182 Engine Nightmare

[devfuse]

Hi all,

Ok where to start... i was drving along yesterday minding my own business(going up a hill 3rd gear 4/5k RPM) and the car cuts out i pull over to the hard shouder. I had loads of smoke coming out of the exhaust (thought it was on fire so went for the fire extinguisher and poped the hood all looks fine...). all the coolant had come out of the exhaust which caused the smoke becuase it was hot from the motorway run.

I had the car towed to the garage, they removed the inlet manifold and the plugs tho find this
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4th plug along on right

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They are telling me i need a new engine due whats missing off the end of the plug going into the piston .

This could not have come at a worst time i have just had a full wheel refurb and spray,4xmichelin pilot sport 3 tyres,new drive shafts on both sides(CV boots came off and start clicking like crazy),belts,coolant pump,alternator, new rocker cover seal due to leak and cam covers,power steerting hose(split going along and went all over the exhaust). + other mods costing well over 5k in the last 2 months.

I am just looking for some advice really becuase a new engine fitted is £5500... could get a second hand one but i love my car tooo much + you never know how the engine has been treated even with a full service history.

How the hell can something like this happen(plugs are not even 4 months old)?? i know i drive my car abit hard most of the time but i look after it no matter the cost :dead: sorry for my bad english, super depressed right now.

 

[Chrisgti6]

The bit i don't understand is why you lost all the coolant through the exhaust, unless it's done massive internal damage on that cylinder?

£5.5k for a new engine is crazy, either second hand or rebuild yours I would say

 

[-J-]

Never thought about it, but won't the plugs have warranty?

If the plugs to fault might be worth a try, very doubtful but you never know.

 

[bmh.01]

Thats probably dropped a valve, the plug is the effect not the cause. Will have smashed everything to buggery hence the coolant loss.

 

[Chrisgti6]

That's a good shout actually, I was trying to figure out why the plug is so damaged. There's probably half a valve embedded in th top of the piston!

 

[barnesautos]

Coolant in the exhaust : Mmmmm
Two scenarios , head gasket failed on that cylinder causing coolant / water to enter cylinder causing plug failure due to temperature issues , or maybe the cylinder was running lean and the plug melted and has subsequently smashed a hole in the bore exposing the coolant chamber allowing the coolant to enter into the exhaust .
Have you any pics of the damaged engine

Sorry to hear about troubles
Damn it's Friday 13th

 

[devfuse]

Thanks for the replys guys, dont have any pics of the inside yet. When i get the new engine in i will take apart the old one and upload some pictures.

New topgear style table INC! lol

 

[devfuse]

Coolant in the exhaust : Mmmmm
Two scenarios , head gasket failed on that cylinder causing coolant / water to enter cylinder causing plug failure due to temperature issues , or maybe the cylinder was running lean and the plug melted and has subsequently smashed a hole in the bore exposing the coolant chamber allowing the coolant to enter into the exhaust .
Have you any pics of the damaged engine

Sorry to hear about troubles
Damn it's Friday 13th

DAM didnt see that !!! friday the 13th...

 

[Laine_16v]

becuase a new engine fitted is £5500...

WHAT! I would personally rebuild an engine, ship it to spain, fly to spain, fit it for you and fly back for a lot less than that lol!

 

[The Chubby Pirate]

PMSL @ £5.5 for a new engine.

Hello Trophy!

 

[devfuse]

WHAT! I would personally rebuild an engine, ship it to spain, fly to spain, fit it for you and fly back for a lot less than that lol!

sounds interesting
I have found a 2nd hand engine for 1k(inc delivery) that's got 60k on the clock and full Renault service history, cant find anything better.
i know 5.5k(inc fitting) is f**king crazy but this car has great sentimental value to me.

 

[Darren S]

Sounds a nightmare m8. But £5.5k for an engine swap is just utterly crazy. I'm sure many UK specialists would be happy to help in exchange for a few days in the sun and payment in beer!

