Approximately 1 month ago, my 07 Camry’s water pump failed (for the 2nd time) and took out the belt tensioner with it on a long distance trip. The dealership in the nearest town did the emergency repair along with recall work, spark plug changes and transmission fluid change (it was time for it to be done). I left, and the steering was a bit tight and was rubbing, but I thought maybe this was something to do with the work that had been done.
2 weeks afterward, I have rough idle when starting that smooths out after about 30-45 seconds, and the check engine light comes on and the steering is worse… it was “Cylinder 3 misfire” according to an auto parts store. I made an appointment with the local dealership due to the recent work done, but the light went off the day before, so they told me nothing could be done for the check engine light, but they did move the spark plug to a different spot and the steering was the intermediate steering shaft that needed replacing which was done.
3 days later, the light comes back on so back to the dealership it goes. The rough idle does not ever go away. I am told that it is a leaking fuel injector. I thank them and advise that we typically do our own work when we can and take the car back with no work done.
We ask for a second opinion from an independent mechanic (has not seen the car) who does not believe it is a fuel injector because the symptoms don’t fit. Exactly 1 week later, the car dies on the side of the highway, and I’m being told by the independent mechanic that there is no compression and it appears as though the head gasket has been the problem this whole time and has been leaking fluid which indicates this should have been caught at a minimum by dealership number 2 if not by both dealerships.
Is there any culpability here? I just feel like someone is in the wrong here. I get that I’m going to have to pay for a new engine either way, but I feel like this wouldn’t have been as bad had they caught this sooner.