head gasket or cam?

1. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

   #1 3rd July 2010, 15:36

   hi guys, i bought my first (1998) saxo vtr, 2 weeks ago and last week it overheated really bad !! since then i have driven it 18 miles just to get it home but it had no pull to it and the engine, when excellerating sounds like a fast clicking/rattling. when i start it up it idles fine and revs like there is nothing wrong but i will not drive it anymore until i get it sorted so i dont fuck the engine up completely.
   I have a feeling that the head gasket has gone/going but there are no tell tail signs, e.g no milky oil, no white smoke etc. so im thinking maybe its the cam??? if anyone has ANY ideas or have also experienced similar problems pleaaaaaasssseeee help me out.
   
   Thanks
2. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #2 3rd July 2010, 15:41

   unlikely to be cam, if it overheated as badly as you say the pistons may have started to pick up on the bores, sounds like its in trouble. best to get a compression test done i'd say
3. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

   #3 3rd July 2010, 16:32

   if it is the pistons, can they be replaced and how much roughly is that gonna cost? would it be cheaper to just let it die and buy a new car?
4. jaytay Frequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 birmingham Posts: 858 saxo vtr 2000 black modified

   #4 3rd July 2010, 16:32

   mmm not gud buddy as above get tested.
5. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #5 3rd July 2010, 16:51

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by kingapparel if it is the pistons, can they be replaced and how much roughly is that gonna cost? would it be cheaper to just let it die and buy a new car?

   yes they can be replaced but its almost always more cost effective to get a secondhand engine but get the compressions checked first before you condemn it completely
6. user_32315 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Uppingham, Rutland Posts: 9569 mk1 JP4'd VTR, '16 Fabia Monte Carlo

   #6 3rd July 2010, 16:55

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by kingapparel if it is the pistons, can they be replaced and how much roughly is that gonna cost? would it be cheaper to just let it die and buy a new car?

   as already said yes they can be replaced but think of the cost! your gonna have to get some one to remove your engine and then strip it, and then re build it, would cost A LOT of money to do that when you can pick up a vtr engine for about £100
7. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

   #7 3rd July 2010, 17:48

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by jeffchiz as already said yes they can be replaced but think of the cost! your gonna have to get some one to remove your engine and then strip it, and then re build it, would cost A LOT of money to do that when you can pick up a vtr engine for about £100

   if i just want to save money on compression tests and having some money sucking garage to find the fault, would it be easier to just buy a low mileage or new engine with auxilleries and not have to worry about the knock on affect of whatever is currently wrong with it?
   
   Thanks for all your answers by the way, i really do apreciate it
8. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #8 4th July 2010, 11:28

   as the owner of a "money sucking garage" ,one that may i add charges £15 to do a compression test, go and buy a compression tester yourself and check them, its not hard
9. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #9 4th July 2010, 11:29

   and you've not even been charged for my time as a "money sucking garage" owner for my time replying to your thread lol

   1 user thanked this post: user_43116
10. user_35312 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Coventry CV6 Posts: 2477 Slowda Octavia vRS SOLD - Cam'd Chip'd VTR

    #10 4th July 2010, 11:31

    sounds like its boiled over and warped the head..
11. lisavts Infrequent Poster Joined: Mar 2004 Stocksbridge, Sheffield Posts: 182 Mercury Grey VTS 1998

    #11 4th July 2010, 12:37

    compession tests are to be done when engine warm, is this always the case... if so thats a problem in its self coz more damage can be done... i got same prob with vts need to get an engine mechanical diagnostic am sure mine not sensor related
12. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #12 4th July 2010, 12:40

    compression test is best done with engine warm but to diagnose a misfire it can be done hot or cold, you're looking for a discrepency between cylinders if you are tracing a misfire whereas if you are looking for worn rings or bores then the figures will usually be down across all 4

    1 user thanked this post: lisavts
13. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

    #13 5th July 2010, 20:10

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mandyslover70 and you've not even been charged for my time as a "money sucking garage" owner for my time replying to your thread lol

    LOL thanks for your time, i didnt mean "money sucking garages" in general i just meant the ones in my local area.
    
    I have been lookin today at engines from rear impact spares or repairs, would you think it could be a better idea just to get one and get it put in rather than risking any further problems with the current engine?
14. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #14 5th July 2010, 21:05

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by kingapparel LOL thanks for your time, i didnt mean "money sucking garages" in general i just meant the ones in my local area. I have been lookin today at engines from rear impact spares or repairs, would you think it could be a better idea just to get one and get it put in rather than risking any further problems with the current engine?

    every time! a basic rebuild is going to cost far more then secondhand engine plus theres labour time to consider. Get a good secondhand engine, replace cambelt,water pump,oil and filter while its on the bench and get it fitted. What engine code is yours as we have some low mileage engines here, basically anything above 70k gets stripped for spares and the blocks weighed in
15. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

    #15 5th July 2010, 22:20

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mandyslover70 every time! a basic rebuild is going to cost far more then secondhand engine plus theres labour time to consider. Get a good secondhand engine, replace cambelt,water pump,oil and filter while its on the bench and get it fitted. What engine code is yours as we have some low mileage engines here, basically anything above 70k gets stripped for spares and the blocks weighed in

    umm i have no idea what the code is but my car is a 1998 r reg VTR 1.6
16. BobCm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Apr 2009 Orpington Posts: 1406 My son drives a Poseidon Blue Saxo Mk2 1.6i VTR.

    #16 5th July 2010, 22:23

    It's on your VIN number
    
    VF7S0NFXG00000001
    
    In the above example = NFX
17. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

    #17 5th July 2010, 22:26

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by BobC It's on your VIN number VF7S0NFXG00000001 In the above example = NFX

    oooh i jus got my v5 today..... the number is fx1go393045
    thanks
18. BobCm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Apr 2009 Orpington Posts: 1406 My son drives a Poseidon Blue Saxo Mk2 1.6i VTR.

    #18 5th July 2010, 22:30

    So, just get the engine code part of your VIN number. It will start VF7S0...
    
    DO NOT post your VIN number on here. I suspect that is your V5 number??
19. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #19 6th July 2010, 10:38

    should be an NFX i would think, NFT is the 3 plug later engine
20. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

    #20 6th July 2010, 14:27

    its the NFZ engine..... what kind of extras would i have to buy if i did get a replacment engine? like new oil filter etc?
    
    Thanks for all your help
21. kingapparel Newbie Joined: Jul 2010 Paignton Posts: 8 Saxo vtr r-reg (1998) green 1.6

    #21 11th July 2010, 01:37

    Hi guys had a friend of a friend look at my car last night and he said he wil skim the head etc and basically get the engine running sweet and good as new for £250.
    
    On a different note..... What are the biggest wheelS I can fit on my 98' vtr without any rubbing or scuffing??