Serious, serious engine problem
07-17-2011, 01:18 PM
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Serious, serious engine problem
Hi Guys,
As the title suggests, my s2000 is in a bad way. I'd been on holiday in Weymouth for the week. Anyway, on the way home i stopped at a petrol station to fill up (before anyone says anything, we're 100% sure i put in petrol), about 30 seconds after pulling off the engine was knocking and rattling very loudly. It wasn't performing, and at one point it felt like the engine siezed for a milisecond and let out a squeek. If i came to a stop or the revs dropped too much the engine would stall. I hadn't been driving it hard either. I pulled over, checked the oil etc. and it was all fine. There's no smoke coming from the exhausts.
I ended up calling up the AA, the mechanic couldn't identify the problem and all he could say that it's a shame it's not under warranty... He just winced and told me to switch the engine off when we started the engine. All i can tell is that it's internal, the knocking is excrutiating to hear. I've heard all sorts of possible causes, the ECU going into limp mode because it needs a service, dropped a valve, bent a piston, bottom ends gone etc etc.
It's a 2003, AP1, with 75000 miles on the clock (give or take). Do any of you have a clue what it could be? Is this a known thing? I can't believe it's happened seeing as these cars are renowned for their bomb proof engines. All i can do for now is take it to the mechanics and ask him to take a look, but i don't have thousands lying about if this is an expensive fix.
Sorry for the essay, but any words of wisdom would be appreciated greatly. If you want to know anything more please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks, Josh.
P.S. I've owned the car for 5 months and it was a trade sale, do i have any legal standing to get it fixed/refunded from the garage? there was a 3 month waranty but i've heard that the citizen's advice has said the consumer has 6 months?
As the title suggests, my s2000 is in a bad way. I'd been on holiday in Weymouth for the week. Anyway, on the way home i stopped at a petrol station to fill up (before anyone says anything, we're 100% sure i put in petrol), about 30 seconds after pulling off the engine was knocking and rattling very loudly. It wasn't performing, and at one point it felt like the engine siezed for a milisecond and let out a squeek. If i came to a stop or the revs dropped too much the engine would stall. I hadn't been driving it hard either. I pulled over, checked the oil etc. and it was all fine. There's no smoke coming from the exhausts.
I ended up calling up the AA, the mechanic couldn't identify the problem and all he could say that it's a shame it's not under warranty... He just winced and told me to switch the engine off when we started the engine. All i can tell is that it's internal, the knocking is excrutiating to hear. I've heard all sorts of possible causes, the ECU going into limp mode because it needs a service, dropped a valve, bent a piston, bottom ends gone etc etc.
It's a 2003, AP1, with 75000 miles on the clock (give or take). Do any of you have a clue what it could be? Is this a known thing? I can't believe it's happened seeing as these cars are renowned for their bomb proof engines. All i can do for now is take it to the mechanics and ask him to take a look, but i don't have thousands lying about if this is an expensive fix.
Sorry for the essay, but any words of wisdom would be appreciated greatly. If you want to know anything more please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks, Josh.
P.S. I've owned the car for 5 months and it was a trade sale, do i have any legal standing to get it fixed/refunded from the garage? there was a 3 month waranty but i've heard that the citizen's advice has said the consumer has 6 months?
07-17-2011, 01:32 PM
#2
I guess it's a bit late to ask what state the oil is in or how much is in it?
07-17-2011, 01:33 PM
#3
There's quite a few YouTube videos of rattles and engine sounds (nobody really believes S2000 engines are bomb proof do they?).
If it's as bad as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dMIUgll5Q
Then it's going to be near enough £3K fitted for a replacement engine. Sorry.
OTOH, this is a TCT noise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVS-JLfmTnc
Which is a £200 part and 5 minute fix.
I don't think you're going to get far with the seller after 5 months.
If it's as bad as this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9dMIUgll5Q
Then it's going to be near enough £3K fitted for a replacement engine. Sorry.
OTOH, this is a TCT noise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVS-JLfmTnc
Which is a £200 part and 5 minute fix.
I don't think you're going to get far with the seller after 5 months.
07-17-2011, 01:35 PM
#4
Registered User
Is the oil definitely ok?
FWIW, these engines are most definitely not bomb proof...an unfortunate reality
It sounds to me that something on the top end has gone...possibly a dropped valve. I'd take it to someone who a: you can trust, and b: knows what they are doing. It won't be a bent piston...they're forged. If it is a valve/valves, it won't be hideously expensive.
Whatever you do, don't drive it...the whole engine could go kaput if it's as bad as you describe.
FWIW, these engines are most definitely not bomb proof...an unfortunate reality
It sounds to me that something on the top end has gone...possibly a dropped valve. I'd take it to someone who a: you can trust, and b: knows what they are doing. It won't be a bent piston...they're forged. If it is a valve/valves, it won't be hideously expensive.
Whatever you do, don't drive it...the whole engine could go kaput if it's as bad as you describe.
07-17-2011, 01:38 PM
#5
I can't help much with your questions but wish you all the best with getting it sorted. If it gets to the stage of replacing the Engine then there's a few people on here that have had that same experience.
