Problem with your car?

[cymruambyth]

Re: Problem with your car?

If you have won the lotto it won't need to be cheap and economical

[oscar]

Re: Problem with your car?

Does your pug have an automatic belt tensioner? most cars do these days. I have known no end of these fail causing a noise like the alternator / Steering pump is failing? Although it can make the belt slip a spray of good old WD40 applied with the straw around each of the pulleys can often point out the offending part. Keep your fingers out of the way of the belts though (ouch, don't try this at home). The noise reduction can be very noticeable.

I'm looking forward to Alland coming back, I know what I know but he's the real professional

Regards, Handy

It does have a tensioner (not sure where) as it was slackened not so long ago as it was found to be far too tight. But it was noticed then that the bearing / pulley was noisy (engine running with no belt). WHEN i win the lotto on saturday, I will get rid of it.

Just dont know what to buy next! Has to be economical though (and cheap to buy)

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Does your pug have an automatic belt tensioner? most cars do these days. I have known no end of these fail causing a noise like the alternator / Steering pump is failing? Although it can make the belt slip a spray of good old WD40 applied with the straw around each of the pulleys can often point out the offending part. Keep your fingers out of the way of the belts though (ouch, don't try this at home). The noise reduction can be very noticeable.

I'm looking forward to Alland coming back, I know what I know but he's the real professional

Regards, Handy

[oscar]

Re: Problem with your car?

If it's a leaking sump in most cars, (not my Szitibushi) you can drop the sump and re-seal without too many problems with RTV silicon. If it's coming from the bellhousing then it's normally the clutch side Crankshaft oil seal and that's a major strip down for an item that is relativly relatively cheap and only takes a few minutes to fit. But unfortunately the Gearbox and Clutch has to come out. That's why I mentioned the oil additive as a stopgap measure.

Sorry for going on.

Regards, Handy

Definately not the sump - too far to the nearside. From where its leaking (few drops when I pushed car back) its pretty much in a direct line with the engine gearbox seal. I had an idea that was a big job, because as you say, you need to split the box to get at it. It might only take a few minutes to fit, but its a couple of hours to strip and then the same to rebuild (If I am right, I think you need to pop the drive shaft as well from the gearbox side)

Think it may be coming to the end anyway. It also has a noisy bearing/cog on the power steering belt.

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Hi Oscar, sorry It's taken me a while to get back to you. I have been looking for a 306 engine/gearbox diagram. Best way of detecting oil leaks is to clean off the old oil with a degreaser such as gunk. Spray it on while the engine is warm, leave it a while, work it in with a stiff bristled brush (if you can safely reach) apply again then wash off with water (beware the hose pipe ban ) at least then you have a fair chance of seeing where the problem lies.

You can't just plaster silicone around to act as a dam. It would never hold. If it is coming from a seal there are products you can add to your oil that makes the rubber swell. This is only a temporary bodge because it will never replace what has worn away.

If it's a leaking sump in most cars, (not my Szitibushi) you can drop the sump and re-seal without too many problems with RTV silicon. If it's coming from the bellhousing then it's normally the clutch side Crankshaft oil seal and that's a major strip down for an item that is relativly relatively cheap and only takes a few minutes to fit. But unfortunately the Gearbox and Clutch has to come out. That's why I mentioned the oil additive as a stopgap measure.

Sorry for going on.

Regards, Handy

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Oscar, I will get back to you on this one in a short while. not familiar with pug's, but there are products you can get, which are only about (in my experience) 20% effective that will revitalise worn seals.

Regards, Handy

[oscar]

Re: Problem with your car?

I have a question for mine now!.

Jave an oil leak on a Pug 306, which at a quick glance (without crawling underneath) seems to be coming from the seal between the engine and gearbox.

I know they have seperate resevoirs. What I want to know is, can I lose engine oil from that seal? Also, is it easy to replace, or is it easier to "fix" with some sealant in a pump gun?

[oscar]

Re: Problem with your car?

Why modern cars rely on rubber bands to make the engine work, I have no idea. The old timing chain or gears was a much better idea.

Apparently, they are more effficient and more reliable.

Makes you wonder why BA, Qantas etc dont use them.

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Your right Clever. I'm not sure about the Corsa? I do remember that when you do the drive shafts on some front wheel drive cars you can expect to lose a drop of oil when you remove the shafts.

The old mini I believe was one of the first to use engine oil to lubricate the gearbox. Now that was a car you could take apart and rebuild in a single day.

Not like the modern ones where you need a degree in electronics to change a spark plug.

Regards, Handy

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Problem with your car?

At 90,000 it should still be worth fixing.

What about the gearbox? Don't some jalopies use the engine oil to lubricate the gearbox?

[CleverClogs (RIP)]

Re: Problem with your car?

The bottom paragraph, I think that probably sounds very close to it, are these costly items to buy Handy?

They shouldn't be, even if the big end cover or the gumption pin also has to be replaced.

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Parts like oil seals and cam cover gaskets are relatively inexpensive. Crankshaft oil seals normally involve the removal of the timing belt so that's a job you could look at at the weekend.

Sumps and Cam covers are normally replaced using silicone sealant (should be an Automotive type but in an emergency I have used Bathroom type ) to form a gasket.

It's a few years since I did any work on a Corsa, but if I remember correctly they are not too bad to work on as unlike a lot of cars there is room under the bonnet to reach things like water pumps and timing covers without having to take the thing apart completely.

At 90,000 it should still be worth fixing.

Regards, Handy

[di30]

Re: Problem with your car?

Severe overheating of the engine due to coolant loss can damage the cylinder head / gasket.

Oil loss can also be caused by high mileage and general wear to the cylinder bores and piston rings. How many miles has your sons car done?

Personally I don't worry too much about an engine that uses a bit of oil, say 1/2 litre every 2,000 miles or so as long as it passes the emissions test for the MOT.

At least if you have to top up the oil, you are adding fresh so the oil won't get as tired.

Most common loss of oil on modern cars below 100K miles is a leak somewhere say on the crankshaft seal or Cam Cover Gasket? both relatively easy things to fix.

Regards, Handy

Jamie first had this car back in 2008, it was then about 36,000 on the clock, to date now just under 90,000, so for a small car like his, rather a lot.

The bottom paragraph, I think that probably sounds very close to it, are these costly items to buy Handy?
Thanks.

[Handyman]

Re: Problem with your car?

Severe overheating of the engine due to coolant loss can damage the cylinder head / gasket.

Oil loss can also be caused by high mileage and general wear to the cylinder bores and piston rings. How many miles has your sons car done?

Personally I don't worry too much about an engine that uses a bit of oil, say 1/2 litre every 2,000 miles or so as long as it passes the emissions test for the MOT.

At least if you have to top up the oil, you are adding fresh so the oil won't get as tired.

Most common loss of oil on modern cars below 100K miles is a leak somewhere say on the crankshaft seal or Cam Cover Gasket? both relatively easy things to fix.

Regards, Handy

[di30]

Re: Problem with your car?

I'm glad to hear that you problem was solved so cheaply, out gran voyager cost £1200 to have both head gasketts replaced a couple of years ago.

Thank you.

Blimey that is a lot of money!!!