Engine Disaster
 

I was on my way to my sister in laws in Knottingley, Yorkshire i was in the outside lane of the A1(M) when a strange noise came from the engine, i decided to go over and park on the lay by. Just before i got to the inside lane i heard a clicking noise from the engine, i had just straightened up on the lay by when the engine cut out on low oil pressure, if it had cut out a few seconds before this i would have been in big trouble, with Lorries speeding down on me.
I rang the AA, that was fun trying to get the AA guy to understand my details, then explaining were i was, i tough telling him 12.5 miles South of Scotch Corner on the A1(M) would have been simple enough. Anyway AA sent a private tow truck, and as i was going to Knottingley, i contacted a garage in Pontefract who said they would have a look at the car.
They had a look, and said the Lub Oil Pump drive chain had snapped and that the crankshaft was broken. I left it with them, and was lucky to source an engine through a Rover site on Face book in Hartlepool, next morning the garage said they had sourced an eco engine thru Euro Parts cost £1600, i declined and asked if they knew someone who could transport the car to Hartlepool, they gave me a contact and he came and picked the car up Cost £130 to transport the car.
I was delighted that the guy doing the work was a Rover guy who knew what he was doing, i made it a longer job as i asked that the Fw Pump, Thermostat, Crankshaft Pulley, and other new parts on my engine were changed over to the replacement engine, also asked for oil and filter change in Engine and Gearbox. I got a hire car for three days via the AA, a Toyota Yaris Hybrid, what an experience that was, but it got me to Grimsby were i was going to a Function.
I travelled up to Hartlepool and stayed in a Hotel until the car was ready, was delighted with the job that was done and drove home to Belfast. If the engine had gone at home i could have picked up one with only 52,000 miles but i am not that lucky.
Anyway all in with the work on the car, and Hotel bills, and Ferry changes it cost me £1084, but i have had a serious chat with the car and told it , any more like this it will get the Basil Fawlty treatment.

At least the car got you safely into the lay-by, would have been a different story had you had ground to a halt in the outside lane.

Well done for getting it fixed and keeping another on the road.

Thank you, i know ten seconds earlier i would have been wiped by a few lories.

Gary Nelson is a nice bloke, and you got an impromptu free T4 check that you were unaware of too ;)

It was running as sweet as a nut, and I can't say I'm surprised either, Gary is a proper old school motor engineer :bowdown:

Brian :D

well done for taking a chance and spending so much money to keep the car

macafee2

Anyone performed an autopsy on the old engine to confirm the original diagnosis?

I will have a word with Gary next time we meet up, as I know he was planning to strip it completely to have a look see.

What I will confirm, the engine would not have been replaced without good reason by this man, he takes obsessive care in what he does, and has standards of quality and workmanship, few can attain.

If it were a misdiagnosis by the original garage, it would not simply have been taken at face value, without confirmation by himself personally.

Brian :D

Thanks Brian. Same as you I know that many times when people have had the diesel engine 'die' on them that as it stalls out the oil light will show. Which shouldn't be a surprise as the ign is on without the engine running. A garage diagnosing oil pump failure was most likely given the same narrative of the breakdown: and it's not unknown for some to jump to conclusions. As for the crank is broken? I'd expect the engine to have gone bang in a really big way with drama and noise of crunched valves at the least. not just 'cut out on low oil pressure'. I do know that although rare it has been known for one of the engine chains to snap and the oil pump is chain driven though.


The one time mine broke down sounded exactly the same: a bit of cough or tick (pinking - if possible in a diesel?) and then dieing with a slight rattle and oil light comes on briefly. In my case it was bad injectors failing causing low fuel pressure in the fuel rail. What would a random garage with no interest in the car or customer have said?


I'll be really interested in the outcome of the investigation.

Gary is a star he mentioned the T4 check, have bought a new MAF not fitted yet.
Only problem has been i was able to start the car in D my fault, getting the inhibiter checked out.

I am Chief Engineer have worked on Diesels for years, from small to massive in ships. I knew myself it was wrecked, just before the engine cut out there was the click click click of the broken chain, the guys in the garage were all experienced mechanics. Look forward myself to the strip down i am over in March and i might call and see him.