Hi all,

 

Car won't start last night but fired up on 2 or 3 eventually, then started running properly. There was a rattle at low revs but drove OK. This morning, won't start at all. I checked the following 1) spark on all 4

2) changed plugs

3) fuel on all 4 plugs so injectors working

4) starting in gear makes car lurch forward so starter working

5) charged battery

 

I then removed the rocker cover and discovered something scary - only two values seem to be moving when turning over. See YouTube video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc91RxbJ5fw

 

This is new engine time??

 

Thanks,

Darrell

 

 

This is new engine time??

 

Yes, timing has slipped and all the valves but two are bent and stuck open, judging by the state of the rocker gear that engine has NOT been looked after.

That doesn't sound right at all!

 

It doesn't sound like all of the engine is turning over.

 

How many miles has the engine done and has the chain ever been replaced?

 

Phil

Yes, timing has slipped and all the valves but two are bent and stuck open, judging by the state of the rocker gear that engine has NOT been looked after.

 My thoughts entirely!

 

I used to regularly take the cover off on my Felicia and clean all the gunk out of there too.

 

I reckon the chain has gone!

 

Phil

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the replies. I bought the car about 2 years ago with 95K miles on it and its now on 135K miles. It already had an LPG conversion and I paid only £900 for it. Since then it had the following done:

 

3x oil and filter changes

3x air filter

New clutch

New cam chain at 100K 

New thermostat twice!

4x new springs and top mounts

Two sets of brembo disks and mintex pads

New console bushes

New track rod end

New 16 inch alloys

etc etc.

 

The engine has always used a bit of water and been subject to mayo in the oil so I've ensured these are always topped up. I've tried to look after it was much as I could without spending too much money although I suspect most of the wear on the engine was done before I bought the car :(

 My thoughts entirely!

 

I used to regularly take the cover off on my Felicia and clean all the gunk out of there too.

 

I reckon the chain has gone!

 

Phil

 

Looks pretty knackered :no:

 

I had the timing chain done on my wifes one a year or so ago because there was a slight rattle at low revs, been perfect since. looks like lack of maintenance as above mentioned.

Hi all,

 

Thanks for the replies. I bought the car about 2 years ago with 95K miles on it and its now on 135K miles. It already had an LPG conversion and I paid only £900 for it. Since then it had the following done:

 

3x oil and filter changes

3x air filter

New clutch

New cam chain at 100K 

New thermostat twice!

4x new springs and top mounts

Two sets of brembo disks and mintex pads

New console bushes

New track rod end

New 16 inch alloys

etc etc.

 

The engine has always used a bit of water and been subject to mayo in the oil so I've ensured these are always topped up. I've tried to look after it was much as I could without spending too much money although I suspect most of the wear on the engine was done before I bought the car :(

 

 

That is a fair amount of miles!  may have just been unlucky, retract my last comment

TBH I'd just buy another car, swap the good bits over then scrap yours.

Could be the head gasket then perhaps. Has it maybe hydro locked the engine then cause further damage. Who know... the only way to find out would be to strip the engine down and inspect.

 

I think you are looking at a new engine though to be fair as repairing this one would be uneconomical.

 

Get one from a scrap yard. Should be plenty around.

TBH I'd just buy another car, swap the good bits over then scrap yours.

 

My wife's 1.4 mpi 8v comfort is for sale :p

Hahaha, the new car idea is worth thinking about! - Last year we went to the south of france and back in it and it only cost £150 to do 1600 miles with the LPG. I really wanted air con though

 

The kicker is I only got the nearside front wheel bearing done on friday and the brakes and pads last week! 

 

I have a friend from my GT-FOUR shenegans that is fully kitted out for an engine transplant so I'm currently thinking 2nd hand engine for £250 and swap it over as I won't have to pay extortionate labour.

 

My wife's 1.4 mpi 8v comfort is for sale  :p

 

Details?

Here's the link to the classifieds thread i opened only yesterday .

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/342108-14-mpi-02-55k-miles-great-condition/

Here's the link to the classifieds thread i opened only yesterday .

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/342108-14-mpi-02-55k-miles-great-condition/

 

That is temping and in great condition, although if I was changing the car I don't think I could deal with the hit of losing the LPG fuel savings (it does 30 MPG on gas @ 59p / litre) , hence I'd have to buy a TDI. Think I'm going to buy an engine off eBay (place about 30 miles down the road) and get a friend to swap it for now as it's the cheapest option. It kills me as the more I look the more I'm thinking get a better specced car with air-con, computer, hell even electric windows over my old Classic.

