Jaguar F-Pace Non Runner
Discussion
I-am-the-reverend said:
Not for very long either.
Very true! I had an Alfa Romeo gtv that I absolutely loved. Eventually though it was getting to the point where every year a bill would come up for at least a grand. This was just general maintenance. I still regret selling it to this day because it was great to drive. I'm not sure you could say the same about this bloody F Pace. It seems to do everything to spite you.
Sorry to hear this. Like others, I’ve followed the emotional rollercoaster of this thread with admiration for your perseverance!
I have to say, rationally, you should probably try to diagnose and fix this. You now know everything you’ve changed and fixed on this engine, which is a not-inconsiderable part of it!
I’ve wondered from the get-go whether previous attempts at fixing it used parts from, say, a different revision of the engine (that mullered cam sprocket, for instance, has never made sense to me).
Assuming the block, crank and bearing caps are good (and match - I’ve had a used engine in the past in which the bearing caps didn’t match the block!), and given how much else you’ve changed, what else is there to fail?
I ask about the crank, because is it possible it has snapped?
Of course it may just be these engines really are made of chocolate, and that something you previously replaced has failed, in which case “why go on?” would be a legitimate question. But if not then, by the time you’ve fixed whatever this is, you really will be surprisingly close to a fully rebuilt engine…
I have to say, rationally, you should probably try to diagnose and fix this. You now know everything you’ve changed and fixed on this engine, which is a not-inconsiderable part of it!
I’ve wondered from the get-go whether previous attempts at fixing it used parts from, say, a different revision of the engine (that mullered cam sprocket, for instance, has never made sense to me).
Assuming the block, crank and bearing caps are good (and match - I’ve had a used engine in the past in which the bearing caps didn’t match the block!), and given how much else you’ve changed, what else is there to fail?
I ask about the crank, because is it possible it has snapped?
Of course it may just be these engines really are made of chocolate, and that something you previously replaced has failed, in which case “why go on?” would be a legitimate question. But if not then, by the time you’ve fixed whatever this is, you really will be surprisingly close to a fully rebuilt engine…
Escy said:
Joey Deacon said:
Is it wrong that every time I see this thread at the top of the list I assume the engine has been out again?
I think we all know it's going to end in tears at some point! I don't have any mechanical abilities so I would have chucked in the towel long ago and bought something like a Dacia Duster just to make it stop.
Is it worth pulling the engine apart again just to take a look?
Oh no, the inevitable often happens doesn’t it? 
I think it’s a two step solution here..
1 - pull it apart and see what’s happened. You’ll sleep better knowing. If it’s a minor thing you can fix it. If it’s a major thing then advance to step 2..
2 - get rid. Your mental health is priceless. Yes, you’ll be a few grand down.. but that’s a cheap price to pay for you and your wife not having this timebomb hanging over you. Cut your losses - you win some, you lose some, and move on to something that’ll bring you both a little more peace of mind. In the long run it’ll seem like the best money you ever spent. If not, I think you’re in danger of the ‘sunk cost fallacy’.
Best of luck with whatever you decide though.. we’re all rooting for you!
I think it’s a two step solution here..
1 - pull it apart and see what’s happened. You’ll sleep better knowing. If it’s a minor thing you can fix it. If it’s a major thing then advance to step 2..
2 - get rid. Your mental health is priceless. Yes, you’ll be a few grand down.. but that’s a cheap price to pay for you and your wife not having this timebomb hanging over you. Cut your losses - you win some, you lose some, and move on to something that’ll bring you both a little more peace of mind. In the long run it’ll seem like the best money you ever spent. If not, I think you’re in danger of the ‘sunk cost fallacy’.
Best of luck with whatever you decide though.. we’re all rooting for you!
Edited by MDifficult on Wednesday 17th April 14:06
bobthemonkey said:
Yes! I mean, how hard would an engine swap be on one of these? It would be the ultimate sleeperEscy said:
It looks like part 3 is coming up. My wife rang me to say it had conked out. She described it as a single crisp packet popping noise and then it slowly cut out and wouldn't start. It wouldn't turn over.
IMG_20240416_173803529
I've had a quick look at it, pulled the starter motor out. The flywheel is solid if I try to turn it the correct direction. If I go backwards it's nice and smooth so the bottom end isn't locked up.
