Advice Please !!

[CG7]

A friend of mine was out for a drive the other sunday and all of a sudden the car lost power and just died anyway he got towed home and a friend of a friend of his who works for a very reputable garage, offered to do the repair for him on the side at a reduced price, so long as he didn't mention it to his immediate boss.

Three weeks later the guy rings my friend to tell him that the car just wont start, he has replaced head gasket and timing chain, but it still wont start, now he is saying that it could be a new engine thats needed.

He told him he wanted £250 for the original repair. (head gasket) and told my friend to have a think about it for a couple of days and let him know what he wants to do about it all.

He is beside himself with worry - Whats his best option folks.

Kind Regards,

cg.

[patdavies]

A straight-forward loss of power would have me thinking more about ECU and electronics rather than head gasket/timing chain unless there were other symptoms (like oil and water mix; radiator pressurising when cranking).

We need more information.

What sort of car? Full symptoms, etc.

[CG7]

Hi Pat,

The car is a Ford Mondeo Estate 1.8 and its only symptom was a slight pinking noise and a loss of power when going up the hill, and then all of a sudden it lost power and cut out and there was also steam coming from the engine.

He didn't attempt to try and start it again and got a friend to tow him home and then on to this mechanic. and he diagnosed head gasket.

He has repaired the Head but it still won't start and now saying it looks like the engine has had it completely.

cg

[patdavies]

Originally Posted by CG7

He has repaired the Head but it still won't start and now saying it looks like the engine has had it completely.

cg

Sorry, but that's rubbish. To replace the head gasket, the head would need to be removed and any damage to pistons would be obvious. To replace the head would normally involve turning the engine over to line everything up.

There are three reasons an engine won't start

1. Won't turn over
2. Lack of spark
3. Lack of fuel

1. is obvious

2. and 3. are controlled by the electronics. Is this guy a Ford mechanic? Has he simply failed to set up (or connect) the camshaft and crankshaft sensors?

If it was pinking and losing power and then cut-out with masses of steam, I would suspect over-heating due to loss of coolant - in that case, it may well be that the HG was a symptom rather than a cause.

You need to get the car to another mechanic/garage for a second opinion. It is impossible to diagnose remotely with any accuracy.

[CG7]

Hello Pat,

Thank you for your prompt reply and I will phone my friend and explain what you have said.

Thank-you once again.

cg

[patrickq1]

should definately need a second opinion

[Conniff]

Three weeks later the guy rings my friend to tell him that the car just wont start, he has replaced head gasket and timing chain, but it still wont start, now he is saying that it could be a new engine thats needed.

Not a very good mechanic then is he. I'm not sure what the 'don't tell his boss' bit has to do with anything.

I am assuming that we are talking petrol here and not diesel.

Pinking and loss of power is a sign of overheating and could have warped the head so that it needed skimmining, did he have the head skimmed as that is a necessity on aluminium heads that have overheated.

Did you see him doing any of the work?

I would not pay this man until you know what is wrong. Just as in business, if they haven't done the job they don't get paid.

As pat says, if the valves are opening and closing at the correct point and there is fuel and a spark at the correct time, there is no reason the engine shouldn't fire. There may be a fault that will make it run rough, but it should start, unless he has failed to reconnect the electronics properly.

Have a look at the joint between the cylinder head and block for signs of a new head gasket.

If you do not have the tools or are unsure what you are doing then you will have to take it to another garage for a diagnostic check and a cylinder compression check.

This does not have to be at the main Ford dealer, any good independent garage should be able to eliminate most things, and if it is the 'computer' then he might just have a used one one on his shelf that he can substitute for testing purposes or maybe, as a lot of independents have now, a hand held diagnostic machine he can plug into the socket.

.

[CG7]

Hi,
From what I understand he (the mechanic) is not supposed to do jobs on the side, its a small family business you see and my friend would have normally taken it there to be repaired, but this young mechanic said that he would do it at a much reduced rate, but in the end of course he was charging him 250 pounds as opposed to 329 pounds, not that much cheaper when you think that, there was no 12 months warranty on it as it wasn't done through the business.

Thanks again all,

cg

[Conniff]

Yes I can see that, taking business away from a family business is a bit sneaky. Perhaps the young lad was getting a bit ahead of his training and didn't know as much as he thought he did.

But no matter how cheap he does it, if it doesn't work afterwards you are out of pocket.
You MUST get a list of ALL the things he did and replaced on the car, it's important.

If he gets a bit shirty about payment, tell him you will take it to his garage and get his dad to sort it out.

[CG7]

I will tell him tomorrow conniff and thanks again.