On February 11, I purchased a re manufactured engine for my 1995 Dodge Caravan from a business then known as Cash and Carry Engine Exchange, then located at 1716 West Broadway Road, Mesa, AZ 85202. I was told the warranty would be 5 years and unlimited mileage. I specifically inquired as to the warranty terms if installed by the consumer and was told the warranty would remain in effect so long as maintenance records were retained. I purchased the engine from this business because time was of the essence and the owner, known as Roman, indicated he had the engine in stock and could deliver it the following day. I then paid in full for the engine and awaited delivery. The following day I had not heard from the establishment, and when I contacted them, I was told there was a problem and the engine would be ready the following day. This pattern continued for eight consecutive days, until the engine was finally delivered. Two days after installing the motor, a freeze plug blew out of it and left me stranded. I contacted the establishment and advised them of the breakdown. Roman indicated he would have the vehicle towed for repairs. Four days later, I was told the vehicle was ready, but when I arrived to pick it up, Roman advised me I owed him for the repair and the tow bill. I refused to pay the bill, as the fault was within the engine build, and not the installation. After two thousand miles, the engine began making a loud ticking sound. I contacted Roman and brought the vehicle to his repair facility to have him observe the noise for himself and to have the problem corrected. Roman advised me that since I installed the engine, he would have to charge me $65.00 to have his mechanic step out to the front of the office and listen to the engine, to which I refused. He then indicated that if I removed the engine and returned it to him he would honor the warranty. On June 2, I removed the engine and attempted to return it to Cash and Carry Engine Exchange. However, upon arrival to 1716 West Broadway Road, Mesa, I discovered the business was no longer there, having a landlord eviction notice being posted in the window of their former business office. I later learned that Roman was now doing business at 19 E. Broadway in Mesa, under the business name Best Engine exchange. I contacted Roman there, and advised him of my intent to return the engine for warranty repairs. He responded by stating that he remembered me as the guy who wouldn't pay the tow bill, called me a "liar, " and stated that he was "through talking to me."
I persisted at the business office and was greeted then by a gentleman calling himself Aaron. After explaining the situation, he advised he would have his engine builder look at it and he would call me on Friday (June 6.) He then had two Hispanic employees lift the engine out of the back of my truck and hand carry (the 600 lb engine) into the building. I then requested a receipt for the return of the engine, and was given a work order stating that I had returned a "core" engine. (This is the term used in engine rebuilding for a damaged / inoperable engine in need of rebuilding). Aaron refused to specify on the receipt that this was in fact their newly rebuilt engine, I suspect in an attempt to make the receipt appear as though I was in fact returning my original inoperable engine. I then personally wrote on the receipt that it was the rebuilt engine being returned for warranty work. On June 6, I received no call from anyone at the business by noon, so I attempted to contact him there by telephone. However, each of my repeated telephone calls were either put on hold and then hung up, or I was told no-one was available to speak to me.
In doing research on this company, I have discovered that the individual known As "Roman, " who claims to own and operate this business, is selling inferior rebuilt engines and is building them with poorly or untrained employees. (Aftyer disassembling the motor later at a credible machine shop, I discovered cheaply made gaskets, leaking freeze plugs and fender washers on 4 of the 16 head bolts.)
He has had numerous complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau, but is not a member. He does not respond to the complaints, rather, he exhausts his consumer base and then changes locations and business names and begins the cycle again. (He was evicted from his address at 1716 W. Broadway, as evidenced by my photographs of the landlords notice of eviction for failure to pay rent.)
His most recent business name was "Cash and Carry engine exchange, located at 1716 W. Broadway road Suite #101 in Mesa.
Aftyer 8 days, Roman advised me there was no problem with the engine and wanted $300 to reassemble the heads.
I took it to a reputable machine shop, where we disassembled the engine and found that the number 4 piston had been improperly assembled, causing the piston to be unable to rotate freely on the piston pin, causing damage to the piston and the cylinder wall.
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