Hi all,
My Tino had its last MOT about 10 months ago and at the time, it had the engine warning light on. The AA had been out and told me that it was the crank sensors that were warning about the engine and not to worry about it till next service so at the MOT it was serviced and they informed me that all was fine apart from the sensors needed replacing. I asked them about the amount of oil the car should use as it had started to drink a lot and they informed me that Tino's were known to use a lot of oil and as my car had done a lot of miles (now up to 134K) it was normal.
So i've been driving it but in the last few weeks it has got very bad. I had a small accident, being hit in the rear passenger side by a car coming out of a side road. After which I noticed my exhaust was blowing and the engine lost compression.
The engineer that the insurance company put onto me was adamant that the faults must have already been there and the exhaust was quite old so he refused to blame the impact on the effect.
So i've asked for further advice from garages and now they are talking about all sort of things like the timing chain (some say belt), the piston rings, the valve heads etc... Am I gonna need a new engine or is it fixable?
If so is it even worth it, considering the car has gone 134K miles and is probably worth about £2.50...?
I need to drive to Scotland in a weeks time so need to know what is occurring before then.
Does anyone have any ideas of what sort of questions I should ask to get to the bottom of it or is there other fault finding i can do for myself?
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I forgot to say - yes I am probably a complete idiot for not stopping driving it but i have no other option.
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dk
What are the hard facts here? You complain of many issues, but state few definite examples of reliable data.
Has it lost compression? Exactly what are the four compression figures?
The cam sensor code [what code number?] are usually the inevitable timing chain; [yet again, at that mileage] but were the sensors changed or not? Is the light still on? What is the timing chain tensioner protrusion in millimetres?
How much oil does it use per thousand miles? What oil is being used?
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Aha...
Many thanks for replying as you now have given me some idea what i need to find out.
Let me be more specific about things...
When I say compression I mean mis-fire - that is my mistaken explanation. It appears to mis-fire only when i accelerate hard or when I am in a low gear when it will judder.
The code number was not given to me by anyone that has checked it - they have just said "The cam-shaft sensors are reporting a fault" - The light was going on and then off but is now permanently on (for about a month).
I have not opened the engine up to check the tensioner protrusion and at the service it was not mentioned but obivously that needs looking at.
It is using about 2 litres of oil per thousand miles and i am using 10W/40 semi-synthetic from Halfords.
I can see that this is going to be costly... darn it. Thanks again for answering.
Hope my response makes it easier to advise...
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dk
The timing chain has almost certainly stretched; but that won't make it drink oil.
Consider fitting a good second-hand engine; but fit a new chain and guides to it before installation.
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