Scammer: AcuraBro

[AZNracerx1989]

This guy sold me a motor and said it was good compression, everything good... I fell for it and got ripped off on the B18c engine he sold me. When I bought it from him and got it installed by the shop he works in (Importsports), the motor turned out to be crap... The motor makes a thudding noise when you accelerate and I felt it right as I got my car. I returned to the shop to ask him what the noise was(he told me it was the exhaust which is making sounds too).
One day after the motor was swapped, I went to ComputerJLT to get it compression tested and it got bad compression on one cylinder... It was 120psi,120psi,50psi,120psi which you all probably know is not normal!
I called him a few days later and he told me to come to importsports to get it checked.... When I came back, the people there said I had to set up an appointment and PAY for a diagnostic test.
Here is his FS post
http://www.highaltitudeimports.com/showthread.php?t=41782
Judge for yourself, I know i should've been more careful, but this just shows you all his lack of honesty... ;NutKick;
REMEMBER: No offense to Importsports, they did a clean swap. Maybe they all knew the motor was shitty but I can't say anything about that.

[nicklk]

Damn, you are in kind of a shitty situation!! BUT, here are a couple things that I would look at....

Get another compression test.....to have 3 cylinders with an even 120psi is kind of not normal (seeings how Helms manual indicates that no cylinders should be below 135psi), knowing that, that could indicate that #3 could have improperly messured. Also get get a leak down test that will indicate whats wrong with the motor....

Also, have you talked to AcuraBro at his shop? Rather then talking to the shop?? Was the work order that was placed for the swap at the shop, done thru the shop?? Was the motor sold thru the shop, or thru AcuraBro?

[AZNracerx1989]

no it was a private deal. We tested #3 a few times... I might bring it up to tobi to have it checked up.
Even the guy at the shop said something was wrong with it when they first turned it on. He said it was misfiring and he told AcuraBro to tell me.... he never did.
I know it's an unhealthy motor though; when you turn it on the idle is really rough for a while. Also, on the cylinder with bad compression, the spark plug is really dark. Too rich somehow.

[Kwando]

wow that sucks... keep us updated... i think that if the motor is bad you should be refunded for the motor and labor or they should do another swap for you at no cost... acurabro has been a member of hai for a long time, there might be more to the story... i'm sure he will chime in soon...

[AZNracerx1989]

well he tells me its sold as is when I talk to him (AFTER the sale)
Startup warranty blah blah blah!
What good is a startup warranty when it starts on bad compression and making some shitty noises?

[STIBungy]

When I did the compression on my 00 GSR, the numbers were in the 180s. But just the fact that you have 1 cylinder with 70psi lower than the other 3 isnt good. I'd hunt the fucker down.

[HONDA GHANDI]

If he gave you a startup warranty I would assume he meant all 4 cylinders were supposed to start up. I know Chris and he seems like a pretty honest guy. Have you talked to him about the problem and see if he has a solution?

[Brian]

I remember when we used to race with Chris up an bandimere. I would talk to him and see if it can be resolved.

[Deceptakhan]

Even stand up guys will rip you off. On AcuraBro's thread, he did say the compression was good across the board.

[john]

I've know Chris for years, and he is a stand up guy. Talk to him about the problem and I'm pretty sure he'll do the right thing (whatever that is).

[Deceptakhan]

John, I just checked out the chicken in your sig. Man, that is some funny shit. Maybe I do wanna be a french fry!

[nicklk]

Not to sound like a douche or what not, but did you varify that the belt hasnt slipped and timing is off or anything like that??? Cams could be off a tooth or two and not allow complete compression?

[john]

Maybe you do...

:)

John, I just checked out the chicken in your sig. Man, that is some funny shit. Maybe I do wanna be a french fry!

[stu]

I doubt AcuraBro is trying to scam you.

[AZNracerx1989]

I have no idea how you've driven the car since you got the engine installed, and I gave you a start up warranty and that was it. That's how any place that you buy an engine from sells them, including places like HMotors online.

The price for the engine was very inexpensive as it was. To find a clean engine anywhere else would be well over $3100 for the same used enginie, then you'd still have to pay to put it in.

