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To repair or not to repair?

digitaldai
digitaldai Posts: 22
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
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edited 6 August 2010 at 7:35PM in Motoring
We have a Y reg ford focus which my wife has had since 2003 it has very low milage 40K. About 2 years ago we got a local garage to do some work and they screwed up replacing the cam belt. Ever since then we get intermittent errors on cylinder 4. Think one of the valves doesn't always sit true(they dinged it idiots). Drives fine most of the time. don't think it can be too much of an issue as it has had several MOT since then.

So is it worth repairing it? or keep driving? Since this time I have got a good local garage where I work to look at it and he said he can replace the engine for £500. My question is is this worth it on a car this age, or better off putting towards a new car. The thing that puts me off is when I look at what we could afford, they all nearly have more milage than this car and it is fine in every other respect.

Comments

  • goldspanners
    goldspanners Posts: 5,910 Forumite
    i would be tempted to repair the engine you have already. the replacement engine might have 3 times as many miles on it compared to the one you have.
    see how much it would cost to have the head taken of and have the valves replaced,obviously with a new head gasket set aswell.
    ...work permit granted!
  • mcjordi
    mcjordi Posts: 4,238
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    it should cost less than 500 to repair the current engine tbh.. stick with the one you know..
    keep the foci..
    Sealed pot challenger # 10
    1v100 £15/300
  • steveo3002
    steveo3002 Posts: 2,731
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    yes id look into having the head removed and a couple of new valves fitted

    but make sure its a trusted garage that you use

    no point fitting some high milage scrap yard engine
  • vaio
    vaio Posts: 12,287
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    if it's been trouble free for two years have you thought about just carrying on using it as it is?
  • darich
    darich Posts: 2,145
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    digitaldai wrote: »
    About 2 years ago we got a local garage to do some work and they screwed up replacing the cam belt. Ever since then we get intermittent errors on cylinder 4. Think one of the valves doesn't always sit true(they dinged it idiots).


    If you know they dinged a cylinder why didn't you get the garage to repair/replace at the time?

    Y reg is 2001 so presumably the cam belt has been changed at least once. It'll be coming up on it's second one.
    Not a bad time to get the belt changed if the valve is being replaced.

    Keen photographer with sales in the UK and abroad.
    Willing to offer advice on camera equipment and photography if i can!
  • sassy_one
    sassy_one Posts: 2,700
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    I would keep what you know OP, so therefore, keep the car and the engine you currently have and it would be worth you investing in getting the engine you have fixed :)
This discussion has been closed.
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