Roush Crate Engine

[Tony Ripepi]

Hello All,

There is another thread by this name looking for information From Chris L. this is to let all know that even a large shop that has a great reputation can be a problem.

We have one of our local guys that bought a Roush engine had it installed in his SPF and after 10k miles developed a bad cylinder. It was out of warranty but, Roush made amends and asked that it be returned to them for analysis and repair. They committed that any upgrades or refreshing not attributable to defects would be subject to fees and that any repairs due to defective parts or process would be given consideration.

We got together as a group from the BACC and had an engine removal party; the engine was packed appropriately and shipped to Roush. They have had it for three weeks and now the owner is being slow walked/Grin Fuxxxd with no feed back or resolution.

We are all watching to see how the Roush organization is handling one of our members that have shown an enormous amount of trust.

Anxious minds want to know.......

TR

[RodKnock]

I think it was Roush that started the whole 2-year warranty program thing and then a lot of the other crate engine builder followed suit. I would interested in hearing the results too. I bet there are a lot of Roush engines out there in SPF's.

I was planning on buying a Roush engine for my Sunbeam Tiger, but ultimately sold it. So I never bought a Roush engine. I just bought a crate engine for my Kirkham, but haven't installed it yet. However, I purchased it from an engine builder who's somewhat local to me, instead of going the Roush route. Also, the Roush FE's are enormously expensive compared to most FE crate engine builders, but I assumed that the extra expense was to fund the warranty program.

[Got the Bug]

I've got a Roush 402SR in my car and encountered an oil leak after 2K miles (leaking oil galley plug). The installer (who is also a Roush dealer) is doing the warranty work and facilitated the warranty arrangements with Roush. The process to get authorization is a bit slow, but Roush hasn't balked at covering the parts (new clutch) and labor.

I know that it took Roush a LONG time to rebuild one the South Bay folk's 427s, but they came through in the end.

[Tony Ripepi]

Doug,

Was the engine in question still under warranty?

The BACC member that has his engine sitting at Roush is out of warranty but, they being very cooperative and offering verbal support.

As we all learn "Actions speak louder than words"

TR

[Cobra #42]

Guys, I have worked with Roush on many engine projects and they have always been very helpful. If the person that is having a problem with their engine would send me an email I will get them in touch with the project manager for Roush. don@texasdrivingexperience.com:

[Got the Bug]

Tony,

The work that I'm having done is under warranty. I think I know the person/situaiton in question. I've been waiting a couple of months to get my car back, so a bit of patience may be needed for an out of warranty repair.

[Tony Ripepi]

Thanks Doug,

The issue is that the weather has turned into great Cobra days.......We are ready to put it back in once it gets rebuilt and shipped back. There has been zero action from Roush so far other than lip service.

TR

[Got the Bug]

Tony,

I can relate! All of this nice weather and no car is making me crazy. I'm just glad they started the repair process in dead of winter and hope to be back on the road by mid-March. I'm also looking forward to getting my car back so I can get to the BAR and finish up my SB100 stuff and get plates.

[madmaxx]

There is not excuse, why would any warranty issue take longer than 4 weeks? I would read the contract word for word and determine if there is a time limit on resolutions.

[mln385]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

There is not excuse, why would any warranty issue take longer than 4 weeks? I would read the contract word for word and determine if there is a time limit on resolutions.

Well I wouldn't want to be in this situation but 4 weeks to me seems about right here is why.

1st week pull motor and ship to livonia MI.
2nd week arrives in Mi. sits waiting for technician to work his way to it from other jobs he/she is working on.(remeber they are building other engines besides this one)
3rd week technician uncrates and starts the tear down to see what happened. Once figured out brings determination and results of teardown to superiors for determination of claim.

4th week if it is determined a warranty claim engine is re-assembled and dyno'd then shipped out.

5th week arrrives back at garage to await re-install in car.

Now I know no one in this postition likes this time frame but this is a high performance motor that has to shipped then torn down and rebuilt then shipped again, none of which happens in a weeks time.

Just my to pennies anywho.....

[mtml427]

I sure hope Rousch steps-to-the-plate better than G.M. performance did on my son's heads on a ZZ383 he has. There was a casting flaw in the aluminum that caused a depression outside the number seven combustion chamber. The depression allowed a blown head gasket symtom. The engine was out of warranty and that was their response. In the end, we bought new heads and just wrote it off to experience.