 

Good luck with the sale though

 

Does anybody know if headgasket problems are common on 2002 MPI engines? I know it was a problem on some 2001.

 

Thanks

Edited 1 February, 201511 yr by napalmdaz

That is temping and in great condition, although if I was changing the car I don't think I could deal with the hit of losing the LPG fuel savings (it does 30 MPG on gas @ 59p / litre) , hence I'd have to buy a TDI. Think I'm going to buy an engine off eBay (place about 30 miles down the road) and get a friend to swap it for now as it's the cheapest option. It kills me as the more I look the more I'm thinking get a better specced car with air-con, computer, hell even electric windows over my old Classic.

 

Good luck with the sale though

 

Does anybody know if headgasket problems are common on 2002 MPI engines? I know it was a problem on some 2001.

 

Thanks

 

 

Aye its rather painful selling 'old faithfull' after 6 years of ownership shes never let us down!

I spoke to the skoda dealer where im px'ing it and he couldnt believe the condition, he turned the car on, but told me he wasnt going to bother driving it as he could see it had been looked after .

Must be someone on this forum after her :P .

 

gl with the engine hunt + fit, hopefully this all gets sorted for you

Head gasket is a red herring, it cannot be why your valves are not opening and closing, your problem can only be caused by a catastrophic mechanical failure, in this case piston/valve interface bending the valve stems and jamming them in the guides.

Thanks for the advice guys. Think I'm going get the engine changed over as I think I can get that done for £500 which will get me a cheap car that the Mrs will use as the Celica is a classic modified policy (410 BHP / 400 LBFT) and she isn't insured on that...  then sell the 1.4 classic in in the next month or so and have a look for a MKI vRS. Most low mileage examples seem to be around 3.5 -4K. Does that sound reasonable?

 

I reckon the chain has gone!

 

Phil

 

But if the chain had gone the valve gear wouldn't move at all as the cam wouldn't be turning. I think it's  what sepulchrave said - catastrophic valve-piston contact.

 My thoughts entirely!

 

I used to regularly take the cover off on my Felicia and clean all the gunk out of there too.

 

I reckon the chain has gone!

 

Phil

 

Should I do the same with my 1.4 mpi ? If so, how often ?

I used to do it every service.

 

Since you should be checking the valve clearances anyway you might as well give it a clean while it's off.

 

I would clean the inside of the cover and clean any gunk off the valves and pushrods etc.

 

Oil likes to hang around in the top there and can gunk up if left. Regular oil changes should avoid it but you still get some.

 

Phil

I'll do my homework.

For the valve clearances you need a feeler gauge:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=feeler+guages#q=feeler+gauges&spell=1

 

The clearances can really affect performance/fuel economy. Having them properly adjusted also quietens down the engine a lot.

 

Phil

 

 

Since you should be checking the valve clearances anyway you might as well give it a clean while it's off.

 

 

Valve lifters are hydraulic on the Fabia MPI 8 valve engine. No checking necessary. The only time you need to touch them is if the valve gear has been dismantled and then you need to perform an initial setting.

 

http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk1/drive_unit/1.0/37;_1.4/44;_1.4/50_kw_mpi_engine/engine_cylinder_head_valve_gear/repairing_cylinder_head/basic_setting_of_hydraulic_valve_clearance_compensation/

Edited 2 February, 201511 yr by TMB

This engine was returning 40 MPG average on petrol and 31 MPG on LPG before it died. The car had some history when I bought it but the last previous owner didn't do anything to it for the two years he had it (no receipts at all) but clocked up loads of miles. i.e. neglected it. I'm surprised it lasted this long, but at £900 with LPG conversion it was a no brainer as a cheap runaround..

 

New engine with 40K miles ordered

Valve lifters are hydraulic on the Fabia MPI 8 valve engine. No checking necessary. The only time you need to touch them is if the valve gear has been dismantled and then you need to perform an initial setting.

 

http://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk1/drive_unit/1.0/37;_1.4/44;_1.4/50_kw_mpi_engine/engine_cylinder_head_valve_gear/repairing_cylinder_head/basic_setting_of_hydraulic_valve_clearance_compensation/

 

This I did not know. I always thought they share the exact same valves etc as the older 1.3 Felicia engines.

 

Phil

This I did not know. I always thought they share the exact same valves etc as the older 1.3 Felicia engines.

 

Phil

 

Yeah, it's the same engine but VAG modified it to hydraulic lifters for the Fabia. Quite a nice modification as setting valve clearances is a bit of a chore.