help!

[bosshog]

Hi there,

mrs bosshog and I where given an old ford ka a friend time ago. It was in bad shape but I got it running and it's proved to be a very usefull second car. However over the last 6 months the engine has been getting weaker and weaker. I actaully had to change into first gear going up the hill on the way to work (used to make it in 3rd), so time has come to a) bin the car b) repair the engine.
Ever since we've had it - the engine has sounded like an old london taxi ie lots of noise from the tappets. Now the person who gave us the car said he'd taken it to a ford garage and they said the bottom end needs replacing. Now remember this is France, and they basically don;t want any work (why should they - they can't get fired) so they might fo been completely making this up (or not).

However has anyone got and idea of how I can go about fixing the engine and what could be the possible causes??
It basically runs Ok, not willing to rev particularly, when under any load the tappets are very noisy, and basically has lost all grunt. Any ideas?

[wildoliver]

Sounds like the engine is lacking compression more than bottom end gone, its a shame your not in uk if you were going to bin the car it would be an ideal first for my gf!

[Pigeon]

bosshog said:

when under any load the tappets are very noisy

Tappet noise does not depend on load. Does sound more like bottom end or bores. Replacement engine probably the easiest option.

[Avocet]

A noiy bottom end shouldn't make it loose power. That doesn't mean to say it doesn't need fixing but there may be more than one problem. Loss of power is often cause by the catalyst brick breaking up and blocking the exhaust. Try disconnecting the exhaust (before the cat) first. It will be noisy as hell but if it goes alright, that will answer at least part of the problem. Also get a compression test done on it by a local garage - shouldn't be expensive. That will tell you what sort of state of health the top of the engine is in.