Car trouble.Please help

Question

My car was making loud ticking sound from engine and whilst travelling it completely stopped on me - took it to a garage and he said you need a new engine which he has put in which cost me just under £3000.He also advised as stated on the contract that after 500 miles you need to return it for an oil change for the warranty...Is this true.Also the car after 11 months is making the same ticking sound.Please advise what the problem might be, and also is this true about the warranty.i did not take the car back because i went over 500 miles.

Answer 1

if its on the contract its true ,very vague question , did your timing chain or belt snap?is that why you needed new engine?

Answer 2

Car extended warranties are not worth the paper they are written on!

They have so many opt out clauses that it is very rear to get a pay out from them.

I suspect that the 500 miles oil change is in the contract to prevent people being able to claim when things go wrong. A brand new engine does not require the oil to be changed after 500 miles, any dirt or metal particulate that my be in the engine will be picked up by the oil filter.

My advice would be to contact your local trading standards and tell them what has happened to you and your car. Its possible that they may be able to help you, but I suspect the insurance company will be able to hide behind the contract.

Ja.

Answer 3

Hi, The sound you heard i my opinion was the Big End bearing in the Sump of the car, regards the 500 miles yes to a point, If you have money to burn, Except it, With respect to yourself you seem to be very vulnerable as regards his opinion, My advise to you go and speak to this garage owner and state that this engine should not have gone even if it was over and not under   600 miles If you cannot get a res ponce I would advise the garage that the replacement engine has not served the purpose of its intention and that the Engine has been faulty,

To me what this pratt has done to try and cover him/her self is knowingly that the engine was on its way out in the first place. 500 miles that is nothing, the cause of the tapping could be the lifters not getting oil due to sluge in the oil ways caused by the oil, has been in the sump and never been flushed out properly, DO NOT TAKE THIS LYING DOWN.

Answer 4

i can't answer your question but i did stay at a holiday inn express last night!

Answer 5

Oil change for new engine after 500 miles is an accepted procedure. But for a ticking noise changing the engine seems to be a puzzle. You should ask what is the exact problem in the engine before paying a huge amount and changing it. My suggestion is you report the matter to the Original car manufacturer or their dealers and find out the exact cause for the noise before doing anything.  

Answer 6

It sounds like a timing chain issue. We have a 3 year old Vauxhall Corsa which is now on it's 6th timing chain! We keep the oil topped up as low oil can cause the chain to stretch but Vauxhall still deny there is any fault withnthe car. A timing chain is a "life of vehicle" item i.e. 100,000 miles+.

If your timing chain has broken (which it sounds as if it has) it will indeed mean a new engine, or a used engine from a breakers (should be about £300 instead of £3000).

Good luck anyway.

Answer 7

lol..I thought it said cat trouble.=]

Answer 8

yes it is true about the warranty as you did not take it back the warranty is no longer valid so if there is a problem with this engine you will have to pay for it  

Answer 9

yes this was true about the warranty the good news is you saved 20 pounds by not getting the oil changed the bad news is that you now probably need a new engine

Answer 10

I think whatever has happened here, you've been ripped off. Take the car immediately to a different garage for diagnosis, and see wht happens from there.

As with others, I don't know what sort of 'ticking' sound could possibly result in needing a new engine - Ususally, you'd get much more dramatic noises, smoke, and / or the engine stopping completely.

You have also been very silly not returning the car for the scheduled oil change, invalidating any warranty you may have had.

Answer 11

If he put in a new motor, they need to be "broke in" which means as parts slide past each other, micro-bits of metal that are on the "high side" are knocked off(by the rings of the pistons) and other parts that move.  These bits float/sink in the oil in the pan.  This is normal for any engine.   500 miles(or close to, there-abouts) is a good time to change the oil filter and oil in the car as it is the most contaminated.  Not to worry if you went farther.  But get it done for a longer life out of the new motor.(100,000 miles at least).   This is so you get the longest life out of your engine.  So yeah it is true.  Why would you doubt him?  

    Also, with the breaking in of the motor, parts that move are fitting into position.   Where they may need adjustment.  The ticking indicates it needs adjustment.    Could be just a thin shim or a quarter turn of a s***w and all is good again, but the mechanic has to measure it out to make the gap correct.   Ticking indicates the gap is too great.    Too tight is no good either.

     There is more than one thing that "ticks", so do not worry or accept a motor replacement for this one.    It is the parts fitting in.  Let the mechanic set it up right.   This looseness on a new motor is to be expected and needs to be addressed BEFORE it becomes an expensive problem.

Could be timing chain, could be tappet adjustment.  That is about all I can think of right off.

Answer 12

Why won't you get a second opinion...take it somewhere else to see what they say...don't just listen to one bloke...the ticking could be from an exhaust manifold leak.

its impossible to know with out examining the car.

Good luck!

Answer 13

Whats your oil level like?  If it's low it could be the tappets.  They'll be the first thing to get no oil due to their positionin the engine.  I suggest you check the level first.  As to "running in" of the engine, it used to be the case that every engine needed to be run in due to wear as the components bed in.  With higher build spec and closer tolerances, it's not such an issue these days.  I'd still be wary of the garage that told you it need an oil change after 500 miles.  Try going elsewhere for a second opinion.