Technical (engine repair, replace or sell)

[stu4art]

I'm gutted
driving to work the car started to lose power and stuttered. No warning lamps came on! decided to turn around and head for the garage, didn't get very far stuttering got worse and at one point lost all breaking power, so pulled into a petrol station and called the 'ADAC' the German 'AA'. Guy turns up and discovers that cylinder 2 wasn't looking good. The spark plug was deformed and the connector above it had disintegrated with bits falling about?
There is no compression there at all.
What would you do?
The ADAC guy 'hinted that it wasn't worth repairing' and towed me home, so it is not at a garage.
Sell, get it repaired or replace the engine?
I'm tempted to sell, feels like one of those repair it and the next thing will go, and sounds expensive!

 

[Eklipze3k]

Start with a compression test, let's rule out headgasket or valve failure.
With the deformation of the plug and disintegrated HT lead I'd assume a dodgy coil personally or at least an HT lead or plug was already in poor shape and quickly got worse.
I assume the other 3 plugs and leads are OK, and there is no evidence of melting wires anywhere else?

 

[stu4art]

Hi Eklipze3k, the AA did a quick compression test and he said 0 compression. The other 3 looked ok and just quickly looking at the road side couldn't see melting of other leads.
Find it strange that no warning light came on?
are you thinking 'expensive fix'?
Stuarthttps://www.fiatforum.com/members/eklipze3k/

 

[Eklipze3k]

It depends on why it's lost compression, further diagnostics will need to be carried out.

 

[stu4art]

Cheers, have to have a good think about it!

 

[StevePD]

Hi, are you in Germany and close to MunchenGladbach? If so have a look at this site http://fiat-barchetta-lobo.de/44.html. If you speak German give Dietmar a call and he may be able to help you. Excellent guy, very proffessional and hands on. If you are close and don’t speak German try the google translate facility and communicate via watsap once you establish contact.
Good luck
SteveD

 

[eramosa]

strange occurrence but not all that uncommon. A melted ignition coil that is actually stuck to the plug(witch usually disintegrates) from my experience is invariably traced to a damp ECU which is dumping way to much current to a certain coil. Considering where the ECU in the Barchetta is, I can't see it getting wet but you never know. If the car is in good shape and you like it don't give up to easily.

 

[portland_bill]

When you describe the spark plug as deformed, is this the firing tip inside the engine, or is the damage all external?

If the plug has a sealing washer, is this compressed? If not tightened properly, heat path will be wrong, and plug can run hot, which can melt a hole in the piston. Do you have the plug, and can you post some good pics.

Can you look inside the cylinder? A boroscope is good for this, but most cheap USB ones are poor, with a long focal length, so can't see inside a cylinder.

Need to determine whether gasket, valve, or piston is the issue, then future is easier to decide.

 

[stu4art]

Thanks for all the good advice and tips you guys have given me, I haven't been able to bring myself to even have another peep under the bonnet especially after the AA guy pointed out that the radiator was also on its last legs, and as the last Tüv (MOT) needed a lot of welding work done. I guess I already know that it is good bye (portland_bill if I remember rightly, the tip was squashed, I think the AA guy put the plug in the boot, if I find it I'll post it out of interest) (eramosa last year I was having problems with the yellow key light not going out, but a new battery cured that otherwise the unit didn't appear damp) (stevepd mönchengladbach is a bit too far off, but again thanks for tip)
cheers Stu

 

[portland_bill]

If the tip of the plug has been squashed, that might mean something has hit it. Broken valve head, or something ingested, or a broken piston ring. All doom and gloom.

Or, occasionally, a plug may fall apart. The central ceramic core is held in with a sort of ceramic paste at the bottom, and the plug body being squeezed around it at the outer part. If something went wrong during manufacture, the paste can fall out, allowing the centre to move. Then it might be able to hit the piston. If this is the case, a new plug might fix it, although any small dent in the piston may cause a hot spot.

 

[Davefridge]

Squashed spark plug and no compression don't sound good. Cylinder head off job I think to see whats broken.

 

[stu4art]

Thanks for all your input and advice, couldn't find the spark plug the ADAC guy must have thrown it in the bin.
This will probably be my last post as I've sold my little 'B' a young local guy saw my ad and fell in love with her (his girl friend needed convincing ) Anyway he reckoned he could bring her back to life and give her a bit of TLC.
Hope its not long until I get another, until then 'enjoy your Barchettas and drive safely'
Stuart