engine swap taking ages
Discussion
what actually went wrong with your engine?? That seems like a lorra money for a used engine even with fitting. I've only ever changed engines in small vw's + fiats but I can't see it being anymore difficult in this instance. I know a bloke at work had an engine changed in his doblo derv for £250 on his drive by a mobile mechanic, subject to nothing going through the block or damaging the bores you could have a full rebuild for under a grand I'd have thought (£480 top and bottom an a 1.4 16v vw engine including 12valves)and that's alot better then a second hand unit any day
bottom end went i think. on way back from hull started hearing a loud banging faster i went louder it got. pulled in to services got out while it was ticking over and the car was rocking about blue / black smoke out the exhaust the banging was coming from the sump then heard like bits smashing rocking got worse and louder started squeeling and wouldnt drive.
OP, I don't know the garage, but they may well have a point. Espace diesel (2.2/3.0) engine swaps are very messy and many garages - including Renault specialists - will refuse to do them. Parts are genuinely difficult to get (with 6-week lead times since they have to be ordered from France), there is often collateral damage to ancillaries etc., and getting the car to run reliably afterwards is not easy.
To just change the fuel pump on these cars - which involves removing and replacing the engine - is 18 hours book time. That's nearly 3 workshop days just for a straight remove and re-fit, and that assumes no other work required, all parts available and that everything goes back together perfectly, which it most certainly definitely will not. I speak from experience.
My guess is that the garage didn't realise how difficult the job was going to be.
As other posters have suggested, get down there on a fact finding mission. Tell them you just want to see where things are at and work out the best way forward. Ask them exactly what parts they are waiting on, what other issues they are facing and what the options are. If you can't get down there, have a detailed phone conversation with them. Get as many facts as you can.
Decide whether you have confidence in them before planning your next move.
Let us know how it works out.
To just change the fuel pump on these cars - which involves removing and replacing the engine - is 18 hours book time. That's nearly 3 workshop days just for a straight remove and re-fit, and that assumes no other work required, all parts available and that everything goes back together perfectly, which it most certainly definitely will not. I speak from experience.
My guess is that the garage didn't realise how difficult the job was going to be.
As other posters have suggested, get down there on a fact finding mission. Tell them you just want to see where things are at and work out the best way forward. Ask them exactly what parts they are waiting on, what other issues they are facing and what the options are. If you can't get down there, have a detailed phone conversation with them. Get as many facts as you can.
Decide whether you have confidence in them before planning your next move.
Let us know how it works out.
hora said:
Slightly O/T when I was looking for a MPV I looked at the Grand/Espace and the amount of info out there on the diesel engines bloody scared me 
The 2.2 diesel was a Renault designed unit and was the most popular. It is widely acknowledged to have been a reliability disaster. Most of the bad press out there refers to this engine.The 3.0 V6 diesel was much better (it was an Isuzu unit), but is very difficult to work on.
For the last few years Renault have been using a Nissan-designed 2.0 diesel unit in the Espace, which appears to be reliable. Espaces with this engine have benefitted from the beta testing done by all the previous customers (like me...) and appear to be generally reliable. The 2.0 diesel is the one to get.
They are wonderful cars - luxurious, very futuristic, loaded with toys and some really nice design touches, especially in the cabin.
gave them a ring today and his moble was off so ai rang the land line and he answered. he said i can have the car back next saturday or the monday after at the latest. they was registed at ripple road barking essex but now seem to have moved to
OZI OMER
9- COLD HARBOUR LANE
K- 9 INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, UNIT 2 & 3
RAINHAM
Essex
RM13 9YH
United Kingdom
im happy he is still answering at least one phone.
OZI OMER
9- COLD HARBOUR LANE
K- 9 INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, UNIT 2 & 3
RAINHAM
Essex
RM13 9YH
United Kingdom
im happy he is still answering at least one phone.
AmitG said:
The 2.2 diesel was a Renault designed unit and was the most popular. It is widely acknowledged to have been a reliability disaster. Most of the bad press out there refers to this engine.
The 3.0 V6 diesel was much better (it was an Isuzu unit), but is very difficult to work on.
For the last few years Renault have been using a Nissan-designed 2.0 diesel unit in the Espace, which appears to be reliable. Espaces with this engine have benefitted from the beta testing done by all the previous customers (like me...) and appear to be generally reliable. The 2.0 diesel is the one to get.
They are wonderful cars - luxurious, very futuristic, loaded with toys and some really nice design touches, especially in the cabin.
This. Not sure about the beta testing? The 2.0 dci is fantastic. We however have a 3.0 dci 55 reg. It had to have a head gasket change after we got it. The supplying dealer arranged for this. It was an engine out job. Took nearly 8 weeks because of snow etc aparantly. The garage I normally use before returning it to the supplying dealer took a look at it, shook their heads and said it could cost thousands. They had replaced alot of 2.2dcis and those engines were expensive enough to do, nevermind the 3.0dci. The 3.0 V6 diesel was much better (it was an Isuzu unit), but is very difficult to work on.
For the last few years Renault have been using a Nissan-designed 2.0 diesel unit in the Espace, which appears to be reliable. Espaces with this engine have benefitted from the beta testing done by all the previous customers (like me...) and appear to be generally reliable. The 2.0 diesel is the one to get.
They are wonderful cars - luxurious, very futuristic, loaded with toys and some really nice design touches, especially in the cabin.
I do however love the Grand Espace and will probably replace my car with another Espace to sit alongside the wifes. This time with the 2.0dci though. They are big heavy cars though, and do get through all manor of suspension parts, coil springs etc.
