Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Just picked my VR up this morning from local garage who have fitted a recon head, new chains, tensioners, clutch (& new coil pack). Driving to work it felt a bit sluggish & I noticed the coolant warning light flashing, then as the engine got warmed up it started spluttering & misfiring really badly, it's basically undriveable! Obviously, I'm taking it back tonight, but anybody got any clues as to what's wrong?!! Needless to say I'm really pee'd off. Cheers, Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhatVR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 oh dear. is there any coolant in it? what did you oil and coolant temps get up to? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 You kept driving it with the coolant light flashing? Or you got out, checked the coolant level, satisfied yourself there were no leaks or air locks, and the coolant was full and clean, and the drove on confident in the knowledge that the light's sensor must be faulty? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 The coolant & oil probably won't have got up to full temp as the drive to work is only about 2 miles. I have to confess I haven't checked the coolant :oops: Will do that now, & check for anything obvious like any HT leads off. Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Regardless of distance, a lack of coolant is bad news...!!!!!! If the engine can heat 7 litres of water from -5 to 80 degrees in less than 5 minutes, it's more than capable of baking itself in the same 5 minutes. That's the equivalent of running 7 kettles, or about 20 KILOWATTS of heat!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted June 10, 2004 Check all the pertinent looms (MAF, Coilpack's LT connector, Cam sensor, etc etc) when you get a moment as it's not unusual for a mechanic to forget one or two things. They might have left one unplugged or broken a wire or something. Start with the easy stuff! If the engine is overheating, they probably introduced and airlock or something. Did they change the stat housing? Stealth always replace those regardless when doing the chains. K Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Oh bugger!!! Just been out for a quick check & the expansion tank is completely dry! can't spot any leaks anywhere. I can hear the aux water pump running when the ignition is on & it sounds a bit gurgly so I guess there's little or no coolant in :shock: What damage could this have done? as someone's gonna pay for this :x Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhatVR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 fill it with coolant again and find out where it's going. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Interesting (?) facts: 20 kilowatts = 10 electric ovens running simultaneously 20 1-bar electric fires running together under the bonnet a 200-CPU SGI computer running flat out crunching seti data ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted June 10, 2004 It's probably leaking out of the thermostat housing, which they may not have put back on properly. It may not have damaged anything, yet, fill it up and take it straight back to the garage. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted June 10, 2004 Interesting (?) facts: 20 kilowatts = 10 electric ovens running simultaneously 20 1-bar electric fires running together under the bonnet a 200-CPU SGI computer running flat out crunching seti data ;) Fascinating but not really related to Rob's prob? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 DON'T PUT COLD WATER IN IT.... At least, until it's well cooled down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Would this lack of coolant cause the spluttering & misfiring I experienced? Cheers, Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Lack of coolant could cause all kinds of problems, no question. - And I was just trying to get across how important that wet stuff is Kev! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevin Bacon 5 Posted June 10, 2004 Not really, unless the excess heat has overcooked something. Did the water temp needle go off the scale? The blue temp sensor may have gone wild and mega leaned off the mixture but was it running this badly during or prior to the meltdown? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhatVR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 if it overheated, then yes. also, if it's leaking water into the combustion chambers that won't help matters either. get some fresh coolant in it and look for leaks. check your plugs, and seel if you can smell coolant in the exhasut, or if it's putting out any white smoke. it goes without saying that you should be giving the garage a good b0llocking right now too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 It wasn't spluttering at first, just felt sluggish. By the time it started & I noticed the coolant light flashing (didn't notice if this was flashing from the off :oops: ), I was just about at work so I didn't notice what the temp gauge got up to either, sorry. I know... I'm a numpty. Phoned the garage a had words as you said Phat. Mechanic reckoned it was probably an airlock & the temp sensor readings would have messed up the fuelling causing the spluttering. He said to fill it up & take it back for them to check, so that's the next step. Cheers guys, Robbo :( Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 As kev is probably about to say: fill the water from the top rad hose, not the expansion tank... ;) (Oh and fit some VT engine mounts while you're at it.) ;) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 (Oh and fit some VT engine mounts while you're at it.) ;) :lol: It's funny cos it's true! :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhatVR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 It wasn't spluttering at first, just felt sluggish. By the time it started & I noticed the coolant light flashing (didn't notice if this was flashing from the off :oops: ), I was just about at work so I didn't notice what the temp gauge got up to either, sorry. I know... I'm a numpty. Phoned the garage a had words as you said Phat. Mechanic reckoned it was probably an airlock & the temp sensor readings would have messed up the fuelling causing the spluttering. He said to fill it up & take it back for them to check, so that's the next step. Cheers guys, Robbo :( that sounds about right. the over fuelling would cause spluttering. just fill it and run it at fast idle for a few minutes with the expansion cap off and keep squeezing the hoses and shaking them to loosen up and trapped air bubbles. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 Cheers Paul, that's what I'll be doing in my lunch break then! Just hope the coolant's not dissapearing internally somewhere! Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhatVR6 0 Posted June 10, 2004 well, if it has, it looks like they'll be taking the head off again FOC. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_mat 0 Posted June 10, 2004 You'd have noticed in your rear view if 7 litres of coolant went through the head gasket, I'd have thought! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy T 0 Posted June 10, 2004 If it is airlocks, the garage should of made sure they got them all out first before handing over the car! Did they drive it after such a big job to make sure everything is ok?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Robbo149 0 Posted June 10, 2004 You'd have noticed in your rear view if 7 litres of coolant went through the head gasket, I'd have thought! Yeah that's what I thought, although I didn't notice when the coolant warning light came on or how high the temp gauge got! :oops: Andy - I don't know whether they tset drove it or not, but I'll certainly be finding out. I would have thought it would be essential after such major work! Cheers, Robbo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
