Hi all,

After spending a while getting my girllfriends Barvo 1.4 S going again it has finally broken down and won't start up properly.

When I try and start it there is a horrible screeching (metal on metal) sound coming from the engine itself. I havve also found that I cannot remove the oil dipstick - its almost as if its wrapped in the engine. Is this possible?

If so, what damage will it have done? How has it happened? Is it dead or fixable?




Thanks,
Drammy

Without hearing the screeching it is difficult to diagnose, it could be that the two faults are not connected and the screeching is a slipping fan belt. Not being able to pull the dipstick out is worrying though (assuming you ate your porridge for breakfast and are not in a weakened state). Does the dipstick have a long tube (which will guide the dipstick in) attached to the engine and is the tube pointing in the right direction. I would think that if the dipstick was pushed in at the wrong angle it could foul one or more of the moving components. Other than that it may be that something inside has come adrift and is trapping the dipstick. Good luck.

Thanks for getting back to me bpetersb. The screeching definitely isn't the fan belt but I understand the two may not be related. I am just unsure as to whether it is worth trying to fix it or not... How much can I expect to pay for a garage to investigate this for me? Ta, Drammy

hi mate,

its extremely unlikely that the dipstick has got tangled in anything,
first off, top or bottom end? top end will be a bit more tappey and faster ticking/tapping
bottom end will be a lot deeper and slower

what ever way, its expensive, and probably not wroth the money to repair...sorry :S

Fair enough, thanks for getting back to me... Anyone got a car for sale

a 1.4 that cut out during use, now the dipstick is stuck and it is screeching when cranked, all points to one thing in my mind- overheating damage.

could be from the usual oil circulation problem you get on the 1.4, or from low oil, or from a cooling system fault etc. what was the temp gauge saying when it broke down.

Unfortunately I was in Sheffield when it broke down - my missus was driving it. She can;t remember seeing what the temperature gauge was reading...

Re: Anyone got any ideas... :-(((

Unfortunately I was in Sheffield when it broke down - my missus was driving it. She can't remember seeing what the temperature gauge was reading...

Maybe you could undo the one bracket bolt that holds the dip stick tube and give it a tug it should just pop out. Nut is 10mm.

OK, I'll give that a go - but what about the horrendous screeching sound coming from within the engine?

Need more info realy
When you turn it over do the belts spin? You could take the oil filler cap off and just watch inside to see if the cam shaft also spins?

Might just be the starter motor or something.

Yeah, the belts spin.

I'll watch the cam shaft tomorrow - thanks