I took my car to AMS last fall. They were unable to tune or flash it because the cat was not flowing properly. They said I wouldn't have full power until I got a new exhaust. I could have it tuned at that time.

I drove from Chicago to Ann Arbor about three weeks later. The exhaust backed up back to the engine, turning my exhaust manifold bright orange and making something tick within the engine. I had no power from the turbo.

I had it hauled back to Chicago on a flatbed. The tow truck driver put his hand on the engine cover and he said I likely have a bent valve. He said he races a Camaro and he once had too narrow an exhaust installed and it did the same thing.

I will soon have the dough to pay for the repairs, but I wanted a ballpark on how much it might cost. I know a new AMS exhaust is $1000. How much does it cost to repair a bent valve? I don't want to waste AMS's time by having them give me an estimate and then say "see you in a couple months when I have the money". I don't plan to bring it until I know I have $$$ enough to get it fixed.

If you've had something like this repaired or you can give me a guess please give me your .02. Thanks!

 

do a compression test before anything because it could be something else. if your compression is low in one or two cylinders then yea maybe bent valve...it cost me $1000 to fix two valves, check the head nd everything

 

Yea do a compression test first. Hope its nothing to serious.

You probably blew your turbo though.

Why did you wait so long to buy a new cat or test pipe. I bought my test pipe for 30 dollars.

 

Bent valves are usually from over-revving. Burned valves can be from the circumstances you describe, though. You need to have a compression or better yet, a leak down test done. These tests will diagnose whether your valves are working normally. It could just be that you blew your turbo.

 

is the car smoking? what color?

 

so he touched the engine cover and he new exactly what was wrong? Amazing... why is he working for a tow company? He has a gift

 

The car was not smoking. I was following another car pretty fast on I-94 then all of a sudden I couldn't go faster than 85, then 75, then 60 and then I exited. If I can get out of AMS with a new exhaust and the other stuff repaired for +/- $3000 total then I will be pleased. Thanks for the replies.

 

If it is a bent valve, then it should be 300-400 in labor for machining plus price for parts, assuming you pulled off the head yourself. Valves should be around 120 each valve.