Engine Rattle 1.8 Tdci

[NilTox]

Hi

I've had this 2007 Focus 1.8 TDCi for a couple of months. It suddenly developed a loud rattle, which does not happen all of the time. Changed the oil and filter which seemed to help but rattle started again after a few minutes driving. Here is video/audio of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWsm2kEIfsM&feature

Someone suggested that it might be an injector, any ideas anyone?

Thanks in advance

[STEADS]

That sounds more like a hydraulic lifter to me has the car been regulary serviced before your last oil change i would try another oil change and run a can of forte engine flush through it to clean out the lifter oil way if you said the last oil change improved it it does indicate in that direction cos an oil change would not alter the way the injectors perform .

[NilTox]

This is a Spanish car (I'm in Spain!) and the service history shows that the car had been stored or at least little used for 18 months, it had only done 2000Km since it's last service in Feb 2011. However, when my mate, the mechanic, changed the oil and filter, they weren't very 'fresh' (I know, not really a technical term!), which was a little worrying. Anyway, until now it has been running beautifully.

Thanks for your reply, we'll try 'flushing'...I'll report back...

[NilTox]

Update! OK, we didn't try flushing as the noise seemed to get a lot louder when the engine is hot (which is what I heard when I was hurtling down the 'autovia'!). We've taken the head off and there is movement on piston 4, also valve marks on the top of the piston (the head is OK)....so, it's down to look at the crank and the piston itself...fingers crossed!!!!

[ShinyAndy]

Must be something to do with being in Southern Spain I reckon!!

Mine sounds like there is no oil in it most of the time, I just put it down to it being a nasty old fashioned diesel engine!

[NilTox]

Must be something to do with being in Southern Spain I reckon!!

Mine sounds like there is no oil in it most of the time, I just put it down to it being a nasty old fashioned diesel engine!

Hi Andy

Could be Spanish weather (or drivers)! ;-)

Is that a view from your boat? I think I recognise those mountains, I'm in Fuengirola...

Salud!

Brian

[ShinyAndy]

Wasn't my boat thankfully, great to play with - awful to own, and yes I think we'd just come out of Benalmadena marina on the way back to Cabopino where it was berthed!

Out of interest where are you taking your car for the work? When I got my car the oil looked like it had done about 50K miles and had allegedly just been changed too, I've learnt to take everything I was told about the car with a pinch of salt now!

[STEADS]

not knockin your cars lads but how many dints do they have in them seeing you mention is it spanish drivers as when ever we have visited spain (ten years running) there doesnt seem to be a car without one just curious as i,ve often mentioned it to the missus that they dont seem to look after them as you would brian i knew that tapping wasnt an injector but didnt know it would be that bad have you managed to get the sump off yet if so let me know how you broke the seal as i,ve tried to get the one off my 2.0lL but it wont budge hope you have more succes than me dont know what its sealed on with but its tougth stuff.

[ShinyAndy]

Mine is in great condition, no dents or scrapes at all yet - yet being the operative word here!

To me it looks like the Spanish tend to look after their cars but don't care about anyone elses. They'll park about 5cm away from you in a carpark and then bang their door into you without a thought. I've lived here long enough now to know where to park though and now live just outside the town so parking isn't such a problem. You don't even want to know what my old 206 GTI looked like after 4 years being parked on the road right in the middle of town! With my Elise I wouldn't even take it out if I knew I had to park in a town!

[NilTox]

not knockin your cars lads but how many dints do they have in them seeing you mention is it spanish drivers as when ever we have visited spain (ten years running) there doesnt seem to be a car without one just curious as i,ve often mentioned it to the missus that they dont seem to look after them as you would brian i knew that tapping wasnt an injector but didnt know it would be that bad have you managed to get the sump off yet if so let me know how you broke the seal as i,ve tried to get the one off my 2.0lL but it wont budge hope you have more succes than me dont know what its sealed on with but its tougth stuff.

Hi Neil

The Focus just has about 5 dings, a small scrape on a door and a dent in the sill, so it's immaculate, in Spanish terms!!

Yes, the Spanish do seem to treat their cars purely as workhorses, very little interest in cosmetics. We do see the rare car 'kitted', generally badly done. My son reckons there's a business opportunity there, I'm not so sure.

I've no doubt you've witnessed the parking, then? They manage to get them into spaces smaller than the actual car (well almost), and bumpers are, well, bumpers, what else can they be for? The rule is: reverse until the car behind you moves, then forward slightly!

