Urgent advice needed on Renault Espace 2.2Dci engine

[c2jimi]

I have a Renault Espace 2.2DCI 2004 and has done about 57,000 miles. Had a full service and cambelt change, etc, at the dealer around Christmas time. It was making a slight knocking sound at the weekend, was advised not to drive it and took it to the dealers at the weekend. So far they charged me £400 and have checked the injectors, taken the rocker box off, etc, but found no problem up top.

They have now come back and said the engine would need to be stripped and the cylingers, pistons examined, etc. To go ahead with the strip down will cost me about £1100 in labour plus any parts plus labour to put it back together. I am waiting to speak to them, but the fault is obviously low down in the engine somewhere. I'm told it could be a crankshaft issue - bearings moved or something lower down, e.g. big end, etc.

As the car is worth about £5,000 trade in, I'd like it going as cheaply as possible to make it a viable economic repair. I've made some enquiries and can source a new engine for about £1,750+VAT including the turbo, £1450+VAT without the turbo or £850+VAT just the block.

Can any anyone familar with these engines advise me if they feel I should cut my losses and get the new engine with no turbo and get them to fit it or can I just get the black and get them to put it back together. They are coming back to me with a price to fit a new block and price to fit a replacement engine if I source it myself.

I'm not intending to keep the car, I just want it back on the road before I part-ex it for something else if it's viable to repair.

Thanks, James

[c2jimi]

SwineFluPirate said:

I take it that it's a Renault main dealer? Always get a second opinion I say! Once you have found out the exact problem with the car, get a reputable independant to carry out the work. It could save you up to 50% in some cases.

Where are you based?

Based in Southampton and yes it is at the main dealer. Trouble is the engine is in bits now - rocker box off, etc, plus all that goes with it, so it would be difficult to transport it elsewhere. I feel I'm kind of stuck with them putting it back together now.

Edited by c2jimi on Thursday 29th April 10:31

[c2jimi]

Just been told the dealer would charge me £1174-85 in labour to swap the engine one for another, and £2067 to rebuild if I just got the block. so totals would be:

new engine (no turbo) + engine swap = £2877
new engine block + rebuild = £3065

Or I could try and get it taken to an independent for repair.

Any thoughts? Other than Jeez, why the hell did he buy that!

James.

[c2jimi]

MSTRBKR said:

How much will they charge to put it back together? I've heard good things about Rentech near Poole, they did the cambelt on my 172 before I owned it and they are a lot cheaper than a main dealer. It just depends on the cost of the main dealer putting it back together and moving it to Rentech combined with the cost of the repairs once there. Still, it could be a cheaper option.

There is a Rentech at Portsmouth who are very reputable. I'm arranging to get it moved there and have a reconditioned engine delivered to them to be put in for under £3k all in. Not ideal, but at least I know where I stand with it and am not throwing good money after bad getting the dealer to do more investigation.

[c2jimi]

MSTRBKR said:

Good to hear that.

How bad was this knocking? Was it just a light tick or could you hear it over engine revs, stereo etc.?

It was fairly slight, more of a tick than a clear knock, although it could clearly be heard when the engine was just ticking over. My wife normally uses the car, and only started to notice it when she was out last week. However, the guy that lives next door to us, who was outside at the time, subsequently said he could definitely hear it as the car pulled away.

[c2jimi]

Guys,
Thanks all for the advice. The dealer took the rocker box off, checked injectors, etc, and didn't find anything. Instead of paying him to strip the engine down further I decided to cut my losses and go the new engine route. I've ordered a reconditioned one complete with turbo ready to drop in. Rentech will be doing the work for me once I get the vehicle transported to them. The MOT is due later this year so I've pretty much decided to keep it until around teh point the MOT is due and then and part-ex it for something non-Renault.

I kind of got the feeling the dealer was stringing me a long a bit saying, yeah we can strip it down and see what's up with it for ££££ and not really saying what they find would probably need a new engine/rebuild anyway.

James.