engines / accelerators and the art of pushing a car alone

[markthe45king]

Ok - today's riddle!

last night on my way to work - pulled up to the car park barrier and the engine dies - get her through that obstacle and the engine starts very roughly and continues to die as soon as her ladyship goes into gear, whilst rattling like a b**tard. First thought is that there's dirt in the petrol pump.

Come out of work - do the established spanner / petrol pump interface at 3am. Some life - but a long gap between the accelerator pedal going down and any revs. Just about manage enough revs to get going, and then for 5 of the 10 minute drive home she seems okish, but hugely underpowered (getting 30 in 3rd at highish revs) Then there appears to be a rattling noise just in front of the steering wheel that sounded like one of 2 things to me - the bonnet rattling (wasn't that) or a single thin piece of metal / a cable flapping about. having slowed to a perambulatory speed we get about 50 feet from home base, sly gear change, engine dies. At this stage, it's 3.30 am and the car trying to start begins to sound like a tank frankly - we just about manage to tick over, the accelerator is now virtually soft, gear changing is fractious and any time we make first the engine dies. (also at this point i notice the brake pedal seems to be hissing but by this point i could have heard her singing lili marlene i was that flummoxed!)

so i pushed her out of her chosen dying spot (the single lane that links my house to all the parking behind it!) and she is now resting up hoping that one of you will tell me it's a tedious but small thing (loose accelerator cable / dirt in the carb) and not that my engine is now in a permanent state of death and once again lily will be visiting chertsey on the back of a transporter!

thank you as ever! I have tried to be as descriptive as possible around the death rattles and symptoms..... i look forward to the good news.

[PSL184]

Compression check required - Sounds ominously like Head Gasket failure....

[bmcecosse]

Indeed - my money is on the gasket........

[markthe45king]

Chertsey seem to agree with the diagnosis! So that's not good. I have read some of the other links about replacing one and i'm hoping that a reputable garage can do a good job of it as it's going to be pricey (does 4 hours work sound about right?).

[Rasputin]

Can`t you do it yourself,it`s quite straightforward ,and if you have to pay a garage every time something minor happens it is going to cost you a fortune! You should be able to do it easily in under four hours, and a garage considerably less.

[dellerie]

mmmmmm........ i'm not so sure mark. i could take a look on sunday Mark as i am about in the area. if it is the gasket, i could tell you within 2 mins and advise on what to do next. they really aren't that difficult to change.

i'll bring along a compression tester for a start

[bmcecosse]

Can be done in just over 30 minutes......(plus 30 minutes walking in to town/buying a gasket/walking back to the car) and that at the side of the road, wearing a business suit, and with just a few spanners from the toolkit. It's really very simple. Get a new gasket in stock from your local Autoparts place anyway. Just ask for a 998 Mini gasket. I always carry a spare gasket now - to save that 30 minute walk..........
That '4 hours' at the garage is just ridiculous -and will cost you ~ £160??? maybe more??? DIY !!!!

[markthe45king]

ok i'm worried about the garage's advice now ( i know they need to make money, obviously!) There was some muttering about valves, rockers and changing heads. I'd also read the previous stuff about the effect of getting the gasket change wrong would be, so i thought it sounded harder than you're all making it sound!

Anyone recommend a good maintenance course??

I'm also hamstrung by working 11 days out of the next 12 and needing lily on easter saturday, otherwise i would have taken you up on your kind offer Dell! But thank you so much.

[bmcecosse]

Just read the workshop manual... I would move heaven and earth to use (and learn from) that very kind offer of help!