Best of luck with it.

D.

 

[devfuse]

I'm sure many UK specialists would be happy to help in exchange for a few days in the sun and payment in beer!


D.

I have no idea where to start/who to talk to, i would gladly pay to fly a specialist out but he would need all the tools etc and to source an engine.

 

[SBV116]

Dropped a valve, just source a secondhand engine! Just fit one for someone that had done exactly the same!

 

[Mickb]

just done this and it fucked all 4 pistons, and snapped the valve and jammed it, f**king the head. was no 2 cylinder that was mashed to hell. like said, youd be cheaper to rebuild it

 

[devfuse]

Hi again

quick update...got the car back on Thursday had the new engine put in with new clutch and Belts(had the car 4 days). Yesterday the car cuts out cruising along same as it did the first time round had the car towed to the garage. Checked the belt it looked fine then took the 1st plug out and was smashed just like the 4th one was before.

They are calming its not there fault and that my ECU must be mapped (its not but cant they check with there laptop ??) and that they need to talk to head office.

This just doesn't happen 2 times in under a month...my guess is that the belt was not done correctly(crank shaft pulley ?) the first time which mashed my engine and the same again now with my new engine.

Just need some guidance really how can i prove anything?

Thanks

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

oh my god! what a night mare, i remember Chris 205 having the same issue!!! drop him a PM.

 

[Jamesstone]

Was it the same garage that did your original belt change?

 

[Dan519]

Hi again

quick update...got the car back on Thursday had the new engine put in with new clutch and Belts(had the car 4 days). Yesterday the car cuts out cruising along same as it did the first time round had the car towed to the garage. Checked the belt it looked fine then took the 1st plug out and was smashed just like the 4th one was before.

They are calming its not there fault and that my ECU must be mapped (its not but cant they check with there laptop ??) and that they need to talk to head office.

This just doesn't happen 2 times in under a month...my guess is that the belt was not done correctly(crank shaft pulley ?) the first time which mashed my engine and the same again now with my new engine.

Just need some guidance really how can i prove anything?

Thanks

I'm trying to help out a local garage that are having the same issues with a 1.6 16v. I'm pretty sure it's cam timing that's causing them problems, and i'd be confident that this is your issue too

 

[devfuse]

oh my god! what a night mare, i remember Chris 205 having the same issue!!! drop him a PM.

Yeah i am super depressed right now :banghead: was all happy when i got it back.

will send a PM now thanks mate.

 

[devfuse]

Was it the same garage that did your original belt change?

Yep both times same garage Renault

 

[Silent_Scone]

Christ, something had smacked that hard

 

[devfuse]

I'm trying to help out a local garage that are having the same issues with a 1.6 16v. I'm pretty sure it's cam timing that's causing them problems, and i'd be confident that this is your issue too

My problem is that they are not going to take liability for it and i can't prove anything but i am going to push until i get an outcome i am happy with.

 

[Silent_Scone]

Is the second plug exactly the same? Really odd, cam timing seems like one of the only factors you could put down to both engines. I take it they used a whole new set of plugs?

I say that because it wouldn't be the first time there has been a bad batch of them, some of them had superficial cracks

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

the engine went POP, they told you you needed a new engine they should have checked the car was running correctly or find out why it went pop in the first place, unsure if the laws in Spain are the same as UK

 

[devfuse]

Is the second plug exactly the same? Really odd, cam timing seems like one of the only factors you could put down to both engines. I take it they used a whole new set of plugs?

It was only the 1st plug looks just like the photo in original post all the other plugs are fine.

Didn't have a new set of plugs even tho i asked for them, they used the ones that came with the second hand engine..

 

[devfuse]

OK just got of the phone with Renault and there still sticking by what they said before that its the ECU that's been mapped. Causing timing problems

How can this be checked so i can show its stock?

