July 2004
Got a 1275 metro engine in the garage, got it from a so called friend (who isnt a friend any longer!!) all ready to fit into my Mini. However, the engine is completely seized and on closer inspection cylinder 1 is full of water and cylinder 4 has a layer of rust around the sides and mayonnaise on top of the piston.
Not sure whether it will be worth our while getting it checked out and possibly rebored and rebuilt or should we just forget it and scrap it? Don't know how many miles it has done which does not help. Anyone any ideas of what costs would be involved, how we approach this?
Thanks
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Cambelt went last night on my daughters car so tonight I will be looking to fit a new one.I would appreciate any tips or things I should look out for. Is it straightforward and is it likely other damage would have been done like valves etc? Read more
Sorry to hear that. If you really do want to hold onto the car your best bet would be to find a friendly local garage - as opposed to a Renault dealer! Some of these chaps perform miracles.They might just happen to have a Renault diesel engine 'out the back' with a decent head. (The unit in the Clio is used on many Renault models - should be plentiful.)You'd need to be absolutely sure there is no warping on a replacement head, though - diesels need a spot-on seal at the head gasket.
Graeme
Having major problems with M Reg Astra 1.4. Was blowing out white smoke, going through hell of a lot of coolant and temperature gauge was hitting the red mark after only a few minutes stationary.
Head gasket had blown so set about replacing it. Had head skimmed, replaced the thermostat, water pump, cam belt and used all new bolts tightened to the correct torque.
Started the car, worked fine, continued to run for approx 15 mins, still fine. Temperature gauge didnt move but we also own a Corsa which can run happily for nearly 30 mins before gauge moves.
Popped car in gear to move off drive but as it had been sitting for a while the back brakes had locked. Before going any further we added some of Halfords own brand radweld as we knew there was a very slight leak on the radiator. This is where the problems started. As soon as car was put into gear again the white smoke started to appear at the exhaust much the same as before the gasket was replaced. Drove around the block and nothing changed, still white smoke.
Any suggestions? It was working fine for about 30 mins, it was only when the radweld went in that the smoke started.
Thanks Read more
Daisy 1, now you have fitted this new/recon alternator, when you first turn the ignition on, does the red 'battery' sign on the dash light up? (Obviously it should go out when the engine is running). The current this bulb takes is fed into the alternator (via the thin lead) and is used to initially energise the regulator. If you have a bad connection or the bulb is duff, you have no energisation and hence no output from the alternator. Also is the alternator belt (and alternator drive pulley tight? Good luck.
(This began as GRowlette\'s thread about her anticipated visit to England, but has now developed into one about a July Backroom Meet, possibly, and appropriately, at the revamped ACE Cafe.)
Eight days to go and we get to UK. My Big One he tells me to share the driving. I\'m terrified.
Any tips PLEASE! HELP!
Growlette aka Catherine
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I have managed to get *anough* of a
tan to join up my freckles!
*enough*... blimey, I haven't even graduated yet and I've forgotten how to spell! Sorry!
Hi
I have an old 88 mrk2 cavalier, and have just brought it back tonight from the local garage after having a new cam belt fitted.
I found, that when idling at around 900rpm there is a whinning and grinding noise coming from the cambelt cover. below and above these rpm's its ok.
Would this be normal until it has settled in? or need i approach the garage about it?
Regards Johnny. Read more
yeah Vic, I know whay you mean,the last time i had the belt renewed, a couple of years ago, they had to renew the water pump, as they said it was siezed and leaky and no good.
Strange thing is, when i started the car this morning the whinning had disapeared. I gave it a good run around,expecting it to appear but its gone?, so i couldnt take it back to the garage.Strange! lets hope its ok, as im taking it down south this weekend. Thanks for advice and interest.
regards Johnny
Hi
When you adjust the valve clearances on these engines, do you press down on the back of the rocker (the end over the pushrod) to make sure it's tight and you're not getting a false reading?
