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[wayneywoo]

Hello all,

On my way out this morning car started as usual, had a slight pop noise coming from the engine which I hadn't heard before but didn't sound bad enough to worry about, drive to my meeting.

Journey was ok but the noise seemed to get slightly more frequent and louder.  When I parked in the car park, put in Park and idle wasn't "right"...I mean seemed to be upset like the timing was out or something.  Just seemed off...

Had meeting, came out to go home, started car and idle was worse.  Journey home was worse than out, struggled for power in places, particularly up hills and also at times, engine sounded like a box of spanners being shaken.  Typical pinking sound, you know? except much louder.  The rattle/pinking noise also seemed to occur even at light throttle.  I thought pinking only showed itself when the engine was being laboured or under load, not at light throttle?

So, car has had blue smoke out the exhaust for some time, only at startup.  Changed the head gasket April 2011.  Timing belt tensioner broke recently and so new timing belt kit fitted.

I'm just wondering now, after reading a few things online whether the car's dispak (what is this exactly?) is on it's way out rather than me thinking I've got broken rings.  Maybe worn but not broken?  Surely the symptoms don't match up?

Thanks for reading guys!
Wayne
Hemel

[symes]

idle control valve is probably culprit

[noel]

Hello all,

On my way out this morning car started as usual, had a slight pop noise coming from the engine which I hadn't heard before but didn't sound bad enough to worry about, drive to my meeting.

Journey was ok but the noise seemed to get slightly more frequent and louder.  When I parked in the car park, put in Park and idle wasn't "right"...I mean seemed to be upset like the timing was out or something.  Just seemed off...

Had meeting, came out to go home, started car and idle was worse.  Journey home was worse than out, struggled for power in places, particularly up hills and also at times, engine sounded like a box of spanners being shaken.  Typical pinking sound, you know? except much louder.  The rattle/pinking noise also seemed to occur even at light throttle.  I thought pinking only showed itself when the engine was being laboured or under load, not at light throttle?

So, car has had blue smoke out the exhaust for some time, only at startup.  Changed the head gasket April 2011.  Timing belt tensioner broke recently and so new timing belt kit fitted.

I'm just wondering now, after reading a few things online whether the car's dispak (what is this exactly?) is on it's way out rather than me thinking I've got broken rings.  Maybe worn but not broken?  Surely the symptoms don't match up?

Thanks for reading guys!
Wayne
Hemel

this is probably valve stem seals  . but i think your dis pack is fubar not sure where it is on a 2.0ltr though,but someone will be along who can advise you hth

[wayneywoo]

idle control valve is probably culprit

Thanks for your thoughts Symes.

How often should this valve need cleaning as I cleaned it last April when I did the Head Gasket?

[wayneywoo]

snip
So, car has had blue smoke out the exhaust for some time, only at startup.  Changed the head gasket April 2011.  Timing belt tensioner broke recently and so new timing belt kit fitted.
snip

this is probably valve stem seals  . but i think your dis pack is fubar not sure where it is on a 2.0ltr though,but someone will be along who can advise you hth
[/quote]

I thought this too Noel but I changed them when I did the head gasket.  Maybe cheap jobbies?  Hopefully it's the dis pack as I've ordered a new one for tomorrow from AutoVaux.  Tried changing the plugs but not the leads, again the leads are only a year or two old.

[symes]

when tensioner went did it hit valves?

[doz]

Do a check for air leaks as well. I know i keep saying this on here at the mo but it only takes ten mins to check over and causes all sorts of havoc

[wayneywoo]

when tensioner went did it hit valves?

Fortunately, no!  I was thinking the worst, sounded terrible.  Took the cover off and the belt hadn't moved a single tooth phew!

Do a check for air leaks as well. I know i keep saying this on here at the mo but it only takes ten mins to check over and causes all sorts of havoc

Will do.  Thanks for the pointer doz!

[wayneywoo]

Well guys, seems this is more serious.

Changed plugs, changed Dis Pack, no change.

Check injectors weren't blocked or partially, all spraying nicely.

There is a terrible misfire at idle and just a slight rumble when rev'd however when I put it in gear, without any throttle she want's to die and if I give it a little throttle, the whole car vibrates and sounds awful!

So.......slightly burning oil, could be stem seals, fine, happy to go with that but this.....Rings?  That'a about all I can think is left.  Checked for air leaks, none.

 

[freecall666]

check the cams them self make sure the cam sproket matches the cam shaft markings. as you said the Timing belt tensioner broke if the engine was even on tick over when this happend would do some damage to the valves and can make the cam sprocket move from its normal linement. check that every thing is in line, you will probibly find its out. and number 4 piston inlet valve is bent abit or worse with the engine still running out of inlinement. so would prob need another head fitting. mine did this 2years back tensioner spring snaped. and had same fault so changed the head and saw the damage it had done just on startup. piston top on 1-4 could see the imprint of the vales when they hit but was no damage done to them.

[wayneywoo]

Well guys, did a compression test and cylinders 2 & 3 are both around 50psi compared to 1 & 4 which are up around 220psi so either the rings have gone on both cylinders 2 and 3 or the head gasket is leaking between 2 and 3.

My question, anyone close by to Hemel would like to do some paid work?

:-(

[doz]

I'd put money on that being the head gasket. Bummer

[plym ian]

hg I'd put money on it

[wayneywoo]

Well guys turned out to be the Head Gasket.  Part of the metal ring between two and three was missing.

So questions:

the gasket I put on was around £35 from fleabay.  What sort of price should I expect to pay and would I be better off getting one from Vauxhall?

Can I reuse the head bolts?

I read something that I need to get the cam seals from Vauxhall?

Anything else worth doing while I've got the head off?  I think the valve stem seals are leaking oil (smoke on startup) but I changed these the last time I had the head off.  Mark of cheap parts?

I really don't want to be here again next April...

Thanks all!