71 replies to this topic

[Richy2165]

Hi All,

Well I'm totally and utterly devastated – I think my engine has blown - it's a Turbo 2004 with only 43k on the clock. I spend 25% of my monthly wage paying for the car and still have 20 months left to pay on it.

I guess I'm looking for some piece of mind in the hope that I haven't blown it before I take it to get fixed and ripped off, I'm expecting a bill up to a few grand. I'd like to explain what happened in the hope that someone can point to a common problem and that it's not as bad as I think.

I live in London and it's not often I get to get to let the VX out of the bag because of extensive traffic – anyway my flatmate asked for a lift somewhere at 1 o clock in the morning and there was no traffic so I was enjoying buzzing around town.

I was pulling away from standstill hard turning a corner and at about 50 meters into acceleration something went…

· There was no loud bang.

· Might have been a knock noise but if there was it was not very load.

· Felt like someone put the breaks on about 30% (but this was friction from the engine)

· I tried to accelerate and the engine tried to accelerate but the friction was to much and the car was still slowing down (probably a mistake to do this but I was just like "what the ****")

· There were no horrible crunching/grinding noises you would expect if something had gone into or come loose in the engine.

· The car is still free to roll so I know it's not a mechanical problem from the wheels to the gear box.

· The engine still tries to fire when I press the start button and it's turning (I think or at least its making the right noises) but not taking over probably because of the friction.

Any help – as anyone had any similar problems? The pick up guy said it could be a Turbo fan blade come off and gone into the engine.

So so sad

Many thanks, Richard

[turbobob]

Sorry to hear of your woes Have you checked the engine has oil in it?

[Tfp]

If the engine is trying to fire then that rules out cambelt failure. Is the engine turning over at the correct speed? Or does it seem slower? Does it make any difference turning it over with the clutch depressed? Best to get a local member to have a look, or find a recommended local specialist.

[Steve B]

Sounds like it blew an intercooler hose off. This would then mess up the air metering and stop the car running.

[Richy2165]

Thanks for quick responses…

· The engine has oil

· The belt was changed at 40k

· Just tried with the clutch pressed it’s not even turning now but its been two weeks since it’s happened – funny clicking noise, probably because it’s seized up solid now over time.

[Tfp]

not even turning now but its been two weeks since it’s happened – funny clicking noise, probably because it’s seized up solid now over time.[/size][/font]

The battery could be weak now causing the clicking.

[TheRealVXed]

The clicking will definitely be a dead battery. Check the oil level and all the hoses and the condition of the timing belt. Don't despair. The things are usually something simple

[Richy2165]

When it was trying to turn 2 weeks ago with the start button pressed you could tell the starter motor was struggling because you could here it slowing down over say a 5 seconds attempt.

It’s probably a combination of battery power and to much friction to overcome.

What difference would the clutch make?

[turbobob]

I was beaten to it. Sounds like battery / power issue. check your battery voltage with a multimeter.

[Tfp]

What difference would the clutch make?

Just eliminates anything to do with the gearbox.

[Richy2165]

I’m quite handy and fixed a few problems with the car but I’m no mechanic – do you mean specific hoses or in general?

I’ll recheck the oil too – I so hope it’s not as bad as I think.

[Steve B]

Check your intercooler hoses, reconnect the one thats blown off charge the battery and try to start again You were accelerating so under max boost, it went and lost power suddenly with no clattering of a thrown rod etc, classic pipe blowing off scenario. As the VXT runs an air flow meter it won't run if no air is passing through the meter. A MAP sensor car would still run but just as a normally aspirated.

Edited by Steve B, 05 February 2011 - 06:32 PM.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Doubt very much you have blown the engine. New battery and a loose pipe or wire is to blame I bet.

[Nelly Vx]

Doubt very much you have blown the engine. New battery and a loose pipe or wire is to blame I bet.

Hopefully a org member lives close by and can pop and have a look for you

[Harry0075]

hope its not engine too mate...and hope someone local to you can help you check it over. good luck.

[Richy2165]

Checked the Oil it's got 4 of 5 notches but it does look quite a dark black, should it not be a nice light brown - due its yearly service at the end of the month. Steve that sounds along the right lines, there might be hope for my baby yet Are the intercooler hoses coming from the turbo air box, are they easy to get at? I’ll be working on the street curb – it was quite embarrassing changing my engine mounts. Many thanks for all thye resposes I'm buzzing now in the hope it's a pipe.

[turbobob]

Checked the Oil it's got 4 of 5 notches but it does look quite a dark black, should it not be a nice light brown - due its yearly service at the end of the month.
Steve that sounds along the right lines, there might be hope for my baby yet

Are the intercooler hoses coming from the turbo air box, are they easy to get at? I’ll be working on the street curb – it was quite embarrassing changing my engine mounts.

Many thanks for all thye resposes I'm buzzing now in the hope it's a pipe.

From your most recent posts it sounds more related to power and maybe pipes. Maybe even the alternator. And less like a blown engine. Seriously, if you have a multimeter / access to a multimeter, check your battery voltage. A healthy battery should be around 12.5v. And when the engine is running it should be more like 14v. It's a fairly simple check if you have the multimeter.

[leevx2.2]

Where are you based ?

[Richy2165]

Yeah I have a millimetre but I couldn't find the battery when I left the interior light on a few months back I had to charge it through the cigarette lighter. I know it’s in the front somewhere; I’ll find it tomorrow (12.5v – got it) and I’ll look for the loose intercooler hose. The VX is such a bitch to work on. Leevx, that’s a smart looking motor – I live in Spitalfields, London

[Crazyfrog (Fab)]

– I live in Spitalfields, London

good if you are up at 3 am i go there everyweek with the vx