[Mk2] [NA] Engine problems she is going to blow????

[Leemo]

Please help,my engine has started makin an unhealthy rattling noise, I have taken it to a mechanic to find out what problem is, he said that it was the bottem end and she will blow soon and will need new engine?? is this true?? is there any think that can be done?? If not how much is a recon or second hand engine before fitting and with fittin?? i was hoping not to much already spent a bit on car and been told no point spendin any more.

[Leemo]

Someone must have a ruf idea on new engine or fault?? she is a 1990 mark two

[2Crooky]

Sounds a bit extreme for him to say your bottom end is flucked without any proper diagnosis

Take it to a serious MR2 specialist/tuner and get the car health checked before you start p00ing yourself over what could be very little....well lets hope!

[Leemo]

Problem is I live on an island on the west coast of scotland and its an expencive ferry trip before you drive to mr2 specialist, some were?

[2Crooky]

Well its a decision between expensive ferry trip or possible waste of money on a new engine

If it turns out to be something easily diagnosable and fixable you will feel a bit of a plum having gone for a new engine!!

Don't trust a mechanic unless he knows in depth about the 3STE and 3SGTE engines....

[redmr89]

id have to disagree with you there 2crooky, a good mechanic will be able to diagnose a bottom end problem on any car. as engines are all basicly the same.

i would however question what your mechanic has done to diagnose it. its one thing to listen to an engine and diagnose a bottom end fault ( i beleive a good mechanic can do this ) its another thing to actually prove it.. which is what you want to do before ordering a new engine..

[Munnsy]

i reckon to save spendin money on a ferry, go the whole hog and just drop a rev3 turbo lump in,
problem solved

[2Crooky]

If it were your car red...would you not...for peace of mind have a specialist properly diagnose it for you rather than a local mechanic just listen for a knocking and then say your engine is ruined

[redmr89]

well 2crooky what are we talkin about here? my question is that has he taken it to a local spanner monkey that doesnt know much or has he taken it to a decent local mechanic that knows his stuff?

if his mechanic knows his stuff then he should be able to do just as good a job at diagnosing a bottom end fault as a speialist can.

again my question is what has the mechanic done to diagnose the problem?

i have a good knowledge enough to listen to an engine an say if its the bottom end knackerd. but id still drop the sump and some bottom end bearings to prove it.

[Slarty]

id have to disagree with you there 2crooky, a good mechanic will be able to diagnose a bottom end problem on any car. as engines are all basicly the same.

Agreed. Once you've heard an engine with serious big end problems, it's hard to miss it. Best way to tell if the mains/pin bearings (conrod bearings) are shot is to drive up a hill in 4/5th gear with the engine under full load at low (2-3k rpm) revs. Any knocking sounds are basically a death knoll I'm afraid.

[RyanRs]

why does everyone assume that if the ends are knocking, the engine is Goofed!?

if they start knocking, get it off the road straight away to prevent further damage, get the sump off and change the bearings!!

at the end of the day, once the sump is off and bearings removed, it only takes 5 sec with a set of verniers and a can of carb cleaner to see if the crank is damaged !

im not sure how much the bearings are , but i know dam well ,they are nowhere near a recon engine!

[Slarty]

why does everyone assume that if the ends are knocking, the engine is Goofed!?

if they start knocking, get it off the road straight away to prevent further damage, get the sump off and change the bearings!!

at the end of the day, once the sump is off and bearings removed, it only takes 5 sec with a set of verniers and a can of carb cleaner to see if the crank is damaged !

im not sure how much the bearings are , but i know dam well ,they are nowhere near a recon engine!

Well, erm, because I work in a place where we produce crankshafts to +- 8 microns, and if you can measure that with a set of verniers, you're doing well

I wasn't saying that the engine was fubared, but if you suffer big end/mains failure, the very least you're looking at is a crank out job (if you want to do the job properly at least). You can just chuck a new set of liners in, but from an engineering point of view, it's far from the perfect answer.

[Leemo]

machanic is good rather than a spanner, he only had a listen under car an around engine. but that was it, didnt cost me anything, im just tryin to find out how much is new engine, the one in it has done 135000, i bought car for a 1000 so i could do up but its gettin to stage of wether its worth it or stop??

[RyanRs]

Well, erm, because I work in a place where we produce crankshafts to +- 8 microns, and if you can measure that with a set of verniers, you're doing well

I wasn't saying that the engine was fubared, but if you suffer big end/mains failure, the very least you're looking at is a crank out job (if you want to do the job properly at least). You can just chuck a new set of liners in, but from an engineering point of view, it's far from the perfect answer.

that wasnt a dig, and certainly wasnt directed at you in any way at all. it was a simple statement.

the BGB shows you how to check a crankshaft and there is also a guide on here showing you how to replace the bearings.

i would only class it as a engine out job / engine replacement job, After doing an inspection of the crank and finding the crank needs to be reground.

Why remove regrind the crank if the measurements are within there tolerances?! remember the bearings are Also to protect the crank/rods as well as there usual job.

[redmr89]

an engine "presuming your meaning second hand and not a brand new one". for my 3sgte was £700 ive seen the non turbo ones go for about £400ish.

best bet would be to keep checkin the sale section or ring around some of the affiliates see if theyve got any rear clips.

you could also explore your other options.

1.. sell the car and buy another
2.. fix the bottom end (presuming it is this thats knackerd)
3.. drop another engine in
4.. do a turbo or v6 convertion

i vote option 4..

[Peter C]

I think you're jumping to conclusions.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you wouldn't associate a rattle from the engine as a problem with the bottom end. Knackered big ends produce a knocking or rumbling sound.

A rattle (if that's what it is) would be caused by a defect associated with a lighter engine part or one which is under less load, for example something to do with the cylinder head?

Peter

[Greddy-Matt]

Or the blimin exhaust sheilds as I found out

[Stretchermunkey]

just worth mentioning, If you decide to get a new engine put in, you are still going to have to ship the engine over to your island, so maybe taking the car to a mainland specialist would be a better idea, a more certain diagnosis, and if it needs the engine your already on the mainland, therefore cheaper shipping?
Steve

[deadhumancollector]

had the same problem before xmas, got progressively worse within a week, local garage diagnosed a spun bearing, i took the gamble and paid £600 for a new engine, £350 to have it fitted and upon pulling the old engine apart he had it spot on.

Any 'good' mechanic will know the type of rattle that lets you know you've got problems.....the noise sent shivers up my spine when the engine was taken above 3500rpm......

oops forgot to mention mine was a turbo too

[Leemo]

took car for a drive and noise is coming from within engine not heat shields it is at its loudest at low revs when your just playin accelerator and car feels down on power but may be somthing else.