I bought a Ford 2.9l engine for my Bronco. I did what I thought was enough homework and based on their warranty and price I thought I made the right choice. I had the engine delivered to my mechanic. Since this truck is not my daily driver I told him to take his time. It took a couple weeks for him to get it done.
My mechanic called me to let me know the truck was ready and my core was packed on the pallet and ready to return also. I called GULU to let him know I was ready for a pick up. He informed me I was past the return date and was therefore out my $500 deposit. I pleaded with him and told him never saw the receipt stating the return period was only 15 days since it went to the mechanic. He wouldn't hear it.
I just wrote it off since there was really nothing I could do. I live in West Virginia, he is in California. I was just happy to have my truck back on the road. But that wasn't the end.
A couple months later I started to see gray smoke coming out of the exhaust. I took it back to my mechanic. He told one of my push rods was not connected and fixed it. If the engine passed quality control how could a push rod be disconnected? I called West LA and told them the findings of the mechanic and asked if I could have my repairs reimbursed since it was still under warranty. GULU informed me the only way he would reimburse the repairs was if he could speak to the mechanic. I gave my mechanic the number and he called. GULU became argumentative and implied my mechanic (who has been in business for 20 some years) didn't know what he was talking about.
Again, I wrote it off since it was only $100.
My troubles still weren't over. Again my truck started smoking. This time it started smoking and sputtering even worse than before. I took it back to my mechanic. He checked it out and found BOTH heads were warped. Again, I called West LA and asked about their warranty. GULU told me he would be happy to cover the repairs. If I had the engine removed and sent it back to California to be tested. I told him this was ridiculous and it didn't make sense to send the engine back to California when I can have it repaired right here.
He told me that was the only was he would cover any warranty work because otherwise HE might get ripped off. Never mind the $600 I have already lost, lets not have him get ripped off.
I had the heads resurfaced at a local machine shop. Between the shop time and the machine shop I spent $1100 on this repair. The truck runs great now and I haven't had a problem in nearly 2 years. But this ready to use, remanufactured engine with a 3 Years Unlimited Miles Extended Coverage - AT NO CHARGE warranty ended up costing me $1700.
So, for the money I thought I was saving by not buying a Jasper engine, I ended up spending much more than it would have cost my getting a Jasper in the first place.
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