MX5 1.6 - What's wrong??
Discussion
Hi all
I'm a regular over on the TVR pages but my housemate has just had a big problem with his 1.6 MX5 which he bought quite recently so I thought I'd lend a hand and pop over here and ask some advice.
The thing overheated on the M4 and had to be trailered back. The AA chap said it was Head Gasket failure.
I've had a quick look and there is white crud in the rad filler tank. No mayo in the oil filler or dipstick. The thing won't start now.
It's perfectly feasible that it is a HG problem but it seems that this isn't a common fail point the the 5's.
Pics attached.
Any advice or theories greatly appreciated.
Ryan
Rad tank:
Lots of brown water everywhere but also right over the other side of the engine
I'm a regular over on the TVR pages but my housemate has just had a big problem with his 1.6 MX5 which he bought quite recently so I thought I'd lend a hand and pop over here and ask some advice.
The thing overheated on the M4 and had to be trailered back. The AA chap said it was Head Gasket failure.
I've had a quick look and there is white crud in the rad filler tank. No mayo in the oil filler or dipstick. The thing won't start now.
It's perfectly feasible that it is a HG problem but it seems that this isn't a common fail point the the 5's.
Pics attached.
Any advice or theories greatly appreciated.
Ryan
Rad tank:
Lots of brown water everywhere but also right over the other side of the engine
It isn't common. Rediator blocking up is more common. Water pumps fail too. These could lead to HGF though and to be honest the white crud in the expansion tank would make me think it was.
Try draining the coolant. Flush the rad out with a hose in the top draining out the bottom and see if a lot of crap comes out/poor flow. Fill with fresh coolant and try it. Look for leaks.
Try draining the coolant. Flush the rad out with a hose in the top draining out the bottom and see if a lot of crap comes out/poor flow. Fill with fresh coolant and try it. Look for leaks.
Hard to tell without seeing it 1st hand but it's quite possible that it's had a failure of one of the heater pipes (the usual one is the one that runs behind the engine). If this wasn't noticed quick enough and the engine was allowed to overheat then HGF is very possible. It's not a rare problem with these cars.
ETA: Actually, now I look at it again, is that top heater hose new? If so it's very likely that this is the case.
A cylinder compression or coolant sniffer test will be needed to confirm.
ETA again after O&S comments: The crud in the coolant looks like the same thing that's all over the engine bay and that looks like some kind of rad-weld type additive to me so it's all pointing towards a previous coolant leak. If you do get it started and the HG is ok, it would be best to give it a full coolant flush to get rid of all that crud.
ETA: Actually, now I look at it again, is that top heater hose new? If so it's very likely that this is the case.
A cylinder compression or coolant sniffer test will be needed to confirm.
ETA again after O&S comments: The crud in the coolant looks like the same thing that's all over the engine bay and that looks like some kind of rad-weld type additive to me so it's all pointing towards a previous coolant leak. If you do get it started and the HG is ok, it would be best to give it a full coolant flush to get rid of all that crud.
Edited by MX-5 Lazza on Tuesday 9th July 09:29
This is interesting for me. I have similar crap in my coolant. Also the 4th cyclinder is down on compression. No mayo though. Is it likely the head gasket is on the way out then? I'm hoping to drive the car to the UK, change the engine and supercharge it at P5. However it looks like Phil won't have time until September so hope the car lasts that long (and distance)!
Had identical problem..brown water everywhere...suspected headgasket. Turns out radiator was blocked but not worth repairing...had new rad fitted for £200, flushed everything through and car is now 100% even in this heat! Head gasket is fine. Unusual for head gasket to go on the 1.6 ...more common on 1.8. Suggest you tackle rad first ...either way it will need doing.
debaron said:
Bump
Any ideas on why it's not starting?
Cheers
Ryan
If you've left the ignition on for a while then you may have cooked the coil pack. Take one of the plugs out, put the HT lead back on it and touch the plug to an earthed surface. Crank the car and see if you're getting a spark.Any ideas on why it's not starting?
Cheers
Ryan
Wear rubber boots just incase there's a high voltage/human interface incident.
In the end - turns out the hose had failed on the motoway leading to sudden loss of coolant (as pictured)
The engine then overheated and melted the spark plug extenders.
The head also warped.
So....
The head was removed and skimmed - new gaskets, hoses and plug extenders fitted and now is back up and running.
Thanks to all who replied!
The engine then overheated and melted the spark plug extenders.
The head also warped.
So....
The head was removed and skimmed - new gaskets, hoses and plug extenders fitted and now is back up and running.
Thanks to all who replied!
debaron said:
In the end - turns out the hose had failed on the motoway leading to sudden loss of coolant (as pictured)
The engine then overheated and melted the spark plug extenders.
The head also warped.
So....
The head was removed and skimmed - new gaskets, hoses and plug extenders fitted and now is back up and running.
Thanks to all who replied!
This happened to mine. I thought I had stopped in time but no.The engine then overheated and melted the spark plug extenders.
The head also warped.
So....
The head was removed and skimmed - new gaskets, hoses and plug extenders fitted and now is back up and running.
Thanks to all who replied!
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