Hi 

 

we have an Skoda Fabia 2002 that lately started to get engine problems. 

 

It it started with that the wife drives to work and when she tries to drive home the engine won't start. I try to jumpstart the engine with cables - without luck. Later the roadhelp guy starts I without any problems. And for the next few days the car starts without problems. But after two days the engine won't start, the roadhelp guy notes the the engine don't have any compression though the starter runs perfectly, he won't even try to start the engine but calls his colleague who pick up the car and bring it to our mechanic. 

Our mechanic also notes that the engine doesn't have any compression and worries that the engine chain might be broken, but after a few hours of mechanical love the engine suddenly starts. He have no idea why or what reason the engine suddenly starts. 

The car have been driving for the last couple of days without problems. 

 

Does Anyone know of a similiar error and what causes it and hopefully how to fix it?

 

extra info: 2 month ago we replaced the cooling system because it lost water but the engine have never been hot. The ignition coil also got replaced. 

After the last repair (two month ago) there have been a sound that raises in frequency when car drives faster (not the engine). 

 

Lookimg forward to your answers - Thorbjørn 

I'm guessing this is a 1.2 litre 3 cylinder since we're talking about compression problems.

 

It sounds very much like the valves are burnt and need replacing, you can confirm this by doing a leakdown test.

Its a 1.4 4 cylinder petrol. 

Both mechanic who have worked on the engine think that it is unlikely that all 8 valves have burned at the same time. 

All 4 cylinders have no compression?

Yep - none of cylinders have compression

It's unlikely that one valve on each cylinder could have burnt simultaneously. It's similarly unlikely that you cold be getting enough blow-by on all 4 cylinders for the engine to be that worn. And almost unbelieveable that either of those issues could be intermittent.

 

So on the Holmsian basis of "when you eliminate all other possibilities, what remains must be the explanation", I suspect that the tappets are holding the valves open!

May be the chalin belt? Normaly this happens more on the 1,2 engine, but it is easy ti check.

Take the head cover off and take a look to se if there is some movement there when an friend turn the starter.

This engine is a good one so it is wort to repair.

 

Edited 21 February, 20179 yr by Torbo