Engine Trouble

[pseudo]

Hi all, hope you can help me.

I have a 1.8 HLX bravo on a '96 P reg. Had it for about 8 months and very pleased, however recently i have found a few faults.

Firstly, my engine is sounding very loud (like a deasel). I have had a look under the bonnet and the noise seems to be coming from cam belt area. The car has done 96,000 and had the cam belt changed at around 80,000ish so hope it is not that.

The car is also idling very high, at around 1600 sometimes, even when the engine is warm. However leading on from this, i have noticed that the temp of the engine never reaches even a third of the max temp and remains at around 2 notches above the coldest line.

Are all of these things related?? Does anyone have any idea what is wrong??

Your help is much appreciated.

 

[Chris]

The Bravo engine is very loud anyway mate so I wouldn't worry about. The idling goes like that as normal as well, you may find at times the revs will drop right down too, which is also normal (for my car anyway).

As for the temp - I ain't got a clue! lol

Chris

 

[MYHLX]

For a start i have a ‘96 HLX and I can tell you it does NOT have a loud engine, im at 70k with semi-synth changes every 9k and it comes out almost as clean as it went in (i.e. the colour of golden syrup). With a standard exhaust it is almost silent compared to many cars otr.
My car never used to get above 2 notches from the bottom and i have read lots about temperamental thermostats being the cause-but its just the way mine was. I now have huge brakes on the front and run a little hotter than before, so my thermostat is fine, fan always cuts in/out etc...

As for the erratic idling im not sure if that's a MAF sensor problem, a search for “erratic idling� will probably yield some useful information for you.

When were the plugs last changed? A new set will only set you back £20 and will help idling and fuel consumption-something old worn plugs don't!
As for the temp I wouldn't worry about it unless it becomes an issue, revs are only 2-300 rpm higher on cold idle anyway, so 1600rpm is definitely not ‘normal'.

Don't run the risk with the cambelt-a snapped rubber band often leads to an uneconomical repair so get it to a garage ASAP if you don't know what to look for. Culprits can range from worn bearings in water pumps, alternators and/or tensioners as well as other things. If your belt had slipped it would sound like a box of spanners, but it would probably have bent some/all of the valves already…

Hope this is some help..

Ben.

 

[Tom]

If you're stuck in traffic does the temp guage go up to just over half way?

The sound could well be a failed manifold gasket, that could also explain the high idle.

Shot plugs would result in an uneven idle, not high idle. MAF sensor issues would result in power loss and poor running.

Does it start first time every time?

 

[pseudo]

Many thanks for the quick and informative replies.

MYHLX - Plugs were changed in April/May time and i got a decent set so don't think it is that, although will check. I think i will have to take it into a garage though. My dad and me can change most things but the problem is in the diagnosis. That is why i posted here to see if anyone had a quick suggestion!!

Tom - Temp gauge doesn't seem to change at all, never really moves from the same position, even when stuck in traffic. It has always started first time, even on the coldest days.

 

[Tom]

Does the fan kick in when the car is stuck in traffic? Does the heater get nice and hot?