Time for a new engine....

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 4:06 pm

Dark, rainy, 25 miles from phone reception, on a road rarely traveled, and I hit a rock that put a huge hole in the oil pan of my 05. I could not fix it in any way, so I opted to drive as far as I could, turning it off on downhills, nursing it carefully, until it seized. I then hiked several miles until I finally had reception & could call a tow truck. They have "special" rates for people who are not on pavement and AAA would not pay at all.

It's now at the Jeep stealer awaiting their official pronouncement, but I know the engine is toast.....I had little choice.

Suggestions?
What are my options?
I was thinking a used engine - assuming I could even locate one - but these motors are so finicky I'm not too keen on that. Perhaps a forum member has one?
Where to even buy a new engine without going through the stealer?

painemann · **Joined:** Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:02 pm **Posts:** 607

Wow, that is tough decision!!!! I think I would have left it and started walking.... or maybe got up to speed when the motor was almost done and put it in a tree and called insurance!

geordi · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 6:24 pm

Try car-part.com?

You might want to contact your insurance anyway, this might be covered b/c it was caused by a road hazard. You don't want to be paying for this yourself.

I've had good luck with the boneyard search, and for shipping, either rent a small U-haul and do it yourself OR try uship.com for bids. That is, if the boneyard won't ship it for you. You want to request "liftgate" service at the delivery address, and you would have to research the freight class for the engine - There is one for auto parts. Having it on a pallet and strapped down is fine, shrink-wrapped is better.

dingofighter · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:09 pm

I have a 2005 CRD and I had a similiar decision to make about a year ago. I was getting coolant into my #2 cylinder. I thought I had a cracked head. I took the head off and had a machine shop check it out. They said it was not cracked but that it was warped. The service manual says that the heads can not be resurfaced. I searched for a new head but could not find one in the USA. If I could have found a head it would have been $1200 plus. My next option was to search for a remanufactered engine. I found a long block which included a new head at Wholesale Mopar parts or Moparonline or one of those sites....I don't remember exactly which one it was but I could look it up....anyway it cost me $2900 plus shippng, I think the total came to about $3400. I pulled the old engine, transferred all of the periphials onto the new engine and put everything back together. It's been running good. I have about 20,000 miles on the new engine.

You may want to search the online parts stores for a remanufactured engine...if you do shop around. I even called several of them before I settled on the one that I went with.

I wish you good luck.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:48 pm

I would try and got through insurance and see if you can get it covered, if the road you were on was any sort of public road(ie marked on a map with a county number) then it should be covered.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:09 pm

uuummmhhhh - if you go off of a paved road (and occasional on some paved roads)

Factory skid plates are cheap, Skid row are a bit more - but still a fraction of the price of an engine....
and Aluminum oil pans - don't take much impact to poke holes in....

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:38 pm

Since there was no oil pressure, I'm assuming my recently replaced turbo is gone as well, which means I need everything but the fuel & coolant systems.

Thus far, my search for engines has not gone well. Many of these used engine websites are full of bizarre jibberish that makes me think they are scams - and no matter what car I type in - Ferrari included - by golly they have it, ready to ship.

I'll try the one's suggested here.

I'd love to have the insurance company help, but it was off-road and I had to pay a huge towing bill since not even the towing company would help. It was a well known forest service road - which is not covered by my insurance either. The minute you leave the pavement, you're on your own.

Ironically, I was looking at skid plates for it last weekend.

papaindigo · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:01 pm

Try http://car-part.com/ . It's a legit source.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:14 pm

KeighJeigh wrote:

Since there was no oil pressure, I'm assuming my recently replaced turbo is gone as well, which means I need everything but the fuel & coolant systems.

Thus far, my search for engines has not gone well. Many of these used engine websites are full of bizarre jibberish that makes me think they are scams - and no matter what car I type in - Ferrari included - by golly they have it, ready to ship.

I'll try the one's suggested here.

I'd love to have the insurance company help, but it was off-road and I had to pay a huge towing bill since not even the towing company would help. It was a well known forest service road - which is not covered by my insurance either. The minute you leave the pavement, you're on your own.

Ironically, I was looking at skid plates for it last weekend.

If it was a forest service road it should be covered by insurance.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:33 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

If it was a forest service road it should be covered by insurance.

I'll give it a shot....but given the luck I've had thus far (none) I won't hold my breath.

Thank you...

- Chris

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 5:40 pm

papaindigo wrote:

Try http://car-part.com/ . It's a legit source.

Thanks.
I tried them....found 1 for $5,300. The listing says it has 45K on the engine. It doesn't give an exact address but does mention Gundies auto wrecking which could mean anywhere from Portland to Bellingham (full width of the state). I'll call them when they open tomorrow.