 

[Ian_R]

If its renault,l then surely they are just able to hook it up to clip and check? has it got the facility to check this, also what makes them think it has had a map? if they cant find out if it has or not then they are still to blame.

Pretty micky mouse that it blows and they are its the ECU! was it a brand new engine fitted?

 

[Silent_Scone]

Sounds fairly far fetched to me. Take it the cars never had a remap in your possession then?

 

[devfuse]

If its renault,l then surely they are just able to hook it up to clip and check? has it got the facility to check this, also what makes them think it has had a map? if they cant find out if it has or not then they are still to blame.

Pretty micky mouse that it blows and they are its the ECU! was it a brand new engine fitted?

Yep they have a Diagnostics laptop but i don't know if it can check to see if it's been mapped or not need to ask. only reason they might think it might have been is all the mods i have on it like racing leads ITG Performance air filter full 2.5" exhaust with decat and ARB on the back.

 

[devfuse]

Sounds fairly far fetched to me. Take it the cars never had a remap in your possession then?

nope and previous owner said it wasn't as well.

 

[hilldawg172]

Are there no specialists near you? Renault dealerships can't be trusted imo. they just want maximum profits in exchange for poor workmanship. Id rather break my car and buy a bus pass than allow a dealership to get there money grabbing mitts on it. I know this won't help now and sorry to rub it in and sound like a dick but someone had to say it.

 

[devfuse]

Are there no specialists near you? Renault dealerships can't be trusted imo. they just want maximum profits in exchange for poor workmanship. Id rather break my car and buy a bus pass than allow a dealership to get there money grabbing mitts on it. I know this won't help now and sorry to rub it in and sound like a dick but someone had to say it.

I know but where i live i have no choice believe me i have looked for specialists. This has turned into a very expensive belt change :dead:

 

[hilldawg172]

I feel for you man! When i had my 106gti i had endless problems with the engine, completely disheartening aint it. If you do decide to go for another engine there a quite a few reasonably prices ones on ebay.co.uk atm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Clio-spor...CarParts_SM&hash=item4abb0d8991#ht_500wt_1862 That one might be a good bet just had belts done by reputable specialist plus its cammed

 

[Andyrg@ ClioTurbo]

If i was you id get the garage to agree that they send the ECU to a Renault placing such as Rs tuning in the Uk and get them to see if its been mapepd for a "un biast" review, make sure you get the serial number off the ecu first

 

[scotty2hotty81]

Bollox that is down to a map, there just trying to get out of it, the Ecu map suddenly decides 4 days in to drastically alter the timing and smash a cylinder to bits.
as said I really don't know where you stand with the laws in Spain but they need to rectify it with no cost to yourself, especially after they have rebuilt the engine!

 

[devfuse]

Hey quick update..

Went back to the garage this morning and they have confirmed that the ECU has not been mapped :rasp: and are still saying its not there fault..... wtf ?? They are waiting for a reply from Renault head office now, I will go direct to Renault after I have given them a chance.

Plug from Round 2 (looks the same as the first time round)

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Pictures of the inside of the first engine below

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They are going to have to provide me with a new engine now after f*cking 2 perfectly good ones(only good part is i have a s**t load of spares now)...will let you know how i get on.

 

[maudy]

dunno if it help but on the un damaged pistons does there look to be any marks where the valves have hit the pistons? If so could they have set up the timing wrong (or pulleys were loose?) then as the valves hit the pistons one gives up first and drops in, hence causing the issue. Was the car ticky at ALL when you got it back, or was everything fine???

 

[Silent_Scone]

I suppose it's not impossible for you to drop another valve. Do you like the sound of your limiter? If it is just a case of that the work should be under warranty with them for a year and a certain number of miles surely?

 

[Nick172Cup]

Sorry to hear of the problems you've had.

If you have no luck with Renault, Budgie and I will drive out with an engine and fit it for you if you cover our expenses etc. Will be cheaper than buying a new engine from them!