Not starting = Rebuild!!!

[M-G]

Put the Tuscan in the Garage on Friday night 2 weeks ago. Went to take it out on the Monday and it turned over but wouldn't start. Could smell fuel and assumed I'd flooded it. I tried again the next morning and still the same problem. Seemed like there was no spark so low loaded to my dealer.

They have checked and swapped out the coil pack, ECU and crank angle sensor with no joy. They then checked the wiring in the engine bay so see if there was a short, nothing. Then they noticed it was not turning over properly. They had replaced the clutch before xmas so they took out the gear box to check the flywheel and clutch to see if any thing was amiss - all fine. Now the diagnosis is a siezed No 6 piston. So engine has to come out and go off to TVR Power for a rebuild!!

I'm not that technical, but how does this happen? how can the engine turn over with a siezed piston? How long does a rebuild take?

Any help, much appreciated
Mark

[rev-erend]

If it turns over with a stuck piston then the rod to the crank must be broken.

Spark plugs out and turn over engine would reveal a piston that is not moving and all others moving..

It's a simple check.

[justinbaker]

Revs right, its a quick easy check. I would have expected that they wouldnt have gone to the extent of replacing those parts without checking the basics first. A sinple compression test guage will tell you more. Cost £12


Did it stop with a bang?

[kipper_]

M-G you have my sympathies but something sounds very amiss here you may want to get a second opinion on this.

[M-G]

Sorry, mislead you they changed the parts to see if that was the problem, when it wasn't they put the old ones back. Not too worried if the parts did need changing as I brought the car with a 2 year warranty which doesn't expire until August.

Didn't stop with a bang, just wouldn't start. I spoke to the service manager this morning and there was some missunderstanding from my side. The engine was turning over when they first started to look at it and it got gradually worse after they had checked the electrics, hence the investigation of the flywheel and clutch. Now it won't turn over at all and is siezed.

I'm glad it didn't sieze whilst driving especially as my wife was the last one to drive it and she's not 100% comfortable with it as it is.

They are shipping the engine off to TVR power for a diagnosis, hopefully something has broken and therefore covered on the warranty, otherwise I need to raid the piggy bank.

Looking on the brightside I don't have to renew the tax at the end of the month as it will be off the road!!

Mark

>> Edited by M-G on Friday 10th February 13:38

[greenv8s]

Could be one or more injectors stuck open and the engine is hydraulicing on petrol? Seems hard to believe that the engine would going from turning over happily to seized while just cranking over.

[justinbaker]

A second opinion is needed here for sure. It all sounds a bit fishy. I would guess that this its a small problem. Fingers crosseed for you Mark, glad to hear its under warranty, but do stand your ground with this.

[yzf1070]

Justin

How is your engine rebuild coming along?

[justinbaker]

Sorry I was going to post a new topic on this. Austec have completed an excellent build. I am in the process of running in, 340 miles as of today, and its pulling like a train up to when I restrain every sense in my body and mind! 3500 RPM and thats it. Its nice to have it back.

[yzf1070]

justinbaker said:

Sorry I was going to post a new topic on this. Austec have completed an excellent build. I am in the process of running in, 340 miles as of today, and its pulling like a train up to when I restrain every sense in my body and mind! 3500 RPM and thats it. Its nice to have it back.

Thats good news long may it last and you enjoy the experience of the car for years to come.

Regards
G