Does $5,300 seem right for this engine?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:48 pm

KeighJeigh wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

If it was a forest service road it should be covered by insurance.

I'll give it a shot....but given the luck I've had thus far (none) I won't hold my breath.

Thank you...

- Chris

If its a forest service road its still considered on road. DO NOT say off road, say you were on a marked forest service road. Plenty of people damage their vehicles on forest service roads and its covered by insurance.

Once again, you were on a public forest service road, you WERE NOT offroad. Your insurance covers you on public roads.

Completely remove the term "off road" from your vocabulary, don't breathe a breath of it to your insurance company. You were not offroad you were on road. No "hint hint, wink wink, nudge nudge" here, you were on a public forest service road, this is covered by insurance. You were not off road in any way.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:51 pm

Also, that price is typical for a used engine. However consider that a new long block can be ordered for about $2900 as of last report.

Also keep in mind, if you do need to replace the engine, if you are looking at paying someone to do it then it will likely be cheaper to sell your CRD for a few grand, and buy a replacement. I know its a crappy idea, but I have run the numbers so many times thats typically the way it is.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:42 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

Also, that price is typical for a used engine. However consider that a new long block can be ordered for about $2900 as of last report.

Also keep in mind, if you do need to replace the engine, if you are looking at paying someone to do it then it will likely be cheaper to sell your CRD for a few grand, and buy a replacement. I know its a crappy idea, but I have run the numbers so many times thats typically the way it is.

I don't have the time to keep up with house repairs, fix my truck or deal with the obnoxious black bear that has been hassling us nightly....not sure how I would find the time to yank the engine myself. I definitely cannot afford another car right now. :dizzy:

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Sun Jul 01, 2012 7:47 pm

KeighJeigh wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

Also, that price is typical for a used engine. However consider that a new long block can be ordered for about $2900 as of last report.

Also keep in mind, if you do need to replace the engine, if you are looking at paying someone to do it then it will likely be cheaper to sell your CRD for a few grand, and buy a replacement. I know its a crappy idea, but I have run the numbers so many times thats typically the way it is.

I don't have the time to keep up with house repairs, fix my truck or deal with the obnoxious black bear that has been hassling us nightly....not sure how I would find the time to yank the engine myself. I definitely cannot afford another car right now. :dizzy:

With the engine you found locally by the time you pay a shop to do the repair you might have a total of $7000 spent to get it running again.

You could buy a replacement for 9k. Sell yours for 3-4k, and still come out ahead.

First contact your insurance company, you hit a peice of debris while on a forest service road, they should cover a replacement.

As for the bear, three words, ROCK SALT.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon Jul 02, 2012 3:18 am

Sir Sam wrote:

With the engine you found locally by the time you pay a shop to do the repair you might have a total of $7000 spent to get it running again.
You could buy a replacement for 9k. Sell yours for 3-4k, and still come out ahead.
First contact your insurance company, you hit a peice of debris while on a forest service road, they should cover a replacement.
As for the bear, three words, ROCK SALT.

Leaning now more toward doing it myself.... :furious:

Perhaps I should put in the European torque converter while it's out.....

Went onto Craigslist tonight & picked up a mint condition Ruger Airhawk 1000 fps rifle for $80, stopped by the local reservation for some M80s....and now prepared for the bear for under $100.

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Mon Jul 02, 2012 4:41 pm

Factory engine is only a couple hundred more than the used one. I thought it had a turbo with it, but neither of them do.....so depending upon the condition of the turbo (I'm guessing it's shot) it will be between $7,800 - $9,000 for this debacle.

fastRob · **Posted:** Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:04 am

I feel your pain.
Whenever I look to replace the diesel weasel it gets fixed again.
Hard to beat these things or are we stupid?

KeighJeigh · **Posted:** Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:07 am

fastRob wrote:

I feel your pain.
Whenever I look to replace the diesel weasel it gets fixed again.
Hard to beat these things or are we stupid?

Yep, I'm in the same leaky boat. VERY ironically, a colleague asked me about buying a new vehicle today. He said he wants something that gets good mpgs, can 4x4, tow a trailer, is affordable, and is fast. I immediately said the only thing I knew of was the Jeep Liberty CRD - of which I own TWO. "But get a full skid plate for it!!" I had been warned on this forum numerous times that these have a vulnerable point with the stock skid plate near the oil filter....and indeed last week I looked at skid plates for it....but I was too late.

Much of the advice in here (as long as it doesn't involve government conspiracies, black helicopters, or alien interference) is quite sound and worth paying attention to.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:41 am

So what did your insurance company say when you told them you ran over a rock on a forest service road? (not offroad!)

Time for a new engine....

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