Looking for help in Fresno Ca

Alwaysreadyrob

2002 7.3 POWERSTROKE 4x4
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Ok, here is a question for the group on how to proceed;
So a mechanic has had my truck for about 4-6 months, I originally DROVE it to a friend of mine to have the injectors changed out because it had been way over 120,000 miles so I got a fresh set of stage 1 from R&D , my friend was takin forever and didn't have the time so I had it towed to a mechanic I found online and he was working on it, while I was out fighting fires and makin good money I decided to get an R&D air induction kit, a set of R&D fuel rails and sent my turbo out to rebuild and do some upgrades, I even bought new steel fuel lines and had them and air cleaner tube powder coated. So i went to pick it up and it didn't make it 20 miles and died. Told it was the IP, so I sent the IP out for rebuild and upgrades as well, while that was happening i had the mechanic take out both fuel tanks and replace the entire fuel level units and I bought a glow plug fuel relocation kit from and a nice aluminum washer fluid tank. I also had him install a water temp gauge in my 4 pod pillar He told me the throttle was sticking too so I forked out the 210.00 for a new one and he said he cut it and modified it to make a bracket so he wouldn't have to pull the turbo off. Fast forward to yesterday, i went to pick it up and it was idling when i got there, so i jumped in to test drive it before i tried the 60 mile drive up the mountain from Fresno Ca to Oakhurst Ca. As soon as I got on the rd i noticed no power and it wont go over 40 mph now. He says it’s something electric and he doesn't work on electric problems, oh we also replaced the FIPL and the one he replaced was only 2-3 yrs replaced. Now I don't know what to do, i don't think he's going to work on it, I just need to decide if I'm going to pay him the full $ 750.00 ( for uninstalling and reinstalling the IP ONLY because ALL other work previously paid for. So do i try to negotiate a price compromise and just tow it to a dealership ? Im starting not to trust a lot of mechanic shops because I'm not a mechanic but i do know when they are trying to take advantage its happened a lot up here in the mountains by Yosemite National Park. I also am not sure if he will give me a itemized list of all the work hes done so I can pass it to another mechanic. What to do what to do ?
I don't want to involve the Bureau of Automotive Repair just yet unless I have to but I have experience with that and Small Claims Court if need be but hopefully it doesn't have to go there, i am getting bad vibes because he didn't answer my txt messages telling him don't give up keep trying.

Signed,
Very Frustrated IDIT owner who loves his truck and honestly about to cry!
There ! I said it !!!
 

Alwaysreadyrob

2002 7.3 POWERSTROKE 4x4
Joined
Aug 31, 2012
Posts
425
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Location
OAKHURST CA
Ok, here is a question for the group on how to proceed;
So a mechanic has had my truck for about 4-6 months, I originally DROVE it to a friend of mine to have the injectors changed out because it had been way over 120,000 miles so I got a fresh set of stage 1 from R&D , my friend was takin forever and didn't have the time so I had it towed to a mechanic I found online and he was working on it, while I was out fighting fires and makin good money I decided to get an R&D air induction kit, a set of R&D fuel rails and sent my turbo out to rebuild and do some upgrades, I even bought new steel fuel lines and had them and air cleaner tube powder coated. So i went to pick it up and it didn't make it 20 miles and died. Told it was the IP, so I sent the IP out for rebuild and upgrades as well, while that was happening i had the mechanic take out both fuel tanks and replace the entire fuel level units and I bought a glow plug fuel relocation kit from and a nice aluminum washer fluid tank. I also had him install a water temp gauge in my 4 pod pillar He told me the throttle was sticking too so I forked out the 210.00 for a new one and he said he cut it and modified it to make a bracket so he wouldn't have to pull the turbo off. Fast forward to yesterday, i went to pick it up and it was idling when i got there, so i jumped in to test drive it before i tried the 60 mile drive up the mountain from Fresno Ca to Oakhurst Ca. As soon as I got on the rd i noticed no power and it wont go over 40 mph now. He says it’s something electric and he doesn't work on electric problems, oh we also replaced the FIPL and the one he replaced was only 2-3 yrs replaced. Now I don't know what to do.
 

yARIC008

Drives really slow
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So... hang on here, you're going to need to describe the problem better. When in neutral/park, does the engine rev up to 3k RPM okay? Is it the engine that isn't actually producing power or is it the transmission stuck in second gear so you can't go over 40mph? Do you have a boost gauge, are you getting boost? Are you dumping black smoke out the tail pipe? Do you have an EGT gauge? Does your overdrive light work? Does it Blink?

There really isn't anything on the "making power" side of the engine that is control by electronics. If the injector pump/injectors/compression is good, she'll make power. All the FIPL/TPS does is tell the transmission computer when to shift gears. If that is out of whack severely it might not know when to shift gears. That can be easily checked if you know your way around a multimeter and can be easily adjusted by loosening two screws on it.
 

Kizer

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I'm sorry to hear about your "mechanic" troubles.
If you can "
to describe the problem better.
" that would be helpful in the diagnosis.

How does it "act" from 0 to current top speed (under full throttle)? Sluggish? Lots of smoke? If so, what color does the smoke appear to be?

not sure if he will give me a itemized list of all the work hes done

No itemized invoice = no pay ... in my book.
 

Alwaysreadyrob

2002 7.3 POWERSTROKE 4x4
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Yar , I am here to pick the truck up now and towing to a friend who is a Mechanic for the City of Fresno, all very good questions so stay tuned as I will have better answers in the next few days.... this will be if anything an expensive learning experience
 

IDIBRONCO

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As for the (apparent) lack of power, I wonder if he pulled the pump gear housing off to remove the pump. If he did, he probably didn't get the gear timing right. The turbo shouldn't have to be removed in order to change out the throttle cable and there's no reason to make some kind of mounting bracket for it either (assuming that this isn't some different type of turbo that I haven't seen before). This whole thing sounds fishy to me. I'd be real reluctant to pay him the whole price. I'd also most likely be reporting him to somebody.
 

Selahdoor

How can I help you, or make you laugh, today?
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As for the (apparent) lack of power, I wonder if he pulled the pump gear housing off to remove the pump. If he did, he probably didn't get the gear timing right. The turbo shouldn't have to be removed in order to change out the throttle cable and there's no reason to make some kind of mounting bracket for it either (assuming that this isn't some different type of turbo that I haven't seen before). This whole thing sounds fishy to me. I'd be real reluctant to pay him the whole price. I'd also most likely be reporting him to somebody.
I like when someone else says what I have been thinking.
 

Alwaysreadyrob

2002 7.3 POWERSTROKE 4x4
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Its already paid 100.00 discount :( yay. Im thinking the Bureau of Automotive Repair?
Hes probably reading the post but my ties are fully cut now. I will post the narrative of what he did ladtly for the truck which was remove the IP AAabd send it back for a minor metering problem then reinstall. When he sent it there was still tuel in it so they wouldn’t accept it so he cleaned it ip, left the module on side of IP that was brand new and it broke during shipping.
 

Alwaysreadyrob

2002 7.3 POWERSTROKE 4x4
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OAKHURST CA
No hes not a member as far as I know but I did turn him on to the site when it became apparent to me he didnt know much at all about these old trucks. I also hooked him up with Another member as a means to guide him through the things he was unfamiliar with. Now im trying to be nice here and i guess i put my trust in him because he is a certified diesel mechanic according to him and he works on the big diesel freeway pushers. Hard to believe myself that he got taken down by a 1994 IDIT sheesh ! Not to mention the thousands i paid to get the truck fixed and running only to have to tow it away.
 
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