Car Diagnosis - Any suggestions?

[Gnome]

I have the invoice at home but my understanding was that they merely kept the engine block but replaced all the insides. How true this was remains to be seen.

I don't trust mechanics either - I had to take my car back several times to them after they initially "fixed" it - at one point it filled an entire underground parking area with smoke - they had to replace the head gasket again. They also buggered up my starter and I had to replace that as well. Blah - I just want a reliable car.

That is the problem as Paul_S said, they are supposed to rebore when fitting new rings, and when you rebore you fit over sized pistons. If you don't rebore there is no point to replacing the rings, reason being the rings and cylinder walls wear in together, the cylinder walls are initially rough to accommodate this process, but if the engine has seen plenty of km's they have probably become smooth (and oval for that matter) because of wear, making a complete seal near impossible.

Also usually a overhaul is the 3 things Paul_S mentioned and then anything else that is no longer according to manufacturers specifications. A rebuild would be replacing everything regardless of condition. In my opinion a rebuild is better for a motor that's seen plenty of KM's else you just end up opening it up over and over again.

 

[IzZzy]

I actually feel like scanning and attaching my invoice for the mechanics here so everyone can have a laugh at the price they charged me for actually doing nothing it seems.

Thanks for all your advice Gnome and Paul_S - it should have been a rebuild afaik and not an overhaul as I incorrectly said above. I'm going to try find the invoice at home tonight.

Thanks again!

 

[TestMate]

Hi there,

I've had recurring problems with my car (Mazda Astina 1.8SE 1998) and now seek the collective wisdom of the forum. The problems I've had are:

1) Broken the front engine mountings 3 times - what causes this? The last engine mountings were reinforced;
No straight answer...and no straight car body probably either ;-((

2) Car is jerky in traffic - when pulling off and taking foot off the accelerator;
Check the spark plugs & timing advance. Those are the worst times for the spark to jump due to initial lack of petrol.

3) Oil is leaking out the fuel filler cap (possibly elsewhere but I cant tell as yet). I've replaced the fuel filler cap and have had a new head gasket fitted a while back so I doubt it could be that but who knows...
I would agree here... Check Engine Compression + those Durb's Mech didn't do a good job, altough changing the Head gasket has nothing to do with it. Engine is worn posibly.

4) The front left wheel makes a clanking/ratchet sound when parking/reversing out of parking (possibly CV joint?);
Got it right...it's the CV. Change it.

5) There is a huge power discrepancy from 0 - 3000 revs (car has power) and after 3000 revs (car has all the power in the world);
Again... possibly Ignition Timing related.

6) Car makes a deep "Boh" (pronounced like "Boar" without the letters "ar" - took me 5minutes trying to figure how to replicate that sound here!) sound when parking, when I turn the steering wheel;
More Info needed here... Do you park on a hill by any chance?

7) Now, the car is idling rough (sounds like a diesel at times);
TIMING!

8) When I reverse, sometimes if I don't give more than what should be enough power the revs drop to 0 quickly and come back up when I quickly give more power;
Could be number of things...but most probably is tied up with the previous 7 condition.

9) When I put the car in reverse in the morning (and it has been standing overnight), and when give a little power, the car jerks quite bad initially - it is like the gearbox "oil" (or grease???) has solidified and when I give power, the cogs break that solidified material hence the jerk.
Check your back Brake Shoes! and the Brakes as a whole. Do you pull the Hand Brk when parking? If yes, try not to and see if the problem will appear again. If it doesn't fix your back brakes...probably not round any more and are biting the drums, or have rusted parts. We had a lot of moisture this year Try pushing the Car in Neutral before you start it in the morning.

Barring the above, the car runs okay on the freeway and doesn't overheat and is using fuel normally. Water is normal but on the last fill up I had to put a pint of oil in.
Engine Piston Rings worn or the whole thing is for serious overhaul. Again do a compression test & check Valve seals.

Any advice for any of the above? Your comments will be highly appreciated.

Well, that was my 2 cents for now...Keep us informed

 

[IzZzy]

Wow cool post Testmate, thank you!

Just to keep everyone informed. Turns out... my mechanic here "forgot" to replace my oil filler cap and came to drop it off at my place apologising on Wednesday. Anyway, so I've replaced that and now no oil is leaking - what are the chances it was the cap all along? The old cap doesn't seem buckled, though my car did overheat in Durban and it might have been damaged from that.

I think my plan of action is to drive about a week longer and see if any oil is still leaking. If not, I don't think I have a valve seal problem. What do you guys think? If that's the case, I just need to fix all the other niggly things.

Paul Maher Auto quoted me +- R9000k for hydraulic lifters for my car - insane. I really don't mind the rough idling it seems. Hah.