[madmaxx]

The only good warranty experience I have had in my life was a $399 ProForm Treadmill which cost $89!!! I ran the heck out of it for two years and finally the front roller broke, I called the warranty service, lady shows up 2 days later at my house, make repairs and tells me not to hesitate to call. I used it another years and speed control breaks, I call and once again 2 days later tech shows up repairs.

I asked the tech how they ever make money, tech said most people never use the treadmills except for coat hangers, LOL!!!

If you are under warranty learn your states deceptive trade practices act. You get 4 times the damages for blatantly deceptive trade practices and at worst you will get dollar for dollar.

[Got the Bug]

Ideal world, sunny day, birds are chirping and things are as dependable as Rolex watch. Not quite the case in the real world.

I guess after 8 weeks I should file a lawsuit for "deceptive practices?" Don't think so.

[madmaxx]

dependable as Rolex watch? I have a couple and they are either 2 seconds fast or slow depending on how I lay them down at night. No problem though, it is a characteristic of the watch that my authorized dealer informed me prior to the purchase. Obviously 8 weeks is not long enough but long enough to start reviewing agreements.

Funny thing all the SPF and BDR dealers I spoke with had nothing but excellent reviews of Roush and their exceptional warranty service. Now that I think about 8 weeks is to long.

[mln385]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

dependable as Rolex watch? I have a couple and they are either 2 seconds fast or slow depending on how I lay them down at night. No problem though, it is a characteristic of the watch that my authorized dealer informed me prior to the purchase. Obviously 8 weeks is not long enough but long enough to start reviewing agreements.

Funny thing all the SPF and BDR dealers I spoke with had nothing but excellent reviews of Roush and their exceptional warranty service. Now that I think about 8 weeks is to long.

Agreed.....8 weeks is a long time,as for the BDR and SPF dealers reccomending Roush.
It is the best option for them they provide a warrantied component factory built vehicle with a warrantied engine from a large corp.

So if there is an issue they go to Roush and Roush pays them to remove and ship the engine, best scenario for them as far as business goes.
Also if it takes an excessive amount of time they have a scape - goat not them.

Not saying the Roush engines or warranty are bad just as far as warranty's go they take about as much turn around time as a $5.00 rebate for toothpaste!!

My BDR Is on order and yes it will have a Roush engine in it, did the dealer reccomend it yes is that why it is on order no. I have been around the Roush arena for 6 years I know their quirks but they do have a good engineereed product.
I do suggest not buying just because of dealer's suggestion ask for owner references I did, and one of the references is having a warranty claim and he still is staying with the Roush engine and recomends it.

So if an owner who has his engine out for warranty and the car is laid up while it is out yet still would do it all over again I figure it is worth my effort as well.

One big seller if you are many miles from your point of sale you can stop at any Roush ford dealer for warranty work if needed it is the network of dealers that makes this worthwhile at least to me.

Marc

[madmaxx]

Got the bug,

I 100% agree Roush should cover. If I knew the problem such as it appears you dealer does, a leaking galley plug and it is as simple as removing and applying some sealant and replacing the friction disc for the clutch I repair myself in an instant, send the photos to Roush and if they cover great, if not never buy again from them but at least you are back on the road. I could see Roush taking time on a blown engine, but a leaking galley plug, who would claim that if not true? No excuse would you give you gm dealer 8 weeks to fix your car?

[Got the Bug]

Madmaxx,

There's no reason in the world I'd go to the trouble of pulling the trans to fix the problem myself, when all of the parts and labor is covered under warranty. Roush is coverng everything including a new clutch.

Part of the delay was the dealer's backlog of work and had nothing to do with Roush's authorization to do the repairs. I wouldn't give a GM dealer 8 weeks to fix my car, but I'd fully expect to have go back 8 times to fix the original problem.

[madmaxx]

My misunderstanding, I thought Roush was the delay. You wrote "I wouldn't give a GM dealer 8 weeks to fix my car, but I'd fully expect to have go back 8 times to fix the original problem". LOL!!! You nailed that one.

[Tony Ripepi]

Warranty,

The word means different things to different manufacturers.

MBZ defined it for me when my 1987 300E Turbo diesel lost the turbo in 1995 with 180,000 miles on it they replaced the turbo, intercooler and all associated parts for " 0 " cost and then warrantied those parts for the life of the car. I sold it 3 years later with 240,000 miles on the odometer and the warranty went with it.

We will see what the Roush guys do and how long it takes them.

TR

[Cashburn]

Now, just to clarify... this motor is "out of warranty" as you stated?