The last time it ran, it ran just fine and sounded the same. It doesn't smoke, it doesn't throw any check engine lights, and I sold it to you with start up warranty only.
^^^ This is what he pmed me after I told him the car had bad compression. I stayed under 4k rpms like he said (new headgasket). Right when I got the motor, I knew it was messed up and I came back to tell him after the first street I drove it on. Too bad I had already payed him before then.

[Slava]

I've dealt with Chris before and he was very honest about all of his transactions. I'm pretty sure he'll get it all worked out.

[AcuraBro]

Alright, here I am. I don't get on here much anymore because I'm so busy. Let me try to sort this out...

I sold this guy a legit B18C1 that I had sitting around from my old white hatchback that I don't have anymore, some of you might remember it, others probably not, but that's not the point.

I sold it as a complete swap for $1800. It takes the guy 4 weeks to get everything together after saying "hold it for me" to drop the car off. I got $1760 from the guy because he "didn't bring enough cash". Most complete swaps are sold for $3300 regardless of where you buy it from, that's a savings of $1600, nearly half price. I thought I had the mounts, but ended up having to buy some, and ended up spending $100 more on various parts and misc. pieces to get this thing together, so I'm at about $1500.

I made it clear to this guy that the sale of the motor was from me and not the shop (importsports), but he ended up getting it installed there.

Installation went fine, we got everything in and it fired right up. He ended up supplying an aftermarket header and A'PEXi WS exhaust which didn't fit up perfectly, causing the exhaust to hit the undercariage heatsheilds and make a rattling sound. There are NO check engine lights and there's no smoke at all. Compression test was 180 across the board. I test drive it and it feels fine. I hear the exhaust hitting the heatsheild.

The guy calls the next day and accuses me of ripping him off because it's making a ticking sound and that the tranny is bad. The tranny I JUST bought before I ended up getting in an accident with that car that was out of an '01 GS-R, it was pefect, shifted just fine. I bought that tranny for $800 at the time. I tell him that it's the heatsheild, and told him what I saw as far as everything being normal. He called me a few times during the week, but never left a voicemail. I'm thinking that it's just an injector, but I don't think it's even my problem at this point because for one, the engine was cheap cheap CHEAP as it is, and 2, I told him startup warranty. He saw the engine start up, run, no check engine lights, nothing, and compression was good when we checked it. I have no idea whats happened to the car since, and I'm sure whatever he's feeling is fixable, but I think that I have cleared my responsability at this point. For the price that was given, and everybody knowing market value, I honestly see no problem.

If something has happened to cylinder #3, it sounds like it would either be a valve sealing issue or a bad injector. If that cylinder isn't firing, and the plug is brown, then maybe the injector is bad and it's not throwing code #16, becuase it won't all the time.

I'd love to help, but I think if I get into it, I've already thrown $175 at mounts and various other parts that I didn't have for it-- and I'll end up paying this guy to take this engine from me.

Antwan, why don't you get it diagnosed before you call me a SCAMMER.

Anyone else want to chime in and make suggestions?

[Deceptakhan]

It seems you are a reasonable guy. Most responds would have degenerated into shit talking. Good job, hopefully you guys can work your stuff out :)

[Slava]

Well as long as thats the story then you are in a clear. But if you knew that the motor was on its way out well then you should man up and take the responsibility. From what I've seen you are a honest person and I never had any problems dealing with you or with any parts that I bought from you.

[AcuraBro]

I pulled the engine out of my hatchback, it sat there for a long time. I took the Head off because I was going to use it on my Type R block which I had a turbo set-up on, but ended up finding another head so the GS-R I sold was complete.

I would never sell a motor as a good motor if it were bad. I feel bad, but I'm not trying to sink money into his car and make $0 off selling an entire swap. Even if I did know if there was some kind of an issue, I would have still sold it for the same price. Regardless of the condition of the parts, a GS-R motor for $1800 is a steal.

Thanks for your support Slava and everyone else. Antwan, get the car diagnosed. That's what I wanted you to do when I told you to call Kyle--Tobi I'm sure would run a leak down for you, but I don't have a leak down tester personally. If the rings were bad, it would smoke, and it never did and never had when it was in my car.

