I started this blog to warn you about Destroyer Automotive in Riverside, CA. My experience was a complete nightmare, so I'm posting what happened from Late Dec '12 to mid '13.

In short- Destroyer installed an engine into my '91 Toyota 4Runner. There was problem after problem with their work and the engine itself.  The manager Robert Lane constantly lied. After 1575 miles, the engine went bad and Robert would not honor the warranty . I filed a complaint with BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repair) and the BAR rep sited Destroyer for charging $ for work not done, and for invoice violations, which showed that the engine installed was used, not remanufactured. I sued Destroyer in small claims court, and won the case.

Here's the detailed version of what happened-

Dec '12, I took my 91Toyota 4Runner to Destroyer Automotive and paid $3900.81 for a remanufactured engine installed. After the work was complete, on the drive home from their shop, the heater wasn't working, so I immediately went back. They said the heater hoses were hooked up correctly and that the heater core was plugged and not their responsibility. I took it to Idyllwild Garage and they found the heater hoses not hooked up correctly and also found the ac system overcharged, both caused by Destroyer. I paid $275 to Idyllwild Garage for the repairs. Later I found a vacuum line disconnected, a second vacuum line cracked and leaking and a wire not connected during the engine replacement, so I repaired those.

Feb '13, I had the 500 mile inspection done at Idyllwild Garage and they found 3 oil leaks from the engine. Destroyer repaired the oil leaks, but afterwards, on the drive home, there was a vibration coming from the rear of the car which I thought was an imbalanced wheel. Idyllwild Automotive found that the driveshaft was incorrectly installed (misaligned) during the oil leak repairs. I paid $200 to have the driveshaft realigned.

April '13 The battery slid into the power steering pulley wearing a hole in the side of the battery. The Battery should have been secured during the engine replacement.

I noticed the engine was burning 1 quart of oil in 975 miles. I called Robert and he said "Perfectly normal. No engine is efficient." A completely absurd statement.  

Later in April, the engine developed a loud clacking coming from the piston area. I towed the 4Runner back to Destroyer. Robert said the clacking was the valves and not to worry about it. I told him the sound was coming from the lower end, but he insisted that the sound was coming from the valves.  The "clacking" was very loud and sounded like the piston was about to come through the block, and obviously was NOT the valves.

Next, I towed the 4Runner to Gosch Toyota. They pulled off the valve cover and found adhesive on the valve cover gasket, (which is not supposed to used) a bent oil baffle plate rubbing on the overhead cam, and they determined that a piston was rocking in it's cylinder causing the clacking. They recommended replacing the engine short block assembly (Lower end) and having the heads sent for inspection. I paid $488.60 to Gosch Toyota.

At this point I was left with a defective engine with only 1575 miles on it. After all these problems, I filed a complaint with the Bureau of Automotive Repair. The representative said the invoice from the engine builder showed that it was a used engine, not remanufactured, and that I was charged for work that wasn't done. After dealing with Destroyers repeated mechanical incompetence, Roberts repeated dishonesty, and 3 return trips for repairs, I was left with a vehicle I couldn't drive. Robert set a pattern for how they operate their business, and I would have been a fool to return to their shop, once again.

My costs- $3900.81 to Destroyer for the engine.  $275 to Idyllwild Garage for repairs caused by Destroyer. $200 to Idyllwild Automotive to realign the driveshaft that Destroyer incorrectly installed. $488.60 to Gosch Toyota for repairs and diagnosis.  Other costs were for towing the 4Runner to the different shops. Total- $4953.10, not including having to buy a new battery.

I sued Destroyer (and won) in small claims court where Robert continued his lies, but this time directed to the judge. At the end of the case, I read from an addendum  titled "Pattern of Dishonesty and Incompetence by Destroyer Automotive" which is here-

1. Before the work, I asked if their shop had a fence so the 4runner would be kept secure. Robert said yes. Later I found out there is no fenced area at Destroyer.

2. Work was never started or completed when Robert said. I was told constant excuses.

3. From the beginning, I asked to have the original engine rebuilt. Robert gave an estimate of $1895. After the engine was removed, Robert called and said that the engine block was cracked and couldn’t be rebuilt so they’d have to sell me a remanufactured engine for $3700. I came to the shop unannounced and asked twice to see the damage on the engine. Then Robert changed his statement to “I don’t know if it’s cracked.” I looked at the engine and did not see a crack. The final bill was upped to $3900 without my approval.

4. Robert denied that they removed the driveshaft during the oil leak repairs, but then admitted that they removed the transmission to replace the rear main seal. To remove a transmission the drive shaft also has to be removed.

5. Robert said that engine clacking came from the valves (which are at the top of the engine), but the noise was coming from the lower end. On the receipt from Gosch Toyota, it reads “Clacking coming from lower end.” What Robert said about the valves was yet another lie. 

6. Concerning the incompetence- All the problems already mentioned, plus repeated valve cover leaks Destroyer couldn’t repair that Gosch Toyota had to resolve.