What's new
By:
Filters
ClioSport.net

Register a free account today to become a member!
Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read more here.

Help - Do I need a new engine?



W

Wooob

  172
Cruising the motorway at 70 and suddenly the engine starts popping. Clearly on 3 cylinders. Call the AA and it seems the spark plug far right has come out. Closer inspection the gap on the tip has gone so looks like the piston has come up and struck the spark plug? It's pretty much stripped out the thread and of course if the piston came up that high does it mean my engine is ruined? Please help! Thanks


Car is a 53 Clio 172
 
NorthloopCup

NorthloopCup

ClioSport Moderator
No it's not ruined mate. Take it to a garage or engineering shop if its stripped the thread out the head and get the plugs replaced. Don't let a garage try and take the piss out of you and tell you it needs a new head without a 2nd opinion. Where are you based? Try one of the specialists on here if your close enough to one. They all come highly recommended.
 
W

Wooob

  172
Thanks for the reply. It was the AA man that said likely new engine. Apparently he's had experience with renaults owning a renaultsport megane. It just made sense because of course he piston should never come that high. I'll have a word with some garages


The car is in Bournemouth. Are there any specialists around here?
 
W

Wooob

  172
Damn. How much does it cost for a diagnosis?

The spark plus gap has gone as in the electrode is touching but the spark plug doesn't look battered. what the hell causes a piston to come up too high?
 
C

Chip-mk1

  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
IF the piston has come up that high then its snapped a rod or loosened the bolts I would imagine, in either case its likely to be new engine time.

Also like James says it might be a valve head come off and thats struck the plug, this is also new engine time.

Your fist thing you need to do now is find out if there really is contact with anything.

Im guessing you dont have a bore scope, so take the upper inlet manifold off, and take the plug out, then shine a torch in the inlet on that cylinder, you can then rock the car forward in gear to turn it over till the valves open and allow the light to shine in, then literally just look down the plug hole and you should be able to see evidence if the piston has hit or if a valve has failed.


Or better still, just take it to Dan in Street and get him to sort it for you!
 
W

Wooob

  172
Dammit. What engines can I easily transplant?

172, 172 cup, 182 maybe?

the issue I'm going to have is getting my car to a specialist to diagnose. Also what sort of total costs will it be for a new engine? Thanks again
 
C

Chip-mk1

  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
Wooob said:
Dammit. What engines can I easily transplant?

172, 172 cup, 182 maybe?

the issue I'm going to have is getting my car to a specialist to diagnose. Also what sort of total costs will it be for a new engine? Thanks again
Click to expand...

Those engines are all identical other than the 182 has a slightly different strainer plate on top of the rocker, all will fit just fine into your car.

Its quite possibly going to cost equivalent to what the car is worth in the first place, but well worth giving Dan@SJM a ring just so you some numbers and can make a proper decision.
 
S

S-Fell-89

  Renault Clio 1.2 TCe
Get someone to test the compressions then someone to re-coil the threads in the plug hole if it checks out ok.
 
W

Wooob

  172
Tried calling rentech but didnt get through so will try again tomorrow.

Iv'e heard a few people suggest getting a new 172. Is an engine transplant really that expensive? to get a new 53 plate 172 with CC, cruise and traction will cost me near on £2,000.

HAs anyone got a price list of things that are likely to come up? i.e diagnosics price, labour on engine change etc. thanks for your help everyone, much appreciated
 
C

Chip-mk1

  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
I'd honestly go to Dan, he does a lot of these sort of swaps for forum members and is quite competitively priced I beleive.

At least give him a ring to find out.
 
Harbinger

Harbinger

  Fiesta ST2 MP215
f**k me thats quite good Dan. So Op you'll get a lump for around 2-300 buy a a belt kit as well just to be on the safe side and all you nees is to get it there can be done for 900 easily. Much cheaper than another car.
Get someone to tow it half way to Dan then call the rac to recover it the remaing distance. Job done.
 