[Deceptakhan]

Alright, Azn whatever ( not tryin to diss), I read one of AcuraBros posts on another forum. And from what I've read, he is and was quite sincere about this sale. He had no intention of ripping you off. With all the vouches from prominent people on this board, from what i've read of his posts here and there, he really seems like a standup guy. I don't think he would have shown you his workplace, installed it, just to rip you off. Sorry for butting in, I thought nothing of this until I read his other posts, ie the one you did not see. In no way does he bash you, talk shit, or post what a good deal he got. He DOES post what a good deal you got, a gsr swap for 1800. They usually go for 3000+ you know. I'm not trying to rip on you, but thats a steal for a motor that starts up and doesn't smoke. A sincere guy would not be worried on another thread you will never see. A guy ripping you off would be talking shit about the great deal he got. Just my opinion. Flame away if you desire.

[AZNracerx1989]

Ill just have to get it diagnosed then... I would pay it all if it was working fine but it is not healthy so I dont want to drive it. The rods might go through the walls or something. If it is just injectors then I would be fine and moderators should delete this thread. I am just angry because I got bad compression when ComputerJLT checked my compression and it was bad...

[AZNracerx1989]

Other than that, everything else is included like wiring and mounts.

^^ thats what you said on your post... I dont see why you complain about the mounts you had to buy.

[Slava]

If you need a compression tester PM me I can let you borrow mine.

[STIBungy]

I'd have another person test the compression as well. Although 3 of your cylinders were pretty even across the board, they were alot lower than what they should be. I'm not saying ComputerJLT doesnt know what he's doing but I'd at least get the compression test redone.

Ill just have to get it diagnosed then... I would pay it all if it was working fine but it is not healthy so I dont want to drive it. The rods might go through the walls or something. If it is just injectors then I would be fine and moderators should delete this thread. I am just angry because I got bad compression when ComputerJLT checked my compression and it was bad...

[AZNracerx1989]

I brought it to Tobi. The compression numbers were #1-185 #2-180 #3-175 #4-195.... He said cylinder 2 is misfiring. Also, the engine light turned on when I drove it up to Tobi.
Tobi said it has to be torn down since the lower engine is making a knocking noise. It would cost around 2500 for a rebuild!! Acurabro scammed me and he knows it. Right when I first tested the car there was the lower engine knock. Right when I first started it, it was misfiring and with rough idle.

The only choice I have now is to sell the car for cheap and tell the buyer everything wrong with it.

[Deceptakhan]

Damn. :(

[HondaPower]

That's gay, hope you find a way to deal with this.

[john]

How did he scam you? Sounds like the deal was above board - he sold you a startup warranty, did a compression test once the motor was in, etc.

I don't get it.

Acurabro is a standup guy. I very much doubt that you've been scammed...

[AZNracerx1989]

He didnt actually (show) me the compression test. He just says that.

[Bedlam]

He didnt actually (show) me the compression test. He just says that.

Wow..this thread just wont DIE....get over it man.

AcuraBro has a lot of friends here..most of us are board admins, so I wouldnt go too crazy.

[nicklk]

I might buy the motor from you........but not for what you paid for it lol

[Terry]

We're having a rumble on Setptember 2nd feel free to come and bring AcuraBro

[Dave_L]

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!

[AZNracerx1989]

Im selling the whole car for 3000.... Thats wat i payed total to get it swapped in.
It's the same as me leaving my car at Importsports and never coming back to get it.

[nicklk]

How much did you pay for labor?

Im selling the whole car for 3000.... Thats wat i payed total to get it swapped in.
It's the same as me leaving my car at Importsports and never coming back to get it.

[aleyva_06]

what was this guys name??? yeah I bought a motor from one of them too and they jacked my fucken car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[stu]

what was this guys name??? yeah I bought a motor from one of them too and they jacked my fucken car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don't have proof I suggest you shut the fuck up and leave the board.

[Civic-8442-]

what was the guys name at importsports that you got the motor from and ended up getting jacked!

[Brandon]

If you don't have proof I suggest you shut the fuck up and leave the board.


agreed. prove it please

[floored4door]

what was this guys name??? yeah I bought a motor from one of them too and they jacked my fucken car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b148/Floored4door/Random/stfunoob.jpg

[Denver e-police]

Here's a case # for you to refer to when you call DPD.

#1337stfu1337

[AZNracerx1989]

I sold the car to a forum member.

[saN]

DIE THREAD DIE!!