MR2 engine problems
Discussion
Well, first my mum's Punto blows a head gasket, then dad's Volvo does and guess what? Nope, no more head gasket blows, something far more serious :(
My mum's just phoned to ask me to pop home after work to look at my brother's MR2, as apparently it's just gone pop. He was driving to work when he heard a bang and then the engine now rattles badly. He turned it off and stopped to take a look. Nothing obvious so he started it and it does run, but is very noisy.
Anyone hazzard a guess as to what we're looking at? I'm guessing a big end has gone or a rod's dettached or worse :(
Fingers crossed my Polo get's home ok as we seem cursed as a family at the moment!!
My mum's just phoned to ask me to pop home after work to look at my brother's MR2, as apparently it's just gone pop. He was driving to work when he heard a bang and then the engine now rattles badly. He turned it off and stopped to take a look. Nothing obvious so he started it and it does run, but is very noisy.
Anyone hazzard a guess as to what we're looking at? I'm guessing a big end has gone or a rod's dettached or worse :(
Fingers crossed my Polo get's home ok as we seem cursed as a family at the moment!!
DO NOT RUN IT ANYMORE, although you've probably completely f
d it anyway
First off have a butchers see if anything's hanging off (a mate of mine's MR2 had the crank shaft pully disintegrate, very odd)
if it's internal, do a compression check, any low compression is going to require a head off anyway, and that's a good way to get right in there
HTH
d it anyway First off have a butchers see if anything's hanging off (a mate of mine's MR2 had the crank shaft pully disintegrate, very odd)
if it's internal, do a compression check, any low compression is going to require a head off anyway, and that's a good way to get right in there
HTH
Incorrigible said:
DO NOT RUN IT ANYMORE
Already told him that. My Dad towed it home so it's now sitting on the drive. Incorrigible said:He had a look and there's nothing obvious. I'll have a look myself this evening.
First off have a butchers see if anything's hanging off (a mate of mine's MR2 had the crank shaft pully disintegrate, very odd)
Incorrigible said:Will do. That'll be the third head I've had off this year!
if it's internal, do a compression check, any low compression is going to require a head off anyway, and that's a good way to get right in
PS Anyone know of a cheap SW20 engine going spare?
Munter said:Funny you should say that I he asked me to check it last weekend. It looked fine to me, so I don't think that's broke. I'll find out more info this evening.
Just out of interest hows the cambelt? Could be that went bang.... But I dont know if it's an interferance engine or not...
best of luckThese cars are a total nightmare to work on....
They are an interference engine.
They eat head gaskets, almost as bad as K-series.
And Ive heard more than 1 report about big end failure.
Good luck !!!! If its an engine out, or head off ( which requires engine out ) you will need a lift, as engine/suspension/gearbox needs to be dropped out from below.
They are an interference engine.
They eat head gaskets, almost as bad as K-series.
And Ive heard more than 1 report about big end failure.
Good luck !!!! If its an engine out, or head off ( which requires engine out ) you will need a lift, as engine/suspension/gearbox needs to be dropped out from below.
Quick update before I go delving further.
Cambelt fine and engine does actually run and has oil pressure. Rattles like crazy though as if something's knocking about inside it.
Taken rocker cover off and nothing obvious, so it's sump off next to check the bottom end. After that it's engine out
Cambelt fine and engine does actually run and has oil pressure. Rattles like crazy though as if something's knocking about inside it.
Taken rocker cover off and nothing obvious, so it's sump off next to check the bottom end. After that it's engine out
Ok some more info for you.
It's in a Mk2 MR2 G-limited import 1990, SW20 model and is the 3SGE 2lt 16v 157bhp one
It didn't actually go bang, just a kind of loud ping followed by continual rattling. Sounds like a piece of metal is inside the engine. Perhaps a valve has snapped? Although there's nothing obvious from looking at the cams.
I can't get the spark plugs out to check as all my plug sockets are too big, so I'll need to get one tomorrow. Anyone know what size they are?
And finally, if it is a head off job, does anyone know what kind and size of socket is needed for the head bolts? They look like those spline type ones I think.
>> Edited by KITT on Thursday 18th August 19:30
It's in a Mk2 MR2 G-limited import 1990, SW20 model and is the 3SGE 2lt 16v 157bhp one
It didn't actually go bang, just a kind of loud ping followed by continual rattling. Sounds like a piece of metal is inside the engine. Perhaps a valve has snapped? Although there's nothing obvious from looking at the cams.