Mike@Rentech

Mike@Rentech

  Volvo S60 T5
Good price Dans offering , at the moment im not taking on any engine or gearbox jobs on as I'm moving premises very soon and cant risk having any cars being stuck on ramps for more than a day or two.
 
cat171

cat171

How long till you move Mike ? I've still got to book mine in, I'm just waiting on the the dude to get the brakes for me.
 
debussetti

debussetti

For what it's worth, mine blew a plug a while back...

Looked like this...
VOypHIF.jpg
LVvTzR6.jpg


What happened was the plug was hammed up and down between is normal seated point and and the inlet plenum.

I used an endoscope in the cylinder to check there was no debris in there, picked out all the chunks of coil lead that were on top of the engine, then a quick compression test to make sure the valves were OK.

All checked out so I had RenParts send me some coil leads and replaced the plug. All fitted and I still had a misfire.

New coil pack and everything was fine. Engine is as strong as ever, even made 183bhp on Surrey RR last month.
 
W

Wooob

  172
thats what mine looked like. so there is a chance its ok? the engine still runs so i spose thats a hope
 
W

Wooob

  172
Need some advice guys. Is it worth repairing?

costs seems to be skyrocketing

i'm looking at about £400 in labour for transplant and belts/clutch
£600 for the lump. most cheaper seem to be lemons
£450 for clutch/belts parts
£100 transporting the car
also needs tax/MOT so antoher £170

that's already £1700 with no additional costs. be cheaper at this rate to buy a new one and scrap the one iv'e got no?
 
C

Chip-mk1

  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
At that price its not worth fixing, but I dont understand where you are getting those numbers from TBH.

As mentioned before, go to Dan.
 
W

Wooob

  172
the labour and parts costs came from dan. i've guessed on transport and for the lump, i'm struggling to find one that'll deliver for cheaper
 
C

Chip-mk1

  182/RS2/ Turbo/Mk1
I'd buy an engine off someone trustworthy on here and go fetch it TBH

But yes if you want it from a company and delivered you're probably right with those prices.
 
W

Wooob

  172
unfortunately without a car, i'm pretty stuck for going to collect. plus with most people umptine miles away, i'd only be spending th delivery cost in fuel. the £600 engien comes delivered with 1 years parts warranty. It's the cost of the clutch and belts that tipped it way over for me. I can get the parts for cheaper but obviously dan can;t give any warranty if he doesn't supply the bits.
 
D

Dan@SJM

Just to be clear, I have said I will warranty my labour, however I would not be responsible for warranty work should a part fail.

Here's the scenario.

"Yes happy to fit, however there would not be any warranty from myself on them. For instance, if a cambelt roller went when I had supplied the parts I'd have it back, repair and give it back with no cost to yourself. However if the idler went with you supplying the parts you'd be liable for the repair, and then attempt to claim your costs back from the supplier.

Not trying to put you off, just have to make you aware of what can(and has happened to a customer of mine before). If you are happy to do that, then so am I."
 
W

Wooob

  172
i saw that and considered it. taking the engine from that and selling the rest of the car for bits.

I spose at the end of the day, i'm paying more for an engine replacement than i paid for the car. BUT, i'll have a good engine with a years warranty. The tax, MOT and cambelt were due anyway so i;d be paying that regardless and atleast if i do it this way, i'm more sure it's a solid unit. could but another clio for the same price and have something else go bang.

One thing that pouts me off just getting a new one is there isnt any monaco blue ones for sale with cruise control. seems almost all blue 172's for sale are cups!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Misfire, low compression cylinder 1 (Clio 200 CUP)
Replies
1
Views
981
Brigsy
Brigsy
M
Check engine, check emissions, check ignition, check injection lights coming on
Replies
0
Views
337
mmmini
M
T
1.2 16V Issues - Any Ideas? (Sorry for long post)
Replies
7
Views
2K
Martin_172
Martin_172
D
Cleaning the oil ring within the engine
Replies
5
Views
1K
R3k1355
R3k1355
W
Coolant Loss
Replies
8
Views
2K
Martin_172
Martin_172


Top