labor and 1 year warranty doesn't sound too bad of a deal assuming you're going to keep the car, and you'd likely be able to resell it again for practically what you paid after you fix it. Good luck finding a reliable car for $3k or trying to part out your Civic Hybrid for parts. I'd say get the replacement engine. At worst, you could always get a 2nd quote from another shop.

Read his clarified description further down. Catastrophic mechanical failure was the problem.

 

[halik]

This is the kind of description ("full of oil, totally ruined") that correlates with people getting completely bent over by shady shops. Figure out exactly what is wrong, before you do anything.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Yeah, I've never heard that particular diagnosis. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Coolant can get into the crankcase and fill it full. Happened to my wife's Tahoe.

 

[RLGL]

Timing belt?

 

[Yuriman]

Timing belt?

Pretty sure the Civic Hybrid uses a chain. Sounds more like OP threw a rod, or something similarly catastrophic.

 

[MongGrel]

Full of oil does sound odd to me.

Unless a head gasket and got into the cooling system.

still sounds odd.

 

[MongGrel]

Reread it, loss of power knocking noise, sounds like it overheated and something blew.

Yeah I imagine the engine is fried.

Probably scored and melted cylinders etc.

 

[TridenT]

This is the kind of description ("full of oil, totally ruined") that correlates with people getting completely bent over by shady shops. Figure out exactly what is wrong, before you do anything.

This.

$1900 in labor is insane. Engine swap shouldn't take 20 hours.

 

[XavierMace]

This.

$1900 in labor is insane. Engine swap shouldn't take 20 hours.

Like $200 trash can insane or how insane?

 

[Mandres]

I would need a little more info before proceeding if I were in your shoes. Does the engine turn over freely, or is it seized? If it turns over, what are the compression figures on each cylinder? "Full of oil" doesn't mean anything, and is kind of a suspicious diagnosis imo.

The easiest and most profitable option for the shop is to sell you a new (rebuilt) engine. If it's something (relatively) simple like a blown head gasket then you can probably fix it for a hell of a lot less than $3k.

I wouldn't do anything until I knew exactly what went wrong.

 

[l0cke]

The final diagnosis is that it was probably a spun rod bearing.

I got the car back today, it's great! :thumbsup: Even better than it was before. The total cost ended up being under $3K, and I had some maintenance items replaced while the engine was out.

Did you know that the Honda Civic Hybrid has 2 spark plugs per cylinder, so 8 total?

 

[Pulsar]

The final diagnosis is that it was probably a spun rod bearing.

I got the car back today, it's great! :thumbsup: Even better than it was before. The total cost ended up being under $3K, and I had some maintenance items replaced while the engine was out.

Did you know that the Honda Civic Hybrid has 2 spark plugs per cylinder, so 8 total?

Congrats on the good resolution. It always feels good to have a mess like that wrap up cleanly. The 6.2L we make for the Raptor has 2 per cylinder and 8 cylinders =).