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09/01/2013 08:55:12 PM · #1 |
I have a 2002 Ford Escort. 2-ltr SOHC sedan with 156,000 miles. It was paid off in full when we bought it 2 years ago.
Two weeks ago it died on me. My mechanic (who is working for free) has figured out that a rocker arm to one of the valves broke. He hasn't gotten the engine apart enough to see it and what damage it caused. He tells me that if we're VERY lucky just the arm broke and nothing else is broken (but he doubts that). If we're just normally lucky the arm broke and did minimal damage to the cylinder and we can pay around $300 for it to be re-bored. Or what's probably the truth is we've got a very large lawn ornament.
The first question is...How much do you think it would cost to replace the engine (not counting labor)?
The second question is...Do we spend the money to get the engine replaced or just suck it up and buy a new (to us) car? |
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09/01/2013 09:38:16 PM · #2 |
| Well, firstly I suggest you post this in the forums over at Car Talk (while you're there ask them what lens to use to document the operation!) ... but from listening to the occasional similar question I'm thinking a rebuilt engine should be between $2500-3500 and should be good for at least 30-60,000 miles -- judge if you like the rest of the car enough (and what else might go soon), and if you could get a comparable used car for less than that amount ... |
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09/01/2013 09:52:51 PM · #3 |
If the arm broke, the valve should have retracted. The only way the cylinder itself is damaged is if the failure somehow jammed the valve open, and the piston hit it. I suppose there is also the off chance of damage to the cam, but I suspect it may be OK. Pulling the valve cover should be an easy job, and that should tell the tale.
I'm scratching my head about the potential for damage to the cylinder; the rocker sits above the cylinder. The only way a failure of a rocker can damage the cylinder is if the valve that it actuates gets stuck open. |
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09/01/2013 10:01:16 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
I'm scratching my head about the potential for damage to the cylinder; the rocker sits above the cylinder. The only way a failure of a rocker can damage the cylinder is if the valve that it actuates gets stuck open. |
THat's what I was thinking. A rocker arm shouldn't be a big deal unless its breaking was as a result of some other failure... |
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09/02/2013 02:16:38 AM · #5 |
Over here get an engine for about £300
Quick google shows wasn't a bad guess
//bit.ly/15xdXEN |
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09/02/2013 11:01:33 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Giles:
Over here get an engine for about £300
Quick google shows wasn't a bad guess
//bit.ly/15xdXEN |
It's true, they are available on fleabay here as well, for around $1000 USD. Once you find one that you think is serviceable, you still need to have it shipped and then installed. The installation may cost more than the engine. |
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09/02/2013 11:42:41 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by NathanWert:
I have a 2002 Ford Escort. 2-ltr SOHC sedan with 156,000 miles. It was paid off in full when we bought it 2 years ago.
Two weeks ago it died on me. My mechanic (who is working for free) has figured out that a rocker arm to one of the valves broke. He hasn't gotten the engine apart enough to see it and what damage it caused. He tells me that if we're VERY lucky just the arm broke and nothing else is broken (but he doubts that). If we're just normally lucky the arm broke and did minimal damage to the cylinder and we can pay around $300 for it to be re-bored. Or what's probably the truth is we've got a very large lawn ornament.
The first question is...How much do you think it would cost to replace the engine (not counting labor)?
The second question is...Do we spend the money to get the engine replaced or just suck it up and buy a new (to us) car? |
You shouldn't have any cylinder damage at all unless the valve broke. Your engine should be a freewheeler (If the timing belt breaks the pistons won't hit the valves.). I would suggest firstly that you take the car to someone who is familiar with the car/engine. Most of what you've stated here doesn't make sense. You shouldn't have to take the engine apart at all unless a valve broke or a valve seat dropped. Simply removing the valve cover will most likely facilitate diagnosis. Still, that should only result in top end damage, and it isn't a big deal to just repair a broken rocker arm.
