This request involves a legal issue for NSW-registered Zed owners. Anyone who knows, or knows of, a Zed owner who has had an engine transplant, gearbox replacement, diff or air conditioner replaced in the past 12 months is advised to contact me with details at earliest opportunity. Stolen items are involved, and all are traceable, so ignoring this request could involve the owner/s, whether Forum Members or not, in a major legal issue. Early contact may be able to prevent charges, or other consequences, occurring to affected Zed owner/s. This is a serious issue, and warrants the attention of all Forum Members.
Hi Mike, I think you need to be a bit more specific with this request(there have been numerous Zed owners in NSW who could have done any or all of the above). Cheers Lloyd:zlove:
Not to mention the whole thing could have been worded a littler nicer...? Just comes off as one giant threat to me... MoulaZX
Ok... Chili says more specifics, you think I should be "nicer".... I sourced a very low-mileage engine from a reputable dealer and, on recommendation, had it sent to a 'workshop' at Kirrawee in Sydney (not JustJap who were unable to fit same at that time). My existing engine was in good condition having fairly recently had a '100K service' with plenum pull and all hoses replaced, etc. I received a verbal quote for the transplant and was told the job would be finished the day after the car was delivered. I drove across Sydney and left the car. Checking next day (Wed) was told car would be ready Friday. Friday was told they had another major job on and car would be ready 'next week'. Multiple excuses followed and, being a trusting fella, I accepted the delay... two weeks later the car was ready. I paid the (increased by $200!) fee and went to drive off, only to find my steering wheel in a vertical rather than horizontal position (??). Easily fixed, but strange... Got onto the road in front of the workshop before noticing a crack in the windscreen (??)... the owner was not there but mechanic agreed they would have it replaced (which they later organised after a trip back to their workshop). Meantime, I had advertised and received interest for the original motor for $1500. The workshop owner then offered me $1000 for same as he had another Zed owner client requiring a replacement motor and to save me having to pick-up and transport it. Seemed fair, altho' a bit low, but I agreed. Weeks later, still no payment; many phone calls, e-mails, and fanciful stories about the other Zed owner not paying him (??... are you out there, fellow ripped-off Zed owner???), as well as much abuse later, still no payment. After driving the car since, I have determined my gearbox and diff have been replaced, I have no air conditioning or heating (unit had been serviced and properly re-gassed with legal gas not long previously), my power steering was leaking, various air-bleed hoses had not been connected on the engine... A case of caveat emptor...?? Or, a massive bloody rip-off and stolen items transferred into another Zed owner's car. My gearbox was a fully reconditioned unit fitted by a specialist gearbox company, current one has great difficulty reaching overdrive ratio and is very noisy; ditto my air conditioner. Unfortunately, my diff was standard, but did NOT make any noise in running... current one is noisy. Meantime, I've finished spraying the car and now just need to get to work with polishing and buffing... but, don't have a real lot of incentive!!! Is it the familiar Zed curse? Or, just the f...ing rip-off thieves that pose as legitimate workshops. Must talk to my sons and see if I can't organise another Tech Day... might cheer me up!!
Have you notified the RTA that you have swapped engines(and recorded the new engine number)? Have you also reported the possibility that your old engine number may re-surface in another car? Have you taken your car to the gearbox specialist who sold you the G/Box(to determine whether it is a different unit now in your car)? Have you checked the gas in the A/C(there is every possibility that gas was lost during the engine swap)? Are there any obvious physical signs that the Diff has been removed and replaced? If any(or all)of the above can be determined, you should immediately report same to the Department of Fair Trading(who are able to investigate and prosecute the offending party, and obtain compensation for your loss). Cheers Lloyd
How do you expect to trace the diff, gearbox and aircon? The only thing with a number on is the engine, and that is not hard to 'adjust'.
Lots of sharks in the water when it comes to grey imports. Theiving bastards need their friggin' hands cut off. Better off studying & learning how to do the work yourself. TRUST NO-ONE!!!
Definitely a big believer of this one from now on! You can't trust anyone these days... even those people around you at times. They appear to be friendly and courteous superficially coz they want something from you. Eventually shows up their true skin when put on fire! Freakin' oath! Will keep an eye for you, Mike... Arvin
You can get them electronically engraved, only comes up under a certain light also so the person wouldn't know unless they had the right gear to check
This really blows! I try to do all work myself because of workshops not doing as promised in the past. This just reaffirms my mindset. Luckily I'm reasonably competant in the mechanical dept given my trade background. Never the less theft if it is proven to have taken place should not be something that should have to be dealt with! If is proven to have happened, my those involved be dealt with swiftly and harshly!
If someone's in the wrong, they're in the wrong. Period. Abide by law... or suffer the consequences otherwise. Swiftly and harshly, that is! Good one, Nick... AAA
I know the exact place you're talking of, I've been there once and I'm not going back! Name and shame them, if it's the same place I'm thinking of they are cheap, but dodgey! However saying that there Is another fantastic place in kirrawee in the auto plaza near all the dealers and he knows our cars inside out!!
Yep, name and shame stupid people who think we were born yesterday! They don't deserve our respect... more so, laying hands on zeds! AAA
The time for "naming & shaming" is after Mike has pursued all the legal entitlements open to him, and has successfully obtained recompense, NOT BEFOREHAND! To do otherwise could lead to Mike being sued for slander(if he is unable to prove his claims/suspicions). If Mike is correct, he can win this without outlaying one cent(if he is not, he could be in a world of hurt). There is an old/wise Chinese saying, "Slowly, slowly, catchee Monkey".
Mike have you crosschecked your VIN mumber with your rego? Sounds a shade of rebirthing going on. You did get you original car back? Might sound a bit out there, but just check to be sure.
There's not a shadow of doubt that Mike has got HIS car. The problems are that he has not been paid for the spare engine he sold to the workshop concerned(and his suspicions concerning the Gearbox and Diff).
I'm not going to weigh into the right or wrong side of the argument, but just offer some insight into what might cause the symptoms you are experiencing, in a mechanical context: Steering wheel: Linkage could have been removed to remove engine, and re-installed incorrectly (Wheels 'straight' steering wheel cocked when splines are re-aligned). Not 'best practice' but plausible. Air conditioning: Removal of compressor with the engine requires a re-gas. They have either drained the aircon gas, and not refilled it, or have infact removed engine without the aircon compressor, which has pinched a hosse, or fitting which can cause a slow leak. Heating not fitted: Just a result of poor workmanship, it would either drain all fluid and remain disconnected, or be bypassed for the heater to not work. Misc hoses disconnected: Once again, poor workmanship, not knowing what goes where and having limited knowledge about the car and its systems. Gearbox issues: As part of the engine removal, its likely that they have transferred the torque convertor and flex plate to the new engine. Incorrect install can lead to weird shifting issues, maybe some sort of imbalance, and this may also present as vibration in the rear. Just a thought on this one. I presume it has fluid and everything. That's just my view on what could be at play if theft and skullduggery were not involved. Poor workmanship could be the root cause of all symptome, furthermore backed up by continual shifting of the finish date (delays due to incompetence perhaps?). Also keep in mind that a low Km engine may not mean that it's 100% free of mechanical issues. I truly hope you get to the bottom of this mike, and all problems are solved with the minimum of hassle. -mitch
