After several hours fiddling with the throttle positioning sensor and replacing throttle bodies the cause could not be identified.Subsequently, a leak down test was performed and showed that cylinder 3 was hemorrhaging air and a engine rebuild//replacement was on the cards.
This was truly devastating news given that I had only owned the car for several months.Despite the crushing news, a glimpse of hope came about when I remembered that the engine had been rebuilt just over a year ago
(in Oct 2008) with forged pistons and thicker gaskets. With this in mind I was told that there was a good chance the engine could be saved by refurbing/replacing the head (a much cheaper option than an engine rebuild). However, the garage would only be able to confirm this by removing the head.So my predicament is what to do:
a) should I take the risk and have the head removed and face one of two outcomes: 1) pray and hope that a relatively straightforward head refurb/replacement would fix the issue
(at a cost of £1000+) or 2) face more heart-wrenching news by finding out the engine cant be saved and therefore have wasted money in having the head removed. And even if the engine can be saved will the head refurb sort out the elusive high/lumpy idle problem?b) just give up on the existing engine and buy a second hand engine and have it installed
(at a cost of £1500+)c) break the car/sell for spares or repairs
Any help or suggestions would be deeply appreciated as I just don't know what to do anymore.
Cheers,
Henry
