Lone Star Engine Installation ripoff, poor workmanship, lied, Mis-leading on warrenty, stole propriety not willing to work out issues with Dallas Texas

On October 15, 2004 I performed the following functions and there were several days there after this date I tried to correct the mistakes that transpired at Lone Star Engine Installation 305 S Carroll Ave., Dallas, TX 75226 Phone: (214) 821-1105. I own a 1989 Chevy 1/2 ton pick-up. It had engine problems, so I brought it to Lone Star Engine Installation to look at it. David at Lone Star Engine suggested that a new engine be installed. The estimate of $1145.00 was given.

I gave the OK to start the work. Later that week David called and left a message on my answering machine. I called and talked to David and he said that he needed an additional $577.80 to complete the job. He claimed that several items were broken on the engine. Now my hands are handcuffed because they have pulled the engine and torn it apart so there is no choice but to OK the additional charges. When I went to pick up the truck the bill had a new total of $1823.69, an additional $100.89 over what was agreed upon.

I reluctantly paid the new price. Mr. Rafael Sanchez , told me that the oil needs to be changed after the first 500 miles. I told him at that time that I was driving to Reading Michigan and he told me not to worry about changing the oil till I got to Reading Michigan. When I left the inside of the building I watched as they were finishing putting the fluids in to the truck. They added water to the truck without it running. This can crack the block. You would think that they would know this. I got in to the truck and started it. It ran terrible!! It shook, it would constantly misfiring, the check engine light was flashing off and on, the oil indicator did not work, and blue smoke was coming out of the back. The next day I found oil was all over the ground just below the engine where the truck sat that night.

What am I going to do? This truck has lots of problems. I called David who was the main person that I had talked to throughout the engine installation and explained to him all the problems that I was having. He asked that I bring the truck back in and I did so the next day. They looked for the engine leaks and said that they could not find any oil leak and that I was free to go. I asked about the other problems and he said to bring it back tomorrow. The next day I troubleshot the oil leakage and found it to be the power steering unit.

When this unit was removed to install the engine it was damaged. I can't prove it but it didn't leak before the truck was brought to Lone Star Engine Installation for the engine work. I arrived at Lone Star Engine Installation the next day and I explained to them about the power steering unit and that this is where the oil was coming from. They agreed and offered to fix the power steering unit for a very unreasonable price, which I didn't consider to be fair since I felt that they caused the damage. They looked at the oil-sending unit and said that it was the wiring to the dash. The oil-sending unit also worked before installation of new engine. David said that if I would buy an external oils -sending unit that he would have a mechanic install it free. The next day I bought a n external oil-sending unit and went to Lone Star Engine to have it installed.

When I got there Mr. Rafael Sanchez, President of Lone Star Engine Installation waited on me and said that they do not do any electrical work, referring to installation of the oil-sending unit, (this oil-sending unit isn't electrical at all). Mr. Rafael Sanchez said he was not going to do any work for me on getting the unit installed. I explained that without a way to monitor oil pressure you could cause serious damage to your engine and that I needed an oil-sending unit.

I reminded him of my trip to Reading Michigan and that he will be responsible for engine damage if it is due to low oil pressure that can't be monitored but this didn't concern him. He told me that I was responsible. No where is this listed in the warranty of the engine. He made me feel that he had my money and he wanted nothing more to do with me. He said that if there were a problem it would be my fault? I drove the truck to Reading Michigan and that night I took the truck to my mechanic. He looked things over and found the wiring of the engine.

Mainly the oil-sending unit was wired wrong at the engine where Lone Star Engine did the work. Lone Star Engine used the wrong nuts and bolts that hold the different parts of the engine. The transmission was connected with the wrong nuts and bolts and some of them were missing altogether. The drive parts like the power steering unit, generator, and others are connections that were done with the wrong bolts and nuts. The wrong torque was used on all of the parts. I was charged for antifreeze (2 gallons), which there were none in the engine when it was tested my mechanic, and the temperature that night went to 18 degree's. I was charged for engine oil-sending unit of $45.00. This unit didn't work, a new one was installed later by my mechanic. They claimed that the heads were cracked and charged $200.00 for their replacement. I asked for the old heads and they didn't give them to me? This is part of the bad things that has happened to me because I decided to deal and use the services of Lone Star Engine Installation, a member of the BBB system.

On 10/25/2004 I had a new engine installed into my 1989 Chevy Pickup by Lone Star Engine Installation Center Inc. Invoice Number 28259. They issued me a Limited Warranty on this engine for 1 year. After 2 months I noticed antifreeze in the oil. I took this pickup to my local mechanical and he verified that there was antifreeze in the oil and then tested for where the leak was and he found it. The installers at Lone Star Engine Installation Center caused the leak.

They did not align the intake manifold gasket properly. They allow the gasket to slip on installation and did not straighten the gasket. The installer poked new holes into the gasket. Lone Star Engine installation worked for about 2 months before trouble developed antifreeze leaking into the oil pan.

I can't help but to feel that Lone Star Engine had built these problems in to my engine knowing that I was out of state. I have documentation and a lawyer there in Dallas I am hoping that I will not have to visit the courtrooms there in Dallas to get my case settled. I have another claim before this one and I have not received a answer from.

I expect Lone Star Engine Installation Center to stand up to good business practices set forth by the BBB and good mechanical installation practices and to pay me back for the poor mechanical practices they did on this installation of the manifold gasket.

It cost me $357.88 to fix the gasket that Lone Star Engine Installation Center installed wrong. Also two oil changes and one gallon of antifreeze.
$357.88
42.00 oil
9.85 Antifreeze
Total $409.73

Fred
Reading, Michigan
U.S.A.