Mechanic and advice needed -to fix Rover 75 in North London -Friern Barnet N11 ,

[farad]

I need some help fix my car I wonder if you can help me with that (or advice me what to do)

I have a lovely Rover 75, 2.5(1999 - petrol)

I am not sure what is wrong, but last time I saw an error on the screen began with Jim........ (?!). then switched off and later when i tried to start the car there was a bad noise, coming out of engine area (but outside main engine- perhaps under starter motor, like some kind of chain or belt is running loos (a noise like some metal chain loosen and running to each other!) ..

It used to have an issue with the fan (only 3rd speed was working) but now its broken down, perhaps a issue with Cam-belt (timbelt) as AA suggested when they took it to my place (its on the road -outside my house and not running/ + ran out of battery..)

I live in North London -Friern Barnet N11, I am looking forward to fix my car with an affordable option as soon as possible ..

Do you have any suggestion for me ?! Please do let me know, thank you very much-

Farad.

[ROBBIE G]

Did this noise come on as you where driving or as you tried to start it? have you any idea when the timing belt was last changed?

[Dragrad]

Thread moved to appropriate forum. Re-direct left in old. May get better coverage in here

[farad]

Hello and thanks for your time,

Yes I heard the noise when I was driving (the engine was overheated too -as I explained there was an issue with fan as well), But I switched off the running engine to make the engine cool (with noise started just for a few seconds PLUS saw the red error on the screen (which started with these letters; Jim ...... ..... [?] -but could not read the rest.. ) ,
then after a few minutes I tried to turn the engine on but didn't start and the BAD noise was coming out while starting.. ,
AND Starter is fine, working ..

And I really do not know when cam-belt was changed if it was ..(because it is 70,000 mile - and previous owner told me I did not have any issue for few years apart from radiator which changed..)

Thanks. farad

Originally Posted by ROBBIE G

Did this noise come on as you where driving or as you tried to start it? have you any idea when the timing belt was last changed?

[Mike Noc]

Originally Posted by farad

And I really do not know when cam-belt was changed if it was ..(because it is 70,000 mile - and previous owner told me I did not have any issue for few years apart from radiator which changed..)

Thanks. farad

Learnt a very good lesson not long after I bought my first car back in the day: Never believe a single thing the seller says.

Go over the car like a rash and carefully check all the paperwork instead.

Then get it serviced as per the manufacturer's recommendations if you have any doubt that it hasn't been done, or hasn't been done correctly.

What your seller neglected to tell you is that belts need to be changed every 90,000 miles or 6 years, so on a 1999 car they should have been done twice by now.

Sounds like the AA man could well have made the correct diagnosis, but as Simon says worth getting a second professional opinion and also see if it can be repaired economically.

PS The exception to the rule I once bought a car from Terry at TSAutos. Needless to say exactly as described and it is still going strong.
.

[Spike]

I'd back what the others say - contact KENTON. He's incredibly knowledgable and will fix anything. If you can't get hold of him, drop me a PM and I've got his number. I trust him completely.

[farad]

It seems I was not lucky so far.. !

Although Cambelts are fine & Starter changed but still engine not running !!- Seemingly somehow stuck -,

even I did not drive while over-heateD, not for a mile..! & There was a leak (on the last week ) but I saw it was from a pipe loosing water fast while heated.. & All cooling system was also renewed last year -saw the invoices now)
I used to think this type of engines are so much harder than this to be damaged soon (it used to be a perfect car with a extreme-sound engine! before this happened).

Now trying to find out what is other options (if any..) rather than to get a whole COSTLY engine..
However ( judging with what I understand) if Kenton can not repair it then, I would have a very slim chance to fix my car without a major Costly operation!! But I am always hopeful [& searching..] that a solution can be found within my budget - smoothly..
Please let me know if you have any suggestion.
TNX

[SD1too]

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

What your seller neglected to tell you is that belts need to be changed every 90,000 miles or 6 years, so on a 1999 car they should have done twice by now.

Farad,

With the greatest respect to Mike, I don't want you to get into a panic after reading what he's said here. I'll explain.

The 6 year renewal period is based upon an assumption that the owner will cover 15,000 miles per year, hence the 90,000 mile life of the cambelts will be reached after 6 years. So let's consider what happens when an owner does, say, 10,000 miles in that 6 year period. The belt with a 90,000 mile life has then covered only 60,000 miles, so why on earth would it need replacing? We know that it won't suffer mechanical failure on a time basis alone because:

1. The 75 in the Gaydon museum is 15 years old and has its original cambelts. It was started and driven last year with no problems.
2. A club member recently repaired a K1.8 engine whose cambelt had snapped. The mileage was 128,000 so, as you would expect, there's a considerable safety margin beyond the 90,000 mile figure.

Many people believe passionately that the 6 year period should be adhered to, but as explained above I don't see the logic of that. It is not my intention to re-start a discussion which has been fully explored before, nor am I trying to influence those with strong beliefs which are opposite to mine. I just don't want you Farad to be persuaded that a cambelt has broken unless we have positive unequivocal evidence that it has. And taking an AA man's word for it is not good enough as you've already said.

Regards to all.

Simon

[Mike Noc]

If it's any consolation Simon I hope the AA man is wrong, but given the other symptoms it doesn't sound like it will be cheap to repair.

Here's hoping.

Regarding servicing I follow the factory schedules. Always plenty of opinions on either ignoring them when it comes to the age of belts, changing diesel engine oil at half the service intervals etc etc on the forum.

But if you follow the schedule you won't go far wrong - adding any items that have been picked up on the forum of course - diesel PCV filters come to mind.




.

[chrissyboy]

Originally Posted by SD1too

Farad,

With the greatest respect to Mike, I don't want you to get into a panic after reading what he's said here. I'll explain.

The 6 year renewal period is based upon an assumption that the owner will cover 15,000 miles per year, hence the 90,000 mile life of the cambelts will be reached after 6 years. So let's consider what happens when an owner does, say, 10,000 miles in that 6 year period. The belt with a 90,000 mile life has then covered only 60,000 miles, so why on earth would it need replacing? We know that it won't suffer mechanical failure on a time basis alone because:

1. The 75 in the Gaydon museum is 15 years old and has its original cambelts. It was started and driven last year with no problems.
2. A club member recently repaired a K1.8 engine whose cambelt had snapped. The mileage was 128,000 so, as you would expect, there's a considerable safety margin beyond the 90,000 mile figure.

Many people believe passionately that the 6 year period should be adhered to, but as explained above I don't see the logic of that. It is not my intention to re-start a discussion which has been fully explored before, nor am I trying to influence those with strong beliefs which are opposite to mine. I just don't want you Farad to be persuaded that a cambelt has broken unless we have positive unequivocal evidence that it has. And taking an AA man's word for it is not good enough as you've already said.

Regards to all.

Simon

i agree with mike sounds like the tensioner has slackened or belt has stretched slipping a tooth or 2 so putting timing out so no compression. belts rubber belts NEED to be replaced every 6 years even if the car has only done 20,000 6 years .the rubber just perishes over time making it weak and then it will just go bringing on new engine time .