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What are the typical symptoms of engine problems? |
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Excessive smoke from tailpipe; excessive oil consumption; knocking
or tapping sounds; low oil pressure; low compression; water mixing
in oil; oil getting into the air cleaner and/or radiator. |
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What are the typical causes? |
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Normal mileage wear and tear; lubrication problems; excessive
overheating. |
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How do I find out what can be done to correct the problem? |
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Take your vehicle to a reputable service shop, dealer or installation
center and get a second opinion. Not all engine problems call
for engine replacement- often the problems are not serious and
may only require relatively minor repair or maintenance. |
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If the problems are serious, what are the alternatives? |
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Whether you plan to keep or sell your car, continued operation
in this instance will require engine overhaul or replacement.
The basic options are: a) rebuild the same engine, b) replace
it with a locally rebuilt engine, c) install a factory -supplied
remanufactured engine or d) put in a new engine. New engines are
not always available for all makes/models and are much more costly
than remanufactured units. |
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Should I invest in an engine or transmission or buy a new car? |
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Engine or
transmission replacement is more affordable than
many people realize and has become one of the
fastest growing segments of the automotive
industry. It can save thousands of dollars
compared to buying a new car. Just as there are
many new car owners who invest in other key
components such as exhaust and clutch
assemblies, so do millions of owners each year
elect to replace their worn-out or damaged
engines or transmissions. As a rule, replacing
the engine or transmission only makes good
economic sense if the rest of the car is in
relatively good condition. |
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Do I have to go to a dealer for engine replacement? |
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No. While dealers generally install quality remanufactured engines
or transmissions, the cost is usually high. A specialized engine
or transmission replacement shop carrying the same or better quality
engines or transmissions will almost always give a better overall
value- in terms of quality, service and price. |
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What are the typical costs and savings? |
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Installation of a quality remanufactured engine will usually cost
$1,700 to $2,700 for a typical American car. To rebuild or install
a rebuilt engine can range from $1,200 to $2,500 depending on
who does the job. Rebuilt engines, however, have fewer new components,
are not subject to uniform industry quality standards and specifications,
and have limited warranty protection. In either case, these figures
translate to about 5-15% of a typical new car cost. Additional
savings in annual insurance costs can also be significant compared
to a new car.. |
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How do you know if the engine or transmission is rebuilt or remanufactured? |
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Be sure to ask the installer before you commit. Warranty for a
rebuilt engine or transmission is normally provided only by the
local installer and is usually short in duration. A remanufactured
engine or transmission should carry a nationwide guarantee backed
by the engine or transmission maker, usually for 3 years/unlimited
miles or 3 years/100,000 miles. |
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What is different about rebuilding and remanufacturing? |
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Typically a rebuilt engine or transmission will have a much shorter
life than a remanufactured unit because the process is much less
precise and, therefore, less predictable. Here are a few key differences: Rebuilding
is done mostly in local shops. Each job is handled differently
and depends upon the judgement and skill of the individual mechanic.
Parts believed to be serviceable are cleaned and reused to the
maximum extent possible. Only worn or broken parts are actually
replaced. If reused components subsequently fail or break, diagnosis
and repair can be very costly. Remanufacturing is a factory process.
It starts with a sound, undamaged engine or transmission core
that is carefully cleaned, conditioned and machined to OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) tolerance specifications. All wearable
components are systematically replaced with new parts including
pistons, piston rings, valves, lifters, or in the case of transmissions,
torque convertors, clutches, etc. Remanufacturing is similar to
building a new engine- including standardized procedures and quality
controls- and final factory testing before shipment. |
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Are all remanufactured engines and transmissions built to the
same quality levels? |
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No. As for every product, some manufacturers are better than others,
and some are far more superior. Quality suppliers conform to strict
manufacturing and testing standards, use only OEM quality components,
and back their products with solid warranties. Only a relatively
small number are fully certified by original car makers. For example,
of dozens of suppliers in the US, only five are fully certified
under Ford Motor Company's stringent Q-1 program. Bridgewater
Motorworks handles only quality remanufactured engines from Q-1
companies and other proven, reliable suppliers. |
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How important is the installation process? |
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Very important. For a good quality remanufactured engine or transmission,
the chance of a defect is well under 5%. The risk of problems
can increase to over 50%, however, with improper installation.
Replacing an engine or transmission is a skillful and complex
task requiring knowledgeable and experienced people. Bridgewater
Motorworks specializes in this business and employs the right
equipment, tools and highly experienced mechanics. Our shop typically
replaces between 15 and 25 engines per week, as compared to what
may be only 1 or 2 in an entire month at general repair centers
and even many dealerships. Be sure to check on the experience
of the installer before investing in a replacement engine or transmission. |
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How long will the replacement engine or transmission last? |
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A quality remanufactured engine or transmission, with proper maintenance,
is capable of lasting as long as a new engine or transmission.
The process of rebuilding engines or transmissions is less predictable
and may only last through the limited warranty period or not much
beyond. |
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What warranty period should I get? |
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A minimum to look for is 12 months/12,000 miles, we offer warranties
up to 36 months/100,000 miles on engines and transmissions. . Be careful about extended coverage plans.
This is not necessary for a high quality engine or transmission
that is backed by the manufacturer. Some installers boast about
a much longer warranty period but rarely back it up or stay in
business long enough to handle any claims. |
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Why Bridgewater Motorworks? |
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Finding a reliable engine or transmission specialist when you need one- at an affordable price- is not an easy task. There are thousands of gas stations, garages and dealers who may handle engine or transmission work- usually at very high prices- but very few who are expert. And what about choosing from more than 120 remanufacturers and over 6000 rebuilders? Bridgewater Motorworks has done the research for you- you can be assured of the best quality, installation and price. Before investing money in your car's engine or transmission, be sure to check with Bridgewater Motorworks where the very best really does cost much less. |