My problem is that I adjusted them a week ago, but the engine's been making what I can only describe as a squelching noise from the top end. I'm kinda guessing it's air being forced pass an inlet being late to close. I'm worries I adjusted them too tight by pressing on the back of the rocker!
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Mike Farrow
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Mistake: I meant to say compress spring, sorry!
Today's Independent newspaper Motoring section has, on different pages, similar adverts for the GT 2.0 JTS by Alpha authorised dealers, one in Surrey, the other in Herts. Red "flashes" proclaim: "Cancelled order, 1 only - available for immediate delivery".
Who are they trying to kid? Is this a newish marketing ploy to build up the impression with the public that these cars are a rarity. I'm no expert on Alpha availability, but is this likely to be for real - a con or coincidence, I have to ask?
And if they are "cancelled orders", why did people cancel? Read more
how does 4 months grab you?
:o er... 16 weeks is 4 months
I'll get my coat.....
Jab
hello got myself a farm job for a couple of months,the farmer i work for is using red diesel for his tractors,generators,etc,etc.and ive got a toyota estima td 2.2 engine in the beaten up mpv i use(on private land only) to ferry the farmhands around on the farm from one picking site to the next,can i use red diesel in a toyota estima lucinda 2.2 td??would save me time and trouble from the veg oil way.tar much Read more
Yes you can use red diesel in your toyota without a problem. BUT you must not go on road with it. Also the red dye takes ages to go, so you would not be able to go on road for long while.
If you go on road using red diesel, when caught your wallet will empty very quickly.
alarm is very problematic,is there a master reset or a way to reset alarm system,its got a ford built in immobilser and alarm ,if that helps.or a way to turn it off? Read more
The door switches used are not the courtesy light switches but microswitches(usually blue)built into the door locks.To check the switches -open the bonnet,press the bonnet alarm switch until the alarm starts to sound(5 to 10 times)-then open the doors and boot-the alarm should sound as each is opened.
****** Voting over for round two. ******
For the next round, and to see the remaining cars, goto thread:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23629
Right then, round two of Big Brother\'s Garage.
4 cars in total were evicted from the previous round.
See here for details:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23421&...e
Here are the remaining cars, and as promised, because of foul play by the Renault 5, the Austin Allegro has taken it\'s place.
1. Toyota Landcruiser.
2. Austin Allegro. (New Garagemate)
3. Ford Mondeo.
4. Alfa 156.
5. Peugeot 405.
6. Seat Leon.
7. TVR Tuscan.
8. Perodua Nippa. (spelt correctly this time)
9. Citroen 2CV
****** EVICTED VW Golf. ******
****** EVICTED Lada Samara. ******
****** EVICTED Vauxhall Vectra. ******
****** EVICTED Renault 5. ******
All votes have been reset to zero. Same format as before - nominate two cars for eviction. You don\'t have to give a reason this time - unless of course you nominate something different from the last round of voting.
This Friday (9th July) is the closing date for nominations. The cars with fewest votes will remain and the voting process will begin again until we?re left with *hopefully* one (or maybe 2) winner(s).
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For info, The Perodua Nippa (14 votes), and the Allegro (20 votes), have been evicted.
There was one more car which almost got evicted, but scraped through by the skin of it\'s teeth. I won\'t mention which one it was in case it influences the voting in the next round.
Voting over for round two. For the next round, and to see the remaining cars, goto thread:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=23629
Browse
Will give that a try - going to leave it until the weekend now because I will have a bit more time to concentrate on giving it a thorough check. If all else fails and I cannot get it to budge think I will strip it down as much as I can and get the block checked out to make sure it is sound.
If all is OK I can get them to rebore it and start buying any new parts I need to rebuild it. At least that way I will know exactly what is in it and the condition, I can then attempt to refit it in the car.
Thanks for your help everyone, will let you know how I get on (or not as the case may be!!).