Hope you get your brack soon.
went to london yesturday to get the car arrived at 5 got led through the garage and took to his office on the way i noticed my car with bumper off and engine exsposed. when i got to the office i asked the bloke if my car would be ready today and he said yes i heard them starting the engine up and looked out the office window smoke was everywher and it sounded like it did befor it went in loud banging etc. i was waiting in the office for 2 hours then he told me to come down to see the car. he then told me they was having problems with the fuel mix? and it was also missing cylinder because a sparkplug wasnt working because of a bad current from the cpu. i thought diesals didnt have spark plugs? while they was starting the car it didnt have exhaust, manufold, turbo, air filter, radiator and what looks like a mass air flow controler all was on the floor at the side of the car. i thought it would damage the engine starting it and attempting to run it withoutair filter and intake etc. when i put these questions to them they changed the subject to we have changed that too he pointed and i said the fuel filter and said its hard because ther is 3 different types.he also said he had a renault dealer coming out today to work out the missfire. before i went ther was an grand espace identical to mine he pointed to it and said this engine out of that as i was leaving the bonnet was up on the espace he pointed at and its engine was still intact and not missing. in my opinion he had not swaped the engine yet and that was mine still in the car but he tried to fool me. he said he would get back to me and should be fixed by sunday......
Sounds a bit dodgy to me. You're right, diesels don't have spark plugs, they do have glow plugs though. I don't really think there is much you can do here to be honest other than sit and wait. When the bill for a rediculous amount comes along (shouldn't be long now) trading standards might need a call 
I predict £5000
I predict £5000
k that, I'd be in there getting my car back, with all the bits. Then it'd be going elsewhere for a proper job.john12091986 said:
went to london yesturday to get the car arrived at 5 got led through the garage and took to his office on the way i noticed my car with bumper off and engine exsposed. when i got to the office i asked the bloke if my car would be ready today and he said yes i heard them starting the engine up and looked out the office window smoke was everywher and it sounded like it did befor it went in loud banging etc. i was waiting in the office for 2 hours then he told me to come down to see the car. he then told me they was having problems with the fuel mix? and it was also missing cylinder because a sparkplug wasnt working because of a bad current from the cpu. i thought diesals didnt have spark plugs? while they was starting the car it didnt have exhaust, manufold, turbo, air filter, radiator and what looks like a mass air flow controler all was on the floor at the side of the car. i thought it would damage the engine starting it and attempting to run it withoutair filter and intake etc. when i put these questions to them they changed the subject to we have changed that too he pointed and i said the fuel filter and said its hard because ther is 3 different types.he also said he had a renault dealer coming out today to work out the missfire. before i went ther was an grand espace identical to mine he pointed to it and said this engine out of that as i was leaving the bonnet was up on the espace he pointed at and its engine was still intact and not missing. in my opinion he had not swaped the engine yet and that was mine still in the car but he tried to fool me. he said he would get back to me and should be fixed by sunday......
You sir are being fully taken for a mug.Get someone who knows what they are doing in there to back you up along with trading standards AS SOON AS YOU can.
ridds said:
john12091986 said:
went to london yesturday to get the car arrived at 5 got led through the garage and took to his office on the way i noticed my car with bumper off and engine exsposed. when i got to the office i asked the bloke if my car would be ready today and he said yes i heard them starting the engine up and looked out the office window smoke was everywher and it sounded like it did befor it went in loud banging etc. i was waiting in the office for 2 hours then he told me to come down to see the car. he then told me they was having problems with the fuel mix? and it was also missing cylinder because a sparkplug wasnt working because of a bad current from the cpu. i thought diesals didnt have spark plugs? while they was starting the car it didnt have exhaust, manufold, turbo, air filter, radiator and what looks like a mass air flow controler all was on the floor at the side of the car. i thought it would damage the engine starting it and attempting to run it withoutair filter and intake etc. when i put these questions to them they changed the subject to we have changed that too he pointed and i said the fuel filter and said its hard because ther is 3 different types.he also said he had a renault dealer coming out today to work out the missfire. before i went ther was an grand espace identical to mine he pointed to it and said this engine out of that as i was leaving the bonnet was up on the espace he pointed at and its engine was still intact and not missing. in my opinion he had not swaped the engine yet and that was mine still in the car but he tried to fool me. he said he would get back to me and should be fixed by sunday......
You sir are being fully taken for a mug.Get someone who knows what they are doing in there to back you up along with trading standards AS SOON AS YOU can.
Sorry to say, but I strongly suspect these may be the cowboys exposed on Watchdog! (or similar program, sorry can't remember details).
The fact that they've changed address and company name is probably down to having countless CCJ's against the old company. Get the best legal advice you can, get in touch with Watchdog, above all, I'm afraid you have to now assume you're going to be screwed, so do what you can to strengthen your position!
Go to Citizens Advice Bureau asap, find out if there's any help you can get from the lender. If you took finance on the car and the engine blew, there may be some liability to the lender on car finance. Just get all the help you can as quick as you can.
The fact that they've changed address and company name is probably down to having countless CCJ's against the old company. Get the best legal advice you can, get in touch with Watchdog, above all, I'm afraid you have to now assume you're going to be screwed, so do what you can to strengthen your position!
Go to Citizens Advice Bureau asap, find out if there's any help you can get from the lender. If you took finance on the car and the engine blew, there may be some liability to the lender on car finance. Just get all the help you can as quick as you can.
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