Can a 4 cylinder car run on 3? for a while anyway.

[Casa1862]

Agree sounds silly, but mother in laws 05 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 seems to have shat itself. Engine management light on and barely gets past 60, local garage what £850 to repair, found low compression on cylinder 3. Cars done 125k so repair probably cost more than cars value, shame as just had full service and has over 6 months MOT.

She asked as she doesn't drive more than 60 mph, can she drive it as it is (effectively on 3 cylinders), certainly until she can get another car, she only drives locally anyway… Wasn't sure what to tell her.

I could ebay it for her listing the EML and fault but might be worth a little more as still running, I'm reluctant as I don't want to harm my 100% feedback and I'm sure I'll get messed around, favours for familiy normally end up backfiring.

Is £850 excessive for the repair or about right?

[essayer]

We had a Saxo that did this - although it might have had two out - it practically gave up going up hill, and so much fuel was going down the exhaust that the cat was glowing red hot - I have no doubt that it would have caught fire if we'd kept it going like that.

eBay, no reserve. You'll get more than scrapping it I guess.

[DKS]

At least unplug the injector if possible.

[surveyor]

But don't be a cock - be honest on the listing.

[SystemParanoia]

just pull the power plug to the injector on the the dead cylinder and remove the spark plug so theres also no compression what-so-ever to create resistance.

job jobbed

[ADM06]

The wife's old 206 was running on three for ages and it was barely noticeable, but yours evidently is.
£700 for head and valve work.

[BFG TERRANO]

That's about right with labour, parts vat etc. it's a head off job to see why you lost comp on one pot. Possibly valve trouble or head crack.

I wouldn't use it. May create more damage by driving it. You will wash the bore with fuel which will pollute the oil.

[Casa1862]

Ah, I bit of conflicting advice, I certainly don't want it going up in flames but if i can be driven for a short time then no panic having to find a replacement.

surveyor said:

But don't be a cock - be honest on the listing.

I did say I 'd list the EML and fault, I'm just worried even after being honest I'll still end up with a negative feedback or being messed about. Is it worth the hassle for the couple of hundred quid, hence why let her drive it until it stops, assuming it's relatively safe.

[M4cruiser]

Agree that you could damage it further - but if it's worth nothing already ?? ... ?

Won't pass the next MoT like that either.

You definitely need to stop fuel going in the dead cylinder.

[Kev T360]

SystemParanoia said:

just pull the power plug to the injector on the the dead cylinder and remove the spark plug so theres also no compression what-so-ever to create resistance.

job jobbed

This is what I would do. I am not a mechanic though.

[Ian_sUK]

Pull the plug on the injector. Removing the spark plug will make it run better but will suck in unfiltered air, not a problem if it going to be scrapped though.

[Fastdruid]

850 is probably about right seeing that if it's low compression it'll be either top end or rings, which will involve a fair amount of labour either to strip and rebuild or to put in a new engine.

[Casa1862]

Sorry not very motor technical, where would I find the power to the injector? Removing the spark plug I could just about do!

[Northernchimp]

Depends on budget for replacement - if the next car is going to be a cheap runaround you may as well fix up the Corsa, at least you know its history and it's just about worth £850.

[andymc]

a scrapper engine fitted is about 600

[Casa1862]

Northernchimp said:

Depends on budget for replacement - if the next car is going to be a cheap runaround you may as well fix up the Corsa, at least you know its history and it's just about worth £850.

I'm concerned other big bills may follow, even the garage didn't seem too enthusiastic to carry out the repair, as you can tell I know FA so need to listen what they are telling me. I was thinking £2k replacement possibly £3k if she can use this for a while.

[Garybee]

SystemParanoia said:

just pull the power plug to the injector on the the dead cylinder and remove the spark plug so theres also no compression what-so-ever to create resistance.

job jobbed

That has no effect on compression.

[SystemParanoia]

Garybee said:

That has no effect on compression.

surely thats not true.

ever tried to inflate a straw?

[Northernchimp]

Casa1862 said:

Northernchimp said:

Depends on budget for replacement - if the next car is going to be a cheap runaround you may as well fix up the Corsa, at least you know its history and it's just about worth £850.

I'm concerned other big bills may follow, even the garage didn't seem too enthusiastic to carry out the repair, as you can tell I know FA so need to listen what they are telling me. I was thinking £2k replacement possibly £3k if she can use this for a while.

Still no obvious answer. You could easily buy a dog at that money. I'd be tempted to fix it and keep a few hundred quid aside for future repairs.

[IanMorewood]

Very short term it will run but you will likely kill the engine and possibly the electronics by running it more than a few miles, cheaper option than repairing the engine is buy a replacement from a scrap yard and hope all is well. We did that to a Renault that had blown the head gasket and dropped a cylinder liner, engine was £100 and the garage charged about £400 to swap the two engines over. Of course you get no warranty with an engine from a scrappy, but we got twelve months before we traded the car in.