My car rattled after an oil change and died! What could be wrong?

asbokid

bigjl wrote: »

The quote for £300 for the work mentioned on a simple engine like the Fiesta's is about what i would expect, only a days job, parts are pennies as the head isn't damaged, hasn't overheated so no need for a skim, just clean everything up and put it back together, though hopefully they are replacing the valveguides, though it is possible they were not damaged.

When a cambelt goes, sometimes you can be very lucky.

I wouldn't offer any price for doing the work. It's an unknown quantity, and the owner is only going to be pissed off when it costs much more.

A mechanic of any competence would charge by the hour to strip the head down to assess the damage. Only then would he quote for repairing it..

start by pricing it up..

timing belt kit.. £50
water pump.. £25
head gasket set.. £50
head bolt set.. £20
set of valves .. £40
coolant.. £20

not much left for labour out of £300...

http://www.linktobusiness.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?f=16&p=53364

vaio

asbokid wrote: »

.......A mechanic of any competence would charge by the hour to strip the head down to assess the damage. Only then would he quote for repairing it.........

I think that's what's happened, the mechanic has confirmed the head isn't damaged so I assumed it was stripped down already

blued

I thought that the 1.4 Ford engine was non-interference? The early 90's ones were so unless that changed then there will be no damage to your valves even if the belt skipped several teeth. Assuming it is a non interference engine I would get the existing belt back on and correctly tensioned and then start the car. If it runs and drives fine then spend the money on having the belt, idlers and water pump replaced.

andygb

bigjl wrote: »

Now i must admit i have never heard if that.

Are you sure the mechanic wasn't having you over?

Just doesn't seem plausible, especially when a large number of cars have oil filters positioned in such a way that you coulsn't prime it if you tried.

Anybody else heard about similar? Done hundreds of oil changes on Vauxhalls and rarely primed the filter, just a little oil.on the seal.

That is all I have ever done, a little oil on the seal, do the sump plug up with a torque wrench, fill with oil, turn the engine on for a couple of minutes, re check the level and top up if needed - never overfill.
Priming a horizontal fit oil filter could be quite entertaining for those watching it being fitted.;)