The most important components on a Spanish car are the 'Hazard Warning Lights', by applying these you are permitted to double or even triple park or park in any illegal place, especially where it will cause utmost obstruction. Your permit to park anywhere ends when at least five drivers have sounded their horns for at least five minutes.

Obviously the 'hazard warning lights' should never be used singularly, this might be construed as an indication of you changing direction!

The most used gesture is the 'flat palm open hand' out of the driver's window. Using this allows you to pull out in front of any vehicle which actually has the right of way, especially useful when entering a roundabout.

Anyway, enough of that, I actually do enjoy driving in this unrestricted environment!

As for the sump, my mate is working on it tomorrow so we'll see how it goes, thanks for the warning!

[ShinyAndy]

You forgot the; I've just seen my mate in a car approaching a roundabout, I know I'm going around the roundabout but I'll just stop here and have a chat with him for a few minutes until the sound of horns gets so much I can't hear him any more.

Gotta love his place

[NilTox]

Wasn't my boat thankfully, great to play with - awful to own, and yes I think we'd just come out of Benalmadena marina on the way back to Cabopino where it was berthed!

Out of interest where are you taking your car for the work? When I got my car the oil looked like it had done about 50K miles and had allegedly just been changed too, I've learnt to take everything I was told about the car with a pinch of salt now!

Hi Andy

I asked about the boat because I've just bought one, purely because it was an unmissable bargain! I'm not really nautical so this is going to be a new experience. It's small enough to store inland (6 metres) and launch as required (about 20€ in Fuengirola). If you were an owner I was hoping to pick you brains because I need to change to a smaller trailer and the boat needs some re-upholstery (it's an open boat, so needs waterproof stuff).

I actually have a mate who is a mechanic, he does most of the work except for the very modern, specialist stuff which requires computers etc.

Yes, we have learned the hard way, in fact have an ongoing experience/nightmare. My son has an Alfa 156 Selespeed which has been in the garage for over 4 weeks, was 'fixed' at just under 1000€ and lasted less than 5 minutes. I was actually still near the garage when my son called, and took a mechanic out to recover the car, it had exactly the same problem as when it went in, God knows how we're going to get out of this one!

[NilTox]

You forgot the; I've just seen my mate in a car approaching a roundabout, I know I'm going around the roundabout but I'll just stop here and have a chat with him for a few minutes until the sound of horns gets so much I can't hear him any more.

Gotta love his place

Oh yes, seen that one many times!

[ShinyAndy]

Sorry about the boat, I just took advantage of someone I worked with! They did get some upholstery done on it though, I'll rack my brains and see if I can remember where they went.

Does your mate have a garage or is he mobile? I need a wheel bearing doing on mine, plus I want someone to give the car a proper going over as I'm not convinced everything is quite right (I know it was in a light accident that required some damage repairing to the offside front suspension). I'd been taking mine to "The Garage" (the place that was on TV) as I was sick to death of being ripped off at Spanish places and it's only 5 minutes down the road from me. I was recommended Sterling Automotive in Fuengirola but they couldn't be bothered to return my calls - clearly the crisis isn't quite so bad as they make out!

Just threaten to denounce the other garage that did the work, that generally seems to do the trick!

[NilTox]

Sorry about the boat, I just took advantage of someone I worked with! They did get some upholstery done on it though, I'll rack my brains and see if I can remember where they went.

Does your mate have a garage or is he mobile? I need a wheel bearing doing on mine, plus I want someone to give the car a proper going over as I'm not convinced everything is quite right (I know it was in a light accident that required some damage repairing to the offside front suspension). I'd been taking mine to "The Garage" (the place that was on TV) as I was sick to death of being ripped off at Spanish places and it's only 5 minutes down the road from me. I was recommended Sterling Automotive in Fuengirola but they couldn't be bothered to return my calls - clearly the crisis isn't quite so bad as they make out!

Just threaten to denounce the other garage that did the work, that generally seems to do the trick!

My mate is mobile, I'll PM you with more info!

Sterling Automotive, did they start up a couple of years ago (maybe 4!) or at least had a big advertising campaign. If it's them, I did go once and was quoted absolutely ridiculous prices...

Well a denuncia (or complaints book) might do the trick, the only thing is that they service the cars for the Guardia Civil...Hmmmm!

[NilTox]

OK, (my mate's doing all the work!) Head removed revealed movement on piston 4. Dropped the engine, removed sump and everything else, removed crank: big end bearing (?) as thin as !Removed! paper, needs crankshaft regrind and new piston. If you're interested, the regrind and new piston and oversized bearings etc. are costing 370€... will need head and sump sets for rebuild, my mate's done a deal with me for labour!

The question is: what caused this in the first place?