Oh no! Engine appears dead - help
Hi all,
Had my G 230GE (when my sister hasn’t been 'borrowing' it for months on end) for about 4 years and occasionally loiter this forum as a voyeur!
My 1988 230GE has recently just died. It won’t turn over and keeps dieing every time it tries to start. (Almost like you have turned the key to off as it is about to start)
It’s been in the local garage, who service it, for about 5 days and they have checked the fuel pump/line and also the electrical systems and all is ok. They reckon it might be a valve issue in the engine.
Now i am not engine technical I’m afraid, but it would a shame to break it when apart from a bit of rust on the wings it’s ok.
Any advice on somewhere near Godalming i can get an engine swap or new head or specialist that isn’t going to cost me more than a few hundred.
I don’t mind spending £500 on it to replace the engine head or so, but spending a grand, i might as well just break it ... :(
Appreciate any ones helpful advice...be gentle it’s like a family member .....
Thanks
Paul
When you say "they reckon it could be a valve issue in the engine" what tests have they done ? have they done a compression test for example?
What were the pre-dying symptoms? was it running, were there any strange noises, did it just not start one day? etc etc.
I think if you're paying someone, £500 won't get you a s/h engine bought and installed, certainly not in our neck of the woods !!!
If it is only one valve, i suspect she would still run, just poorly......
Hi.... some diagnostical suggestions....when the key is turned to the start position do the panel lights dim?? ie dead short across the starter motor...if so possibly one cylinder is in the Hydraulic Lock position caused by being full of water from the cooling system..(failed cylinder head gasket)if you try to tow it in second gear with the clutch depressed...when you let the clutch pedal up does the engine rotate...best checked by marking one fan blade with a felt pen and looking where the mark is after the tow....if the wheels lock immediately when the clutch is let out then the engine is siezed. again.. Hydraulic Lock or more sinister like big end bearings or something else broken inside.is there oil mixed with water in the radiator?is there water in the oil when you look at the dipstick ?( oil will be creamy coloured) fatally is there any oil or water in the engine.a 230e engine from a W123 or W124 car will cost you al lot less than a G' spec engine..just don't mention "for a G wagon" when you try to buy one (from a merc breaker) there is a good Hertfordshire...
Hi
Panel lights dont dim, but the rev counter needles flips around quite a bit.
Not sure about the towing and oil colour as it' sbeing towed back to the house tomorrow (will investigate)
Really appreciate your straightforward comments.
Paul
Hi if your towing it about try the clutch operation...if the engine is siezed then the wheels will skid if you release the clutch peda when in gear and under tow.if the engine rotates then with the ignition on see if it will start...if it does then you have a starter related problem either in the starter.. electrical... or missing teeth on the starter ring...
you might try checking all the breathers - particularly the one under the fuel distributor - 'false air in the inlet manifold.
Chris
Hi all. Thanks for all your help. Had another word with the garage. They think the engine is 'hydraulicing'. As the water level keeps dropping. That’s all i can get out of them and they have given up, telling me it'll cost an arm and a leg to fix.
Still trying to decide what to do.......
Paul
maybe try whipping out the plugs and spinning over, also check for water in oil/vice versa.......nothing to lose......
Hi as described it sounds like head gasket failure..not the end of the world but until you get the cylinder head taken off you cannot assess the total damage....a "top of the tree" exchange engine from Crewe enginies cost around GBP 2000 plus the labour which could be GBp 500... or MB close on GBP 2000. a 230e engine from a reputable breaker cost GBP 2/300...I have a G owner in NI looking for a very tidy G if yours is good with supporting service history it might suit him and the engine would not be a major problem except for the cost of collection on a trailer...send me some Pics if you want to sell rgds
i sent you a pm yesterday oldwhitey but you havent picked it up methinks
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Thanks for the advice.
I so wish i knew the answer. Its a little garage, so i doubt they have. Problem is, I could end throwing money at it doing test after test.
I kinda figured £500 was a bit short (no pun intended) My Boxster costs me about that much when i drive past the Porsche dealer without stopping !!
Any suggestions for someone in the Surrey area that might be used to G's?
Appreciate it.