2003 Kia Spectra engine lockdown

2003 KIA SPECTRA
84 MILES • 4 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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CHICKEN123
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My car overheated many times before and finally, it gave in. Also, the oil lamp in the dashboard lit. I understand that overheating means that when the needle in your dashboard goes to the "H" then that means, it is overheating. I was able to go to Autozone which is exactly the place I was planning to arrive until the car dropped dead on the road. The Autozone store put new coolant and put motor oil. I was able to go home but after that the car would only ignite but would not push through. I had it towed to a mechanic.

Now, he told me that the car overheated and damaged the engine. He had to do a valve job and such. He also replace the entire thing where you put the spark plugs. He replaced the radiator. On Mar 29, I took home the car. On Apr 5, the engine lockdown on me while on a highway.

The car was towed back to the mechanic. He told me that the crankshaft (??) seized one of the pistons and that the fluid(??) however you call it failed to circulate properly. He said that the job he did is completely unrelated to the problem of the car at present.

I like to know what is the real score. Please help. I have paid $1,800 to the mechanic and now he is asking for more if the will do the current problem.

The car is a Kia Spectra 2003 and it has 84,000 miles.
Apr 7, 2010 at 10:27 PM
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DAVE H
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In my opinion he should have replaced the engine after it overheated so badly .. he cannot say the 2 things are unrelated
Apr 15, 2010 at 7:20 PM