Frozen up = belt jump+valve damage. Ideas, plse!

13th March 2013, 18:36

Disaster - we had just bought an X-reg Saxo Forte (1100cc), used it happily for a few days, then the cold spell came and it froze up 'cos - unbeknowst to us - there was no anti-freeze!!

When we came to start, the timing belt must have jumped, causing valves to hit pistons etc - result is no compression and what seems to be a dead car.

Any ideas, please? It's only worth a few hundred, as a going vehicle, so costs for garage strip & rebuild seem prohibitive.

13th March 2013, 18:40

Yer your cambelt jumped as your water pump was frozen solid,

Like you say basicly a new head if your handy with spanners you could drop a new engine in yourself as 1.1 engines goes for pennys.

But as you say if you got to take it to a garage forget it, cut your losses.

13th March 2013, 18:41

Yes, it could have jumped a tooth if it was frozen around the water pump.

No compression now due to bent valves because the belt has slipped.

dead engine.

What do you check when you buy a car? Oil, Coolant, Tax and MOT and that it runs and drives ok.

uderp

13th March 2013, 18:45

Fully accept blame for 'trusting' that there was anti-freeze in there - having kicked myself hard for this and will continue to so.........

13th March 2013, 19:08

Another engine or scrap mate

13th March 2013, 19:10

Yep, I fear that it will be scrap, just seems a pity 'cos it was qwuite good fun to drive.........

13th March 2013, 19:33

Dear mmatthej1,
I would take the cylinder head off, and do the work yourself

That way you would know that the job would be done correctly

There are loads of very clued up people on this forum, who can take you through that problem, stage by stage if you needed it.
You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
The first thing I would do, you need to take the cylinder head off, to see how many valve guides are smashed, as this will tell you how badly damaged your cylinder head is, and take it from there.
I hope this helps

Vince,

13th March 2013, 19:51

For the sake of it though, buy a new fucking 1.1. 500quid... for the price of repairing the head, you can make a shit 1.1 into a ish 1.1

Or hang around the local trade auctions. Luck of the draw with some cars, but again, some ok bargains.

13th March 2013, 20:17

whip the head off and have a look. Might just need a new head providing it hasnt scored a liner, but then is it worth it for the price of a full engine or even the car?

13th March 2013, 20:29

What mileage is the current engine on?

13th March 2013, 21:12

Car was towed to a local garage; think mileage is about 80K.

Pros & cons:

PRO's
I could get it towed back ( for £, I suppose) - I think I'm capable of whipping head off and inspecting (suppose I could post foties, for forum advice). I could get a second-hand head off eBay for £30 and buy gasket set, water pump, timing belt. I could then wield spanners.

CONS:
Economics:
Car only cost £430
Needs MoT anyway £40(plus cost of any repairs needed to pass!)
Head £30 (plus fuel cost to collect 160mls round trip)
Gasket set £40(guess)
Water pump £20 (guess)
Timing belt £40 (guess)

I can do spanner work ok but nervous about fitting belt! Guess the whole job would occupy a fair bit of time as well.

What would a repired car be worth with MoT, I wonder??

Opinions?

13th March 2013, 21:27

If you're compitent with working on the engine and spending time on it, go for it. But, saxos are one of those cars, where you'll plough tonnes of money into it, and not get a large price tag back out of it.

13th March 2013, 23:25

Got a 1.4 lump sat here ran fine when removed from car on 70k, £35 its yours it will need a ECU though..

13th March 2013, 23:54

Ask your local scrappy to buzz you when one comes in. Our local has a few in each week or every other, usually with axle problems. That way you can see the mileage and hear it running.

I know this one down here will take one out for £20 and they are only £60 notes ex removal.

14th March 2013, 00:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmatthej1

Car was towed to a local garage; think mileage is about 80K.

Pros & cons:

PRO's
I could get it towed back ( for £, I suppose) - I think I'm capable of whipping head off and inspecting (suppose I could post foties, for forum advice). I could get a second-hand head off eBay for £30 and buy gasket set, water pump, timing belt. I could then wield spanners.

CONS:
Economics:
Car only cost £430
Needs MoT anyway £40(plus cost of any repairs needed to pass!)
Head £30 (plus fuel cost to collect 160mls round trip)
Gasket set £40(guess)
Water pump £20 (guess)
Timing belt £40 (guess)

I can do spanner work ok but nervous about fitting belt! Guess the whole job would occupy a fair bit of time as well.

What would a repired car be worth with MoT, I wonder??

Opinions?

If your worried about the cambelt...i made a guide on here for the vtr, it's pretty much the same though, and it has step by step with pics

14th March 2013, 00:14

You'll learn a lot stripping it yourself if nothing else. And the worst that can happen is you sack off the idea and get a replacement engine as you might have done anyway. Of course like anything, learning something new will take some of your time

Have a fiddle - bows the perfect time.

14th March 2013, 12:06

Dear mmatthej1,
Yes, I think you are just about right about the costs etc.
Why petrol for 160 miles ? There are loads of places online where you can have the second hand head sent to your home address ( these days )

Vince

14th March 2013, 12:49

You feel more confident doing a head gasket than a cambelt?
Providing you get the head refaced (valve lapping and stems etc at your discretion but you'd be a fool not to) you can do a head gasket on one of these in a couple of hours

14th March 2013, 16:52

To end the story:

I've decided to scrap the car, as every other option is looking uncertain/uneconomic/time-consuming. I hate to condemn a car but the equation is against a worthwhile payback for all the effort of a repair.

Thanks to all those who have looked at & responded to my posting -enjoy your cars, as we enjoyed ours during our very brief ownership!

Maybe we will have a second-coming in due course with a VTR!!

Cheers!

14th March 2013, 16:55

Shame that. You should have at least pulled the head off and then scrapped it, just to see the damage!

14th March 2013, 18:37

Take the point, re:head off but car not at my place, so it would start the cost cycle, just to get it home...............

Always a knifedge decision but I'm getting too old for projects, so got off the fence and decided to scrap!