My other option is to buy a second hand engine at Boston Jap Tech or Yebo Moto zone as it is about +- R7000. Though - as my engine isnt leaking oil now - would that be a good thing to do? I could just be setting myself up for future problems with that engine. Or, maybe, I could replace my new engine innards and just use the second hand lifters?

My mechanic also said I could use this flippen expensive oil (R1000) on the lifters and it would cause the problem to go away... potentially.

Decisions decisions. I really need you advice on this one now.

Edit: Oops, no I don't park on a hill. But I am ready to replace all brade pads and brade discs and get the handbrake tightened.

 

[Velenoso]

Wow cool post Testmate, thank you!

Just to keep everyone informed. Turns out... my mechanic here "forgot" to replace my oil filler cap and came to drop it off at my place apologising on Wednesday. Anyway, so I've replaced that and now no oil is leaking - what are the chances it was the cap all along? The old cap doesn't seem buckled, though my car did overheat in Durban and it might have been damaged from that.

I think my plan of action is to drive about a week longer and see if any oil is still leaking. If not, I don't think I have a valve seal problem. What do you guys think? If that's the case, I just need to fix all the other niggly things.

Paul Maher Auto quoted me +- R9000k for hydraulic lifters for my car - insane. I really don't mind the rough idling it seems. Hah.

My other option is to buy a second hand engine at Boston Jap Tech or Yebo Moto zone as it is about +- R7000. Though - as my engine isnt leaking oil now - would that be a good thing to do? I could just be setting myself up for future problems with that engine. Or, maybe, I could replace my new engine innards and just use the second hand lifters?

My mechanic also said I could use this flippen expensive oil (R1000) on the lifters and it would cause the problem to go away... potentially.

Decisions decisions. I really need you advice on this one now.

Edit: Oops, no I don't park on a hill. But I am ready to replace all brade pads and brade discs and get the handbrake tightened.

Your car is screwed man. If you don't mind me asking, which mechanic are you using? I can recommend someone very reasonable and reliable if you'd like.

 

[Morgoth]

sounds like your engine is ****ed ;/

 

[IzZzy]

Hi there Velenoso - long time. I hope you are well.

The mechanic that I am using is my girlfriends family friend. He seems like an honest guy - at least he had the integrity to tell me he forgot to do something. Also, he does all my work on the weekends and my place so I dont have to be inconvenienced without a car during the week.

Thank you for the referral! I am just thinking, it wouldn't hurt to get your mechanic's quote/advice to fix the above problems. What you think?

 

[TestMate]

Wow cool post Testmate, thank you!

Just to keep everyone informed. Turns out... my mechanic here "forgot" to replace my oil filler cap and came to drop it off at my place apologising on Wednesday. Anyway, so I've replaced that and now no oil is leaking - what are the chances it was the cap all along? The old cap doesn't seem buckled, though my car did overheat in Durban and it might have been damaged from that.

Decisions decisions. I really need you advice on this one now.

Edit: Oops, no I don't park on a hill. But I am ready to replace all brade pads and brade discs and get the handbrake tightened.

Bugger!!! This trows all my 'diagnosing' out the window
Drive it (with the oil cap ON ) for a month.
Top up your oil & check frecuently for leaks. You can wash the engine before that too. Then it's easier to spot a leak.
Modern cars won't idle properly with the oil cap open!
This ahould take care of 2,3,5 & 7 in my post.
But, you never know...what else the 'mech's' forgot!

 

[IzZzy]

Lmao! I'm planning on going back to DBN at the end of April for a long weekend was going to try get the mechanic to do everything then. So I will drive it until then. I'm going to give the engine a good scrub to spot for leaks.

Now that you mention it - I haven't heard it idle rough since I replaced the cap, but then again I wasn't actively listening.

Hopefully at the end of the day all I need to do is small bits and pieces - tired of car problems!!!

 

[Velenoso]

Hi there Velenoso - long time. I hope you are well.

The mechanic that I am using is my girlfriends family friend. He seems like an honest guy - at least he had the integrity to tell me he forgot to do something. Also, he does all my work on the weekends and my place so I dont have to be inconvenienced without a car during the week.

Thank you for the referral! I am just thinking, it wouldn't hurt to get your mechanic's quote/advice to fix the above problems. What you think?

I'm good, thanks IzZzy. Still kicking.

If you'd like? PM me, it wouldn't hurt to get another quote.

 

[IzZzy]

Another update - regarding the engine mountings. I asked the mechanic whether the chassis could be skew as a result of being in an accident. He said that's what he thought initially but when he replaced them previously (twice) there was no tension on the rubber on the front mountings - just clean breaks. He thinks its definitely the rear mountings that aren't sitting right that's snapping the front.

EDIT: It seems oil is leaking quite a bit from the head gasket now that none leaks from the oil cap....Does my head gasket need replacing?