Engine Issue..... :(

[one-lady-owner 1]

Right here goes!!

 

A few moments ago I walked out of asda and tried to start my 1.9, the starter turned twice then stopped, then turned once then stopped, then turned over until it started, idled nicely, and with the normal amount of power, but it's smoking quite a lot (white).....

 

There's no mayo in the oil filler cap, and all the dials run normally, (oil pressure, water temp and oil temp) It was perhaps idling a little low but other than that all good...... once the coolant cools down I'll check the level, but my main worries are slipped cam belt?? Or HG failure?? (at 75k miles!?!?!?!?!?!???)

 

Any ideas??

[Tom Fenton 1,548]

Could well be HG. 75k miles is pretty irrelevant, its 17 years old regardless of how far it has been.

[one-lady-owner 1]

And now it won't turn over...... (the starter will engage and then stop)

 

Coolant level is good

Edited December 8, 2009 by one-lady-owner

[one-lady-owner 1]

I'm gonna stop trying to turn it over now, if it is HG, it could well mean there is enought collant in one or more cylinders to cause it to not be able to compress fully, I can cope with a HG change (having never done one before) but I really don't want to have to rebuild the bottom end!!!

 

On a side note, I live in southampton (where all my tools are) and I'm currently in Swindon (with my girlfriend) any Swindonites fancy coming over soon to help me by bringing tools and/or direction??!?!? (possibly!!)

[anotherway 0]

If the coolant levels ok then its not likely to be coolant in the bores duff starter maybe bad earth from block but white smoke from cold this time of year is normal if it goes when hot. If not then it could be worst case hg failure

[one-lady-owner 1]

Yeah, it's not the normal amount of white smoke (read: ALOT) and it's the same regardless of engine temp, so I'm definitely gearing myself up for head off in a car park outside some flats with no tools......

[anotherway 0]

Get hold of a block tester from some where beg borrow steal and try that no point taking it off if it dont need it. have you checked the live to the starter and the earth from the block could be corroded this time of year. The no loss of coolant says not hg is the oil level ok. also take the plugs out and check for anything out of the ordinary ie coverd in oil or water as this can be a great help to your diagnosis

[one-lady-owner 1]

Yeah, my stressed head forgot about all the normal checks!! It's unlikely I'll be able to get hold of a block tester, but what I might do is pull the plugs out, check them, and turn her over, if it is water in a cylinder I'll have a fun but annoying (and very expensive) water pistol....... that will tell me a definite HG....

 

Anyone in swindon???

Edited December 8, 2009 by one-lady-owner

[welshpug 1,666]

whip the plugs out as you said and spin it over, Anthony is in the Swindon area amongst a few.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I would say the head would need a skim too adding to the time as it will need doing

[Anthony 1,003]

I'll pop over tomorrow and we'll get to the bottom of it

[one-lady-owner 1]

Right, been out today and had a bit of a fiddle with the starter connections, now starts!! So yes to a dodgy connection somewhere!!

 

When it first started there was a little (right for the time of year) steam, had it idling for a minute or too and as it warmed up the steam got worse and worse, so presumably as the coolant system pressurises it's forcing it's way past the HG and getting into a cylinder?!?! (feel free to right yay or nay for that conclusion!!)

 

As soon as I can cormfirm or rubbish that theory with a compression tester I'll let you all know!

[lagonda 42]

Not to rain on your parade, but could also be cracked cylinder head. Mine cracked in the middle 2 chambers, both cracks from the spark plug orifice to the exhaust valve seat....so check that as well even if hg looks iffy. Cracks were not that obvious, but fortunately spotted by QEP when I took head in for skim.

[one-lady-owner 1]

Yeah, my old housemate works for a 'precison' engineering company so I'm gonna get it to him for a crack test and a skim.... although I may have to just put it back (with a new HG obviously!) on to get home before I do!!

[one-lady-owner 1]

Just had the compression tester on, some very funny readings! And the fact that I do in fact have a very large water pistol from cylinder 1...... gonna get the head skimmed and serviced while it's off and hopefully all will be sorted soon!!

 

On a side note, anyone got a T&T car going very very cheap locally (southampton)???

[Anthony 1,003]

Yup, I think the technical term for that engine is "sick"

 

Compression test results were 100, 160, 100 and I didn't even test the fourth cylinder seeing as it was doing a good impression of a garden fountain. That, together with the distinctly mayo coloured oil and clouds of steam coming out of the back meant that I really couldn't see the point in removing the head without any way of getting it skimmed etc. To its credit though, the Motronic management was idling amazingly well considering, better than a typical Jetronic setup that's running on a full compliment of cylinders.

[one-lady-owner 1]

I am now the 'proud' owner of a Citroen ZX 1.9td Volcane....... Tax till march, MOT till july, 214k on the clock but owned by a very competent Citroen mechanic since 93k.......

 

£150..... bargain!!

 

I forgot just how nice the ZX was to drive.... loverly!!! And a turbo... it's a little frantic once it spools up!

 

I will be stripping and maybe doing a little light refurb to the rest of the 205 while I'm at it, I'll get a thread in the projects forum once I start!!

 

Oh and thanks again to the legend that is Anthony!! I really would have been horribly stuck without you towing me home!! Cheers dude!