I can't get the spark plugs out to check as all my plug sockets are too big, so I'll need to get one tomorrow. Anyone know what size they are?
And finally, if it is a head off job, does anyone know what kind and size of socket is needed for the head bolts? They look like those spline type ones I think.
>> Edited by KITT on Thursday 18th August 19:30
The 3SGE certainly has no reputation for HGF that' I'm aware of (through IMOC). However, big end failure does seem to be a recurring theme. My brothers Celica had a big end go at about 60k miles and it did enough damage that he had to get a replacement engine from Fensport. Since then I have found rather too many engines and compete cars on sale on Ebay with big ends gone for it to be a coincidence.
stevieturbo said:
These cars are a total nightmare to work on....
Now thats true
stevieturbo said:
Good luck !!!! If its an engine out, or head off ( which requires engine out )
Thats odd because I took the head off my MK1 without removing the engine. Ok i'm 6ft and if I was 4ft 6 it might have been harder.... But it was fully described in the workshop manual.
Sorry I can't help with the plug size, but a few more suggestions
As I said before, do a compression check before you take the head off, If you take the head off you will need at least a gasket kit, but IMO you ought to have the head checked for flat/fly skimmed as a matter of course
Avoid if possible
If you need to get the engine out, I would drop the engine and box in one lump. This can be done without a lift but you will need a trolley jack (only one required, but you do have to be a bit clever about it)
As I said before, do a compression check before you take the head off, If you take the head off you will need at least a gasket kit, but IMO you ought to have the head checked for flat/fly skimmed as a matter of course
Avoid if possible
If you need to get the engine out, I would drop the engine and box in one lump. This can be done without a lift but you will need a trolley jack (only one required, but you do have to be a bit clever about it)
Thanks for the tips Ben. I've found out it is indeed a 16mm socket for the spark plugs
I'm not planning on taking the head off unless totally necessary as it's a PITA removing everything to actually do it.
However, from what I gather, it's more likely to be a big end failure, as they're quite common on these engines If that's the case I'll have to see how badly scored the crank is and decide if it's engine swap or re-grind + over sized bearings time.
I'm not planning on taking the head off unless totally necessary as it's a PITA removing everything to actually do it.
However, from what I gather, it's more likely to be a big end failure, as they're quite common on these engines
If that's the case I'll have to see how badly scored the crank is and decide if it's engine swap or re-grind + over sized bearings time. Incorrigible said:
That doesn't make a noise like a rattle though, and you'd lose oil pressure
I've not actually heard the rattle myself as I was lothed to start it, but my brother described it as sounding like a small piece of metal was inside engine (like a valve!). He also mentioned the oil pressure light was not on with the engine running.Incorrigible said:It's going to be a busy weekend!!
Feck knows, best of luck
Well, took the plugs out last night and couldn't see anything. By that I mean you couldn't see a thing! The holes are so small you can only see the tops of the pistons. Couldn't see any debris in there so to the sump.
What a bloody nightmare! The MR2's exhaust goes right under the sump so to get at it you have to remove the middle section of the exhaust. 3 sheared bolts and 4 hours later it was off
The sump shows it's own picture, full of metal filings which are also stuck to the bottom of the oil pick-up
Here's where I start to run out of knowledge as I've not fiddled with a bottom end before. Pistons 2 and three are slightly wobbley on the crank. I've not checked the other two as the engine is hard to rotate by hand and they're at TDC.
Is the wobble normal? I'm guessing not? I've not taken the bottom end caps off yet so I guess that's the next thing so I can see the bearings.
What a bloody nightmare! The MR2's exhaust goes right under the sump so to get at it you have to remove the middle section of the exhaust. 3 sheared bolts and 4 hours later it was off
The sump shows it's own picture, full of metal filings which are also stuck to the bottom of the oil pick-up
Here's where I start to run out of knowledge as I've not fiddled with a bottom end before. Pistons 2 and three are slightly wobbley on the crank. I've not checked the other two as the engine is hard to rotate by hand and they're at TDC.
Is the wobble normal? I'm guessing not? I've not taken the bottom end caps off yet so I guess that's the next thing so I can see the bearings.
The big end oil clearence is 0.055mm max so a bit wobbly sounds too much
I was going to say that I'd heard of the earlier type engines pinging a valve shim out if over-reved, since the shims are on top of the buckets. That might have accounted for the loud ping before the death rattle...
I was going to say that I'd heard of the earlier type engines pinging a valve shim out if over-reved, since the shims are on top of the buckets. That might have accounted for the loud ping before the death rattle...
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