Engine replacement discussion and other Q's

23rd February 2011, 14:00

Right guys, I could do with bouncing a few ideas off you lot with regard to my car. It's long and wordy but here we go....

At the moment my car has a few niggles...

It has a slow oil leak, which is cheesing me off - I can't source where it's coming from. It appears to be coming from the back of the engine closest to the offside wheel, I've replaced and refitted the oil sump twice now with no luck. I'm honestly not being stupid, I've had the inlet and all the bits round the back off so I could examine the HG - and that's fine. So I guess it might be an oil seal? Sadly that's beyond my 'mechanic' capabilities so I'm reluctant to get it done if it turns out that the seals are fine. But that is not to say the HG could have failed on the sprocket side.

Now coupled to that, the car managed to somehow kill two abs sensors at, I assume, the same time, one front one rear - I've got replacements but I'm nervous about replacing them if the ABS unit is actually duffing them.

Finally... the focking thing munches alternators. All sorts of suggestions from, manifold being too hot (I've now wrapped it), to wiring loom fault. The battery light did used to flicker but now is on permanently, alternator charges fine though! My engine loom is a bit tatty so it's on my list of things to replace.

Still with me? lol
This brings to me to my question... I've bought a 46k VTS engine which very kindly came with a complete loom.

Shall I pop the new engine in (which, lets face it, is an unknown quantity and could have a multitude of problems too)? That would solve the oil leak, which is a bit overkill, but would hopefully have less wear and a bit more life in it compared to my 106k engine. Whilst that happens I'd get the loom replaced.

Or do I just get the loom replaced? which could solve the alternator issue and possibly a preventative measure against the ABs duffing up? And try and HG and oil seal replacement?

Thoughts?!

23rd February 2011, 14:07

If it was me, i would service the vts lump 46k and chuck that in with the new loom

23rd February 2011, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by ash_hart

If it was me, i would service the vts lump 46k and chuck that in with the new loom

+1 change the cambelt on the new engine at the same time.

Steve.

23rd February 2011, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo67

+1 change the cambelt on the new engine at the same time.

Steve.

Yep, give it a good service and then change the engine and the loom.

23rd February 2011, 14:31

As you have already said you could fit this replacement engine you have and have many more problems, some of which could be more severe. You could fit this replacement engine and a few weeks later the HG could go, or start burning oil etc.

Could the killing of alternator and the ABS sensor killing be linked? Maybe a bad earth, more power getting through than there should or something along them lines.

Personally, I would remove your current engine loom. While its off steam clean the rear of the engine or wherever the oil leak seems to be coming from. Refit your new loom, clean all your earths and check connections in the fuse box, aswell as checking you have the correct fuses in place.

Take it for a drive regulary checking where the oil seems to be coming from and see if you can narrow it down. Solve the problem of the oil leak and then see if the new loom eliminates the ABS and alternator problem.

You could remove this current engine when it could be a much better engine that the lower miled one and also the old engine may not develop any problems in the future, maybe another 45k where as the new one mayb develop a costly problem ater 5k.

23rd February 2011, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyza

As you have already said you could fit this replacement engine you have and have many more problems, some of which could be more severe. You could fit this replacement engine and a few weeks later the HG could go, or start burning oil etc.

Could the killing of alternator and the ABS sensor killing be linked? Maybe a bad earth, more power getting through than there should or something along them lines.

Personally, I would remove your current engine loom. While its off steam clean the rear of the engine or wherever the oil leak seems to be coming from. Refit your new loom, clean all your earths and check connections in the fuse box, aswell as checking you have the correct fuses in place.

Take it for a drive regulary checking where the oil seems to be coming from and see if you can narrow it down. Solve the problem of the oil leak and then see if the new loom eliminates the ABS and alternator problem.

You could remove this current engine when it could be a much better engine that the lower miled one and also the old engine may not develop any problems in the future, maybe another 45k where as the new one mayb develop a costly problem ater 5k.

Ture true. its up to you. Maybe yor engine is better or the other one is, you never know untill u strip the other one down and check.

Good luck with what you do anyway mate

23rd February 2011, 14:46

Would personally only replace an engine once its completly useless needing a rebuild or not running.

Also, you probably have proof of the milage. But if there wasnt, it could easily be an engine of 120k, just because of the miles on the engine you will immediatly think twice about fitting it. However if you knew no better you could fit it and easily be fooled its a 45k engine, when in fact its got many more miles than you current engine.

23rd February 2011, 14:50

You could compare the engine to a rear beam as the rear beam is worth the same amount, give or take a few £.

Most poeple advise against fitting a lower miled beam as it might not last 2 weeks or already be fucked. Most poeple have their current beam fixed/refurbed. Other words, fix your current engine, or fit another for what could be a short amount of time before another problem occurs.

23rd February 2011, 15:52

Thanks for the advice gang.

The thought had occurred about the ABS and the Alternator being related... I could really do with some naff, but working ABS sensors just to confirm the abs unit won't blow them up the moment the I connect the battery.
The engine I've got in at the moment appears absolutely fine in terms of power delivery and fuel economy - so for the sake of the oil leak you're absolutely right, it's not worth popping another engine in to correct that fault, yet possibly add more. I can always use the engine as a mule for rebuilding or something.

Time is pretty short for me so I'll have to get a garage to tackle replacing the loom