Advice about car parts (new engine required)

JoRowlingRocks

Hi, wondering if anyone could give me any advice- my car broke down the other night & it turns out the engine is probably completely knackered. The car's been recovered to my mum's house but I live/work 200 miles away. The local garage has told me I need to find a new engine for it & they'll fit it (labour cost around £150). Looking online it seems all the big parts websites- 247spares, 1st choice etc., come with loads of horror stories of people whose parts have not turned up/been damaged/not been for the right car etc.

Seeing as I'm not with the car, so won't be able to check the engine when it arrives, and I know nothing about engines anyway, I don't think it would be a very good route to take. But I don't know how else I could get it fixed, other than getting a different garage to source the engine for me which would be a lot more expensive (and I'm currently doing a PGCE so don't get paid!). Does anyone know of anywhere reputable I could get the engine, or have any other ideas?

Premier_2

JoRowlingRocks wrote: »

Hi, wondering if anyone could give me any advice- my car broke down the other night & it turns out the engine is probably completely knackered. The car's been recovered to my mum's house but I live/work 200 miles away. The local garage has told me I need to find a new engine for it & they'll fit it (labour cost around £150). Looking online it seems all the big parts websites- 247spares, 1st choice etc., come with loads of horror stories of people whose parts have not turned up/been damaged/not been for the right car etc.

Seeing as I'm not with the car, so won't be able to check the engine when it arrives, and I know nothing about engines anyway, I don't think it would be a very good route to take. But I don't know how else I could get it fixed, other than getting a different garage to source the engine for me which would be a lot more expensive (and I'm currently doing a PGCE so don't get paid!). Does anyone know of anywhere reputable I could get the engine, or have any other ideas?

Sounds like you'd be better off getting rid of it altogether rather than attempting to repair it.

If you supply the garage the engine, it'll be your problem if it ends up being a dud ... and the garage knows this, that's probably why they don't want to source it themselves (as they would then be responsible)

JoRowlingRocks

I have been thinking about that, but I only bought the car a year ago (for £2250); if I sell it as it is (for parts or for someone else to repair) I doubt I'll get much for it, so not much dent in the cost of a new car.

If I get it repaired the cost completely depends on whether the part's ok or not, but looks to be about £600 if there are no problems... The car's not long been MOTed so don't foresee there being any further problems with it for the time being (foresee being the operative word!).

I don't know what's best

citykid5

what make model?
can you discribe what hapened when you broke down,why and who has said you need a new engine?

JoRowlingRocks

It's a Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.4l, I broke down on the motorway- heard a rattling noise when I accelerated & a couple of seconds later it got louder then engine cut out. RAC said there was an oil leak, loss of compression in the engine & that it was probably "terminal". Checked with the local garage who've topped up the oil & tried to start it, engine is making a knocking noise and they said I need a new one.

citykid5

thanks.does sound like the big end bearings have gone,and probably damadged the crank,so secound hand replacement engine does sound like the way to go.£150 labour sounds very resonable.my first point of call would be to search the classifieds/ebay in the local area to where your car is,and if possible try to find a engine that you can hear running before removel? perhaps pay the garage to go an inspect / remove it. or if money is a bit tight at the moment,try to find a cheap runabout for know.failing this buy your used engine from a local breakers yard who should offer a short garantee.good luck and hope it all works out for you.

s_b

£150 is way too cheap to fit a zetec 1400
why not ask garage to source an engine for you but waiver your right to a warranty on it
this assumes you can trust the garage
personally i would say get the car recovered to your home and get it fixed locally

mattyprice4004

kirtinag wrote: »

Just don't get sad relax and something will clear out early .

Ah, you again. Either stop posting drivel or do one.

In response to the OP, the labour charge is a great price, I'd look on eBay for someone breaking the same car for spares. Ask them to send a video of the engine running before you commit, then have it delivered to the garage.

NeverInDebt

kirtinag seems to be posting utter clap trap to bump there post count up

forgotmyname

Supplying a garage with a 2nd hand engine is a minefield.

It maybe from the same model and year but may still have slight differences.

If it turns out to be a dud, You get lumped with the labour charges also.

If the garage cannot recondition the engine or supply one for you then look elsewhere or sell it and buy another car.

rxbren

best bet is to join a ford owners club, fiesta owners club or zetec owners club (if there is one) there is bound to be someone selling an engine from a car being broke and if they are local to where the car is may even fit for an extra cost its worth having a look as the car owner forums are usually free to join and most people in those communitys are honest and helpful