There's a few specialists that get recommendations on a regular basis such as TGM if you're down south or Garage R if you're oop norf.
From your description it sounds rather serious, get a good mechanic to check it over throughly to find the cause. What is the oil level like, when was it last checked?
There's a few specialists that get recommendations on a regular basis such as TGM if you're down south or Garage R if you're oop norf.
From your description it sounds rather serious, get a good mechanic to check it over throughly to find the cause. What is the oil level like, when was it last checked?
07-17-2011, 01:43 PM
#6
Registered User
Is the oil definitely ok?
FWIW, these engines are most definitely not bomb proof...an unfortunate reality
It sounds to me that something on the top end has gone...possibly a dropped valve. I'd take it to someone who a: you can trust, and b: knows what they are doing. It won't be a bent piston...they're forged. If it is a valve/valves, it won't be hideously expensive.
Whatever you do, don't drive it...the whole engine could go kaput if it's as bad as you describe.
FWIW, these engines are most definitely not bomb proof...an unfortunate reality
It sounds to me that something on the top end has gone...possibly a dropped valve. I'd take it to someone who a: you can trust, and b: knows what they are doing. It won't be a bent piston...they're forged. If it is a valve/valves, it won't be hideously expensive.
Whatever you do, don't drive it...the whole engine could go kaput if it's as bad as you describe.
further investigation needed i think.
07-17-2011, 02:09 PM
#7
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If worst come to worst then Dixon (Dixon Motorsport) has an engine for sale at the moment...
Fingers crossed for you that it won't come to that though. Oil level was my first thought...
Fingers crossed for you that it won't come to that though. Oil level was my first thought...
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07-17-2011, 02:20 PM
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If you bought the car from a dealer in reality you will have 6 months "warranty"
Recent case law says if the car develops a fault within 6 months it is likely the fault will have been present at the point of sale
However, if the cause of the failure is not known yet it's best to find out first
If the car has been low on oil, etc. you won't have a case
Honest John makes for an interesting read on the internet
Citizens Advice and Consumer Direct will also advise you
Best of luck
Recent case law says if the car develops a fault within 6 months it is likely the fault will have been present at the point of sale
However, if the cause of the failure is not known yet it's best to find out first
If the car has been low on oil, etc. you won't have a case
Honest John makes for an interesting read on the internet
Citizens Advice and Consumer Direct will also advise you
Best of luck
07-17-2011, 02:34 PM
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With those two videos i'm not sure. Both sounds remind me of the car really, it's probably the first one but i'm in some form of subconscious denile.
The oil level, which i've checked about 5 times is fine, the quality of the oil is fine too. There's an independant mechanic our family uses regularly and he's reliable and very trustworthy, so there's no problem there. I'll arrange for a truck to have it taken over tomorrow so he can have a look at it. I won't be driving it, or starting it up.
All i can do is hope that it's a inexpensive fix, if i need a replacement then i'm in a very sticky situation. Thanks for the quick replies folks, i really appreciate it. If any of you know anything else then please let me know, i'll keep this thread updated though and keep you all posted.
Fingers crossed!
The oil level, which i've checked about 5 times is fine, the quality of the oil is fine too. There's an independant mechanic our family uses regularly and he's reliable and very trustworthy, so there's no problem there. I'll arrange for a truck to have it taken over tomorrow so he can have a look at it. I won't be driving it, or starting it up.
All i can do is hope that it's a inexpensive fix, if i need a replacement then i'm in a very sticky situation. Thanks for the quick replies folks, i really appreciate it. If any of you know anything else then please let me know, i'll keep this thread updated though and keep you all posted.
Fingers crossed!
07-17-2011, 02:44 PM
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that is exactly the symptoms of mine when the number 3 big end failed and wrote off the whole engine.
started playing up by stalling at junctions for no reason then all of a sudden a real nice knocking sound.
Sorry but i really think its bad news and your looking at a £2-3k bill
on a cheeky side you can get after market warranty for about £300 which covers engine failure on cars upto 10 years old so might be worth purchasing it and the n in a month go for a drive in it and get towed to a garage by the AA and get them to pay for a new engine.
mine just set me back £1840 for engine, £200 for service items and luckily i supplied my labour for free but you would be looking at prob £500 in labour to remove and replace the engine at a garage.
wishing you all the best tho mate and it be something simple but as ive recently been in the same situation and its a gutted feeling
started playing up by stalling at junctions for no reason then all of a sudden a real nice knocking sound.
Sorry but i really think its bad news and your looking at a £2-3k bill
on a cheeky side you can get after market warranty for about £300 which covers engine failure on cars upto 10 years old so might be worth purchasing it and the n in a month go for a drive in it and get towed to a garage by the AA and get them to pay for a new engine.
mine just set me back £1840 for engine, £200 for service items and luckily i supplied my labour for free but you would be looking at prob £500 in labour to remove and replace the engine at a garage.
wishing you all the best tho mate and it be something simple but as ive recently been in the same situation and its a gutted feeling