$300 to "rebore" the engine???? You first have to remove it and completely disassemble it, and them maybe the machine work would only cost $300. Then you'll still have to pay for the parts & labor needed to put a 150K engine back together if you expect it to stay together for any time at all. Generally, if you have metal shrapnel floating around in a cylinder, it will beat up the walls such that the only way to salvage the block would be to sleeve it. NOT really an economically viable solution considering the age & worth of the car. You should be able to find a passel of boneyard engines from reputable salvors for a few hundred bucks as there is not much demand for them any more.
Get a second opinion, PLEASE!
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09/02/2013 12:17:18 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by NathanWert:
I have a 2002 Ford Escort. 2-ltr SOHC sedan with 156,000 miles. It was paid off in full when we bought it 2 years ago.
Two weeks ago it died on me. My mechanic (who is working for free) has figured out that a rocker arm to one of the valves broke. He hasn't gotten the engine apart enough to see it and what damage it caused. He tells me that if we're VERY lucky just the arm broke and nothing else is broken (but he doubts that). If we're just normally lucky the arm broke and did minimal damage to the cylinder and we can pay around $300 for it to be re-bored. Or what's probably the truth is we've got a very large lawn ornament.
The first question is...How much do you think it would cost to replace the engine (not counting labor)?
The second question is...Do we spend the money to get the engine replaced or just suck it up and buy a new (to us) car? |
You shouldn't have any cylinder damage at all unless the valve broke. Your engine should be a freewheeler (If the timing belt breaks the pistons won't hit the valves.). I would suggest firstly that you take the car to someone who is familiar with the car/engine. Most of what you've stated here doesn't make sense. You shouldn't have to take the engine apart at all unless a valve broke or a valve seat dropped. Simply removing the valve cover will most likely facilitate diagnosis. Still, that should only result in top end damage, and it isn't a big deal to just repair a broken rocker arm.
$300 to "rebore" the engine???? You first have to remove it and completely disassemble it, and them maybe the machine work would only cost $300. Then you'll still have to pay for the parts & labor needed to put a 150K engine back together if you expect it to stay together for any time at all. Generally, if you have metal shrapnel floating around in a cylinder, it will beat up the walls such that the only way to salvage the block would be to sleeve it. NOT really an economically viable solution considering the age & worth of the car. You should be able to find a passel of boneyard engines from reputable salvors for a few hundred bucks as there is not much demand for them any more.
Get a second opinion, PLEASE! |
+1 - this is solid advice. Your first mechanic sounds... amateurish or worse. |
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09/02/2013 02:42:21 PM · #9 |
I know nothing about how a car works. I'm just regurgitating what I was told. LOL. Probably wrong. I'll see if I can figure out anything else. I just drive 'em, I don't fix or work on them.
Thanks. |
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09/02/2013 05:03:22 PM · #10 |
I agree with Jeb too. A broken rocker arm should only temporarily disable the one cylinder associated with that valve.
Replacing the arm should fix the problem, unless part of it got jammed in something else that moves and broke something major like the camshaft.
Unless the valve retainer and spring came loose and allowed the valve to drop into the cylinder on top of the piston, everything below the head gasket should be ok. It should be an easy fix.
You need an opinion from a different mechanic. The diagnosis you have may not even be in the ball park about what's actually going on in the engine. In other words, the actual problem may even be something entirely unrelated to rocker arms.
If the problem is a broken rocker arm or it's mount, taking off the valve cover should definitely confirm that.
Message edited by author 2013-09-02 17:09:21. |
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09/02/2013 05:36:22 PM · #11 |
An aside - I keep seeing this as Cat Gurus and wonder why the heck you want to put an engine in a cat....
Carry on. |
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09/02/2013 08:10:04 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Melethia:
An aside - I keep seeing this as Cat Gurus and wonder why the heck you want to put an engine in a cat....
Carry on. |
You've never seen a kitten with a turbocharger?????
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09/