2005 VW Golf engine seized - scrap?

grrmich

I bought a 2005 VW golf 1.9 TDi in 2008 from a VW dealership. It had a fully service history until last year when my friend who is a mechanic did the service. I have looked after this car really well.

This week, driving up a hill, the car stalled. I was towed to my mechanic who advised the engine seized, but without stripping the engine he cannot find an obvious reason why. I had not been driving long and I did not accidently select the wrong gear. My oil and coolant levels are as expected and there is no smell of burning oil in the engine. I did not accidentally put the wrong fuel in the car.

I would not expect an 11 year old car to fail so catastrophically. Do I have any comeback with VW?

If not, I am thinking about scrapping the car rather than spending out on a reconditioned engine. Has anyone used reward recycling or car takeback? How have you found dealing with the companies?

AdrianC

grrmich wrote: »

I would not expect an 11 year old car to fail so catastrophically. Do I have any comeback with VW?

Not a hope.

Why not just put a good used engine in?
http://www.copart.co.uk/uk/Lot/16319416/

Nobbie1967

It could be something as simple as a blocked oil way, but if it's truly seized the engine i.e can't turn the crankshaft, it's unlikely the solution will be cheaper than buying a re-con engine which is a risk in itself. If the rest of the car is in good condition, I'd sell it on EBay as spares or repair. I assume they've checked it's not the gearbox that's seized.

journeymanpro

BXE OR BLS engine code by any chance?

jimjames

journeymanpro wrote: »

BXE OR BLS engine code by any chance?

I believe BXE would have shown a lot of signs of issues if it had failed

grrmich

Thanks for your replies so far. I have no idea if the engine code is BXE OR BLS.

The crankshaft can't be undone and it's not the gearbox that's seized.

As for putting in a reconditioned engine, a couple of my friends have done that to their vehicles and said their car/ van has never been the same, which makes me inclined to scrap it and buy a slightly newer model.

Ectophile

The problem with reconditioned engines is that there are reconditioned engines and "reconditioned" engines.

Doing it properly means stripping an engine down to a pile of bits, replacing anything that looks worn, replacing anything that is known to wear even if it looks OK, cleaning everything else, then carefully putting it all back together again. The result will be as good as a new engine.

Then there's the "reconditioned" engine. Pull an engine out of a scrap car, give it a clean to make it look shiny, then sell it on.

[Deleted User]

What's the mileage on the car?

grrmich

That's what I'm worried about with a reconditioned engine - I would be worried it wasn't a good one.

I can't remember my exact mileage (my car is still with the mechanic) but its in the region of 100,0000.

mark5

When was the diesel filter changed last and is the engine really seized or just won't start?

arcon5

mark5 wrote: »

When was the diesel filter changed last and is the engine really seized or just won't start?

I suspect the garage know the difference between a non-runner and a seized engine!