Purchased/Looking after a 2012 Insignia - WCPGW

[B'stard Child]

ZX10R NIN said:

sounds like my old Cossie which never left me at the side of the road but always needed something.

Definitely - always something needy fecker

ZX10R NIN said:

Hope you get an answer on the Insignia soon.

So do I.......

Mrs BC spent the afternoon cleaning the inside and pronounced it a "fking sthole" she was everso slightly warming to my idea of lending her the 1 series (provided she can get cover on it - that would be fun) as a get her to college on the days she needed solution. Her experiences cleaning the interior this afternoon have firmly put her in the "no way jose is she ever borrowing any of our cars" camp.

[FourGears]

B'stard Child said:

Pretty sure it’s top end now and not a piston tapping the cyl head

Going to get a belt timing kit to make 100% sure it’s timed up correctly - if it is then I’ll pull the cam box off and see what’s going on in there

Makes you wonder about the garages so called expertise!

[B'stard Child]

FourGears said:

B'stard Child said:

Pretty sure it’s top end now and not a piston tapping the cyl head

Going to get a belt timing kit to make 100% sure it’s timed up correctly - if it is then I’ll pull the cam box off and see what’s going on in there

Makes you wonder about the garages so called expertise!

Hmmm - agreed

Timing tool kit should have arrived today - was posted 48 hr del

Postal strike on the 20th means I won't get it till Friday

[B'stard Child]

Tools I wish had arrived sooner (bloody postal strike)



Still at least I get to find out now….. Or so I thought - apparently these engines can shear the key on the crank - meaning timing appears fine but the crank is not in the right position so timing is out when it isn’t - sheesh!!!!!

[mercedeslimos]

I've often considered an Insignia as they are so bloody cheap for what they are - 160bhp in most, half-decent spec and not a bad drive. However, it's the horror stories of oil pickup seals, steering racks stting the bed etc. Also, oil filter changes are probably the worst engine I've ever come across!

[B'stard Child]

mercedeslimos said:

I've often considered an Insignia as they are so bloody cheap for what they are - 160bhp in most, half-decent spec and not a bad drive. However, it's the horror stories of oil pickup seals, steering racks stting the bed etc.

Steering racks I wasn't aware of if it survives current situation it'll be one to watch I'm sure!!!

£13.50 Oil seal for sump pick up tube been there not that bad - just frustrating that it's preventative maintenance that is needed

mercedeslimos said:

Also, oil filter changes are probably the worst engine I've ever come across!

Oh just that pisses me off on it's own

[FourGears]

B'stard Child said:

Tools I wish had arrived sooner (bloody postal strike)



Still at least I get to find out now….. Or so I thought - apparently these engines can shear the key on the crank - meaning timing appears fine but the crank is not in the right position so timing is out when it isn’t - sheesh!!!!!

So how do you ensure it is timed correctly?

[B'stard Child]

FourGears said:

B'stard Child said:

Tools I wish had arrived sooner (bloody postal strike)



Still at least I get to find out now….. Or so I thought - apparently these engines can shear the key on the crank - meaning timing appears fine but the crank is not in the right position so timing is out when it isn’t - sheesh!!!!!

So how do you ensure it is timed correctly?

Well I'm going to check the timings as it is then with the engine all locked up I'm going to remove the crankshaft pulley and make sure the woodruff key and keyway are all good

If they are OK - great news

If they aren't then I'm going to need to replace the woodruff key fit the crankshaft pulley back on then move the crank till the timing is correct (hopefully as it runs it's not going to involve pistons clouting valves to get to the right place)

Then I'll probably have to take the cambox off the head and replace the broken rockers that I think are the cause of the rattles

[757]

mercedeslimos said:

I've often considered an Insignia as they are so bloody cheap for what they are - 160bhp in most, half-decent spec and not a bad drive. However, it's the horror stories of oil pickup seals, steering racks stting the bed etc. Also, oil filter changes are probably the worst engine I've ever come across!

Best sticking with the petrols in these for relatively reliable engines, the 1.8's VVT are pretty simple engines, albeit some say are underpowered but they ok for general A-B motoring and just sitting at 65/70 all day long, pretty good economy too for the size of car at crusing speeds.

[B'stard Child]

757 said:

mercedeslimos said:

I've often considered an Insignia as they are so bloody cheap for what they are - 160bhp in most, half-decent spec and not a bad drive. However, it's the horror stories of oil pickup seals, steering racks stting the bed etc. Also, oil filter changes are probably the worst engine I've ever come across!

Best sticking with the petrols in these for relatively reliable engines, the 1.8's VVT are pretty simple engines, albeit some say are underpowered but they ok for general A-B motoring and just sitting at 65/70 all day long, pretty good economy too for the size of car at crusing speeds.

I tried to convince NN that a petrol would be better (I'd certainly enjoy looking after it more than a stinky oil burner) but she's never had a petrol engine and the lure of cheap tax and high mpgees matter far more to her than maintenance costs for an engine design that sts itself at every available opportunity

My neighbour (RIP) had a Mondeo TDCI and he was always banging on about it's mpgees but he was always very quiet when it broke down and cost him a st load of cash for new injectors or DPF to fix it (I reckon it cost him more than the fuel cost of a petrol to fix the TDCi on a regular basis) He then bought a 406 - french and diesel - oh how I laughed

Sorry no offence intended to those who love cars running on the black pump or french car fans - I had a 205 it was brilliant but modern diesels and French - man I'm not that brave

[mercedeslimos]

My daily (well, it was mine until she commandeered it...) is a 2011 Mondeo diesel. 2.0 TDCi, which is a Peugeot HDi unit

Deliberately chosen as it was a very simple unit, reliable into higher mileage and cheap to fix. That was the only Euro 5 engine I would consider, and probably wouldn't buy a newer diesel, though my 600-mile-a-week commute sort of dictates that I have to - I'll keep what I have until it cries no more. Definitely prefer an old rattly 1.9 TDI though.

[B'stard Child]

Camshaft locked up



Crank tool fitted and locking bolt to replace the oil pump bolt



I think the timing is out

Question is do I check the bottom pulley woodruff before going further or do I reset the timing with the existing belt and see if it runs without rattling first?

[B'stard Child]

You might have to turn your phone or monitor upside down or just assume I’m in Oz

[B'stard Child]

Made my decision

Better spark up the welder - Think I need to fabricate a crank locking tool - rumour has it it’s a left handed thread too!!!!

I’m not going to rely on a toothed belt and an ugga dugga gun wound up to max for this job

[B'stard Child]

Not pretty but it should do

[Raymond Reddington]

Can you be my uncle?

[B'stard Child]

Raymond Reddington said:

Can you be my uncle?

Made me proper laugh - thanks

In other news - crank bolt not out yet - having a discussion with “norman the breaker bar of doom” the engine is lifting up as I put some effort into trying to break the ttting bolt free. I might have to put the engine mount back on to stop it twisting

Resisting the urge to get the rattle gun on it because I am told it’s a left handed thread - if it is it’s F tight

[B'stard Child]

OK now the engine mount is back on the crank locking tool needs modification

Cut cut, grind grind and Spark up the metal glue gun

OK lets see how this works





Bloody bolt had better be left handed thread cos this tool now won’t do a normal righty tighty lefty loosy thread any more

I’ll have to make another for refitting

[B'stard Child]

Crank bolt winning



Might have to use the ugga dugga gun at this rate

[B'stard Child]

Not convinced it’s a left handed thread