Hey Scotty so I took my Chevy Malibu to the mechanic last week and I was told my vacuum pump had blown up and some of the parts for my vacuum pump went inside. They had to remove the valve cover and remove the pieces that fell inside. They replaced the vacuum pump and valve cover gasket. They told me the car would start and it would idle in a way that “didn’t seem normal” but that sometimes it took long to start. after that I told them I needed to tow the car cross country in the next two days because I’m leaving California because I’m done with my active duty contract and that I couldn’t afford to leave the car their any longer they called me the next day and told me it completely didn’t turn on anymore and that they wanted to remove the valve cover all over again and replace the cam shaft. But I already paid them about $1,200 just for what they already did and said it would be another 1,000 just to take the valve cover off and replace the cam shaft to see if that’s what’s wrong with it. I don’t know if they are trying to take more money out off me.
What, exactly, is a "vacuum pump" and what is it supposed to do on your engine? Where was your "mechanic" from, OZ?
Some engines use a vacuum pump to run accessories if engine vacuum cannot be relied on. It's most common with diesel engines but I've seen cars with gas engines that use them. My '86 Saab uses a vacuum pump to operate the cruise control.
As far as why the thing was hooked into the valve cover and spat debris into the camshaft, I don't know unless maybe the PCV system relied on it? Doesn't make much sense, but then again it's a Malibu.
Maybe he means the pcv valve disintegrated and went into the valve train???? Just guessing here.
What mechanic did you send this to? Did you check the reviews on this mechanic?
