Technical New engine - is it worth it?

[fluxus]

Hello all,
Forum newbie here and not got a notion about anything mechanical - please suffer my ignorance - I want to learn.
I got a Cinq 899cc 1995 model with 40000 miles on it for £500 about a year ago and think it is great. Head gasket went a few months ago and I got it fixed. Then last week it started losing power on hills and the fuel injection light was coming on over 60 mph so I took it into the garage. Their compression test showed zero on one cylinder and they reckon the engine is shot - multiple issues to solve - might mean I keep chuking money at it til the prob is found.
So the option is scrap it! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
OR
fit a new engine.
so my question is - whats the likely cost and is it going to be worth it?

Thanks in advance
Fluxus

 

[arc]

Lack of compression could be down the head gasket going again. Do you have any kind of warranty left with the garage that did the work. If they've rushed the job its possible to have it go again.

But then again, that wouldnt cause the injector light to come on. Have you tried another garage. Ask them exactly what they think the multiple issues are to be solved.

You could drop a new engine in it, an engine for a punto is around 150-200, so a Cinq OHV engine can't cost that many pennies. But then theres labour, do you think you could fit it yourself? Its not that scary really, if your compotent with spanners you're well on your way.

Welcome to the forum btw

 

[fluxus]

cheers for the speedy reply ARC.
DIY isn't really an option - nowhere to do the work and seriously time limited - much as I'd love to be able to try - It feels like too big a job for a total beginner!
250 quid seems worth it I suppose as I'm not going to get another car for the cost of the parts and work.

 

[dawozere]

When i put a new engine in my old Cinq SX, it cost £115 for the engine (20k on it from a crashed P reg), and i think about £50 worth of beer for fitting!

 

[chaos]

Yeah, I got a quote similar to that when my Fiesta Mk3.5 engine blew up a couple of years ago (never, ever again, so many problems :shakehead ).

An 899 engine shouldn't be a lot, just toddle off with a van to your nearest scrappy - if they've got a cinq, then it would definately be a 899 version (in my experience). Failing that, I would have thought a Sei 899 engine would fit, and the gearbox, maybe (I understand the 899 Sei g/box is a LOT better than an 899 Cinq gearbox, but I'm not 100% sure if it'd fit). Also, it would be more likely to be lower mileage.

HTH

 

[paul_treg]

Hi,
Normally if the engine is shot due to no compression(and its not the head gasket), its the rings, but if these go you get the great blue mushroom cloud out of the zorst.
When you had the head gasket done last time there's a good chance they didn't skim the head, so its probably fooked again, so maybe get the head gasket done and head skimmed this time.......

Could also be a sticking valve, very rare, but not impossible....

Thanks
Paul T

 

[rallycinq]

More likely a burnt valve. If the engine was roasted when the head gasket went, and the valves weren't relapped you can get a high spot that gradually erodes.

The engine usually idles lumpily but runs reasonably at higher revs. Because there is no compression the stuff that is going down the exhaust will upset the lambda and hence the light coming on.

Cheers

D

 

[fluxus]

Rallycinq,
this sounds spot on - exactly how it was behaving. Is this issue fixable or is the most cost effective option a new engine. I got quotes inc vat + delivery of 300 and 340 quids!

 

[rallycinq]

Needs a cylinder head rebuild. It takes about an hour to get the head off and the same to put it back on, so at a garage between 80 and 100 quid. Head work could be another couple of hours plus a gasket set, so same again.

I should have an old head kicking about somewhere, I will try and remember to ask tomorrow.

Cheers

D

 

[fluxus]

Update...... I got an engine for £270 and the garage did it and new clutch at same time for not a lot of labour. Still painful but the cinq rides again and hopefully will do another 50000 for me. thanks for all the help and advice.
Flux
PS - other car (polo) written off last week and I'm going to buy a skoda - probably not the wisest thing to say here but I thought you should know!

 

[The younger modder]

good luck with it mate hope this is a good engine i found out the other night that to get rid off the injector light give it a good thrashing around a country lane and it goes away and runs smooth odd i know