Big end?

jennihen

Hi -have searched but can't find a thread for this . .
Apparently the big end on my Fiesta has gone - when I checked the oil it was dry - is the car a write off or an expensive repair?

mchale

How old is car?, petrol or diesel? need more info

motorguy

jennihen wrote: »

Hi -have searched but can't find a thread for this . .
Apparently the big end on my Fiesta has gone - when I checked the oil it was dry - is the car a write off or an expensive repair?

The 'big ends' refer to the big end bearings on the crankshaft of the engine.

If you think of the four pistons on a typical engine being attached to a crankshaft... (exploded view of piston)



The difficulty is that they are right down in the bottom of the engine, which means engine out, gearbox off, engine strip, replace bearings, rebuild engine, replace in car. This is very labour intensive.

What age is car?

jennihen

Sorry its a petrol fiesta zetec - S reg.
I gave it to my niece at the end of May. I know she's had at least one prang cos she's been driving it around with no driver's side wing mirror!!
My sister said she thought the suspension on that side wasn't right so I told niece to take it to the garage.

It had a some work done before I gave it to her - hole in the exhaust etc and my garage always take it out and give it a test drive cos they know I'm not very knowledgeable about cars (I know this isn't foolproof but my guy always lets me know if he thinks anything should be done)

I was always parked on concrete so would have noticed a leak but niece is parked on grass.

I think its quite likely she hit a pothole too hard and too fast and this is the crux of it!

Ooh well - no one will ever give her a nice little car that again!

mchale

Second hand engine wud be cheapest repair, maybe £300/450 approx

jennihen

OOps don't think she can afford that.
The guy who sold it to me is going to come out and look at it tomorrow.
He's a family friend - he might be able to suggest something.

Is it wear and tear? Or has she been raking it? It is possible to know when the big end is going or is just one of those things?
I did put a lot of mileage on it - its done about 120k.

motorguy

jennihen wrote: »

OOps don't think she can afford that.
The guy who sold it to me is going to come out and look at it tomorrow.
He's a family friend - he might be able to suggest something.

Is it wear and tear? Or has she been raking it? It is possible to know when the big end is going or is just one of those things?
I did put a lot of mileage on it - its done about 120k.

Lack of oil would be a primary cause.

jennihen

She's been driving a lot longer than me so she should have known to check it huh?

Thanks for the help everyone - especially Paul for the diagram!

xycom1

My mum had a Fiesta of that age, even when it was only about 4 years old the sump was quite badly corroded, so not sure if that is a design weakness with that model. Could explain oil loss at some point

TBH I'd weigh it in.

johnnyroper

pgilc1 wrote: »

The 'big ends' refer to the big end bearings on the crankshaft of the engine.

If you think of the four pistons on a typical engine being attached to a crankshaft... (exploded view of piston)



The difficulty is that they are right down in the bottom of the engine, which means engine out, gearbox off, engine strip, replace bearings, rebuild engine, replace in car. This is very labour intensive.

What age is car?

Not always the case it all depends on what damage has been done,if it is just bearings then sump off change bearings in situ and refit sump.

OP what are the symptoms you have with the car??

Hammyman

jennihen wrote: »

OOps don't think she can afford that.
The guy who sold it to me is going to come out and look at it tomorrow.
He's a family friend - he might be able to suggest something.

Is it wear and tear? Or has she been raking it? It is possible to know when the big end is going or is just one of those things?
I did put a lot of mileage on it - its done about 120k.

No, its not wear and tear, its the owner not checking the oil.

The engine is a write off. It won't be just the big end bearings, it'll be the crankshaft, mains bearings and camshaft at the very least.