I've taken the top cover off, the upper chain is fine. The lower chain is still on its sprocket at the top but that's all I can see.
IMG_20240416_232326303
If I move the flywheel whilst I have an inspection camera on the top sprocket for the lower chain it looks like there's quite a bit of movement when I go from anti clockwise to clockwise. My current theory is something has broken on the lower chain (tensioner/guide), it's slipped a tooth and bent a valve.
It looks like the gearbox and cylinder head are coming off this weekend. It's been recovered 3 times in a year now. Flat battery/gear selector issue, broken cam sprocket and now whatever this is.
I saw this pop back up, and immediate response was ‘Noooo’, then thought, nah it will be fine.IMG_20240416_173803529I've had a quick look at it, pulled the starter motor out. The flywheel is solid if I try to turn it the correct direction. If I go backwards it's nice and smooth so the bottom end isn't locked up.
I've taken the top cover off, the upper chain is fine. The lower chain is still on its sprocket at the top but that's all I can see.
IMG_20240416_232326303If I move the flywheel whilst I have an inspection camera on the top sprocket for the lower chain it looks like there's quite a bit of movement when I go from anti clockwise to clockwise. My current theory is something has broken on the lower chain (tensioner/guide), it's slipped a tooth and bent a valve.
It looks like the gearbox and cylinder head are coming off this weekend. It's been recovered 3 times in a year now. Flat battery/gear selector issue, broken cam sprocket and now whatever this is.
Damn shame.
I've been down in the dumps all day. Since I got back from work I've been having a think and I've come up with a plan. I need to strip the engine down and work out the issue for my own piece of mind or just in case it's a relatively cheap fix.
If it's bad news, it's already in a load of parts so I'll carry on and break it for spares. I've run the numbers going by sold ebay listings on F-Pace parts, it looks like it'll do 8-9k in parts. That's much better than I expected. Obviously it's a load of work and will take months to see the money back but it's the best way to dig out of the hole I'm in.
I've got a E92 BMW 330i manual I bought from a friend of a friend for £1500. I was planning to strip that for spares but I haven't got around to it as I've been too busy messing about with my Boxster. It's booked in for an MOT Friday morning. It's tatty but it seems a good car mechanically so fingers crossed it passes. If it does, my wife will use that for the next few months and we'll look for a decent family car again once the pot has built back up. If it fails on something simple or cheap I might put it right but if it goes down badly I'll have to just go and buy something else that's got a bit of ticket on it like that EOS I bought the last time the Jaguar shat itself.
IMG_20240309_114441141
IMG_20240309_114500553
If it's bad news, it's already in a load of parts so I'll carry on and break it for spares. I've run the numbers going by sold ebay listings on F-Pace parts, it looks like it'll do 8-9k in parts. That's much better than I expected. Obviously it's a load of work and will take months to see the money back but it's the best way to dig out of the hole I'm in.
I've got a E92 BMW 330i manual I bought from a friend of a friend for £1500. I was planning to strip that for spares but I haven't got around to it as I've been too busy messing about with my Boxster. It's booked in for an MOT Friday morning. It's tatty but it seems a good car mechanically so fingers crossed it passes. If it does, my wife will use that for the next few months and we'll look for a decent family car again once the pot has built back up. If it fails on something simple or cheap I might put it right but if it goes down badly I'll have to just go and buy something else that's got a bit of ticket on it like that EOS I bought the last time the Jaguar shat itself.
IMG_20240309_114441141IMG_20240309_114500553IMG_20240309_114441141soooooo unlucky on the F-Pace Ecsy.
But good luck with the 330. A massive step up from an Eos as a temporary car. Suggest you keep PHer Court_S on speed dial whilst running the Beemer.
Escy said:
I've been down in the dumps all day. Since I got back from work I've been having a think and I've come up with a plan. I need to strip the engine down and work out the issue for my own piece of mind or just in case it's a relatively cheap fix.
If it's bad news, it's already in a load of parts so I'll carry on and break it for spares. I've run the numbers going by sold ebay listings on F-Pace parts, it looks like it'll do 8-9k in parts. That's much better than I expected. Obviously it's a load of work and will take months to see the money back but it's the best way to dig out of the hole I'm in.
I've got a E92 BMW 330i manual I bought from a friend of a friend for £1500. I was planning to strip that for spares but I haven't got around to it as I've been too busy messing about with my Boxster. It's booked in for an MOT Friday morning. It's tatty but it seems a good car mechanically so fingers crossed it passes. If it does, my wife will use that for the next few months and we'll look for a decent family car again once the pot has built back up. If it fails on something simple or cheap I might put it right but if it goes down badly I'll have to just go and buy something else that's got a bit of ticket on it like that EOS I bought the last time the Jaguar shat itself.
IMG_20240309_114441141
IMG_20240309_114500553
Pounds like a very sensible plan. The BMW looks reasonably tidy from the shots.If it's bad news, it's already in a load of parts so I'll carry on and break it for spares. I've run the numbers going by sold ebay listings on F-Pace parts, it looks like it'll do 8-9k in parts. That's much better than I expected. Obviously it's a load of work and will take months to see the money back but it's the best way to dig out of the hole I'm in.
I've got a E92 BMW 330i manual I bought from a friend of a friend for £1500. I was planning to strip that for spares but I haven't got around to it as I've been too busy messing about with my Boxster. It's booked in for an MOT Friday morning. It's tatty but it seems a good car mechanically so fingers crossed it passes. If it does, my wife will use that for the next few months and we'll look for a decent family car again once the pot has built back up. If it fails on something simple or cheap I might put it right but if it goes down badly I'll have to just go and buy something else that's got a bit of ticket on it like that EOS I bought the last time the Jaguar shat itself.
IMG_20240309_114441141IMG_20240309_114500553Escy said:
It might be the final straw. I need to do some number crunching before I make any decisions.
I think it's not worth fixing the engine, it always sounded ropey to the point where I couldn't sell the car if I wanted to. If I repaired it, I'd expect it to still sound the same. I'd be locked in again, just waiting for the next failure. I don't think I should carry on spending good money after bad.
That leaves me with 3 options.
Sell it the same as how I bought it as a non-runner, probably get 5-6k for it now the values have dropped.
Break it for parts - I'd need to price up if it's worth more than 5-6k otherwise it's pointless, I doubt it is
Buy a 3k used engine, fit that and just sell it on.
We both really like the car but it can't carry on like it is.
This fix could be the problem that was making all the noise! I think it's not worth fixing the engine, it always sounded ropey to the point where I couldn't sell the car if I wanted to. If I repaired it, I'd expect it to still sound the same. I'd be locked in again, just waiting for the next failure. I don't think I should carry on spending good money after bad.
That leaves me with 3 options.
Sell it the same as how I bought it as a non-runner, probably get 5-6k for it now the values have dropped.
Break it for parts - I'd need to price up if it's worth more than 5-6k otherwise it's pointless, I doubt it is
Buy a 3k used engine, fit that and just sell it on.
We both really like the car but it can't carry on like it is.
Escy said:
If it's bad news, it's already in a load of parts so I'll carry on and break it for spares. I've run the numbers going by sold ebay listings on F-Pace parts, it looks like it'll do 8-9k in parts. That's much better than I expected. Obviously it's a load of work and will take months to see the money back but it's the best way to dig out of the hole I'm in.
I'd strongly advise against this. The valuable bit is already broken. You will - guaranteed - end up with a car in bits that might take years to sell once the low hanging fruit has gone (front end panels, headlights, modules).I would take the thing apart, fix it as best you can and f
k it off as a runner via BCA. I can't begin to imagine how frustrating this must be given how much time, effort and money you've thrown at the thing.
I'm in awe of everything you've done with it but there's absolutely no shame in throwing in the towel at this point. Chalk this one down to experience and fk the ungrateful off!
It could end up getting even more expensive and ultimately you'll never have faith in it.
I'm in awe of everything you've done with it but there's absolutely no shame in throwing in the towel at this point. Chalk this one down to experience and f
k the ungrateful off! It could end up getting even more expensive and ultimately you'll never have faith in it.
Patrick Bateman said:
Hard to disagree. It's an interesting read but life's too short to spend this much time and effort on a 4 cylinder diesel.
Plus two. Use the bd contraption as a bonfire, and charge punters £5 a pop to attend. At least then you can enjoy sticking digits up at it whilst it's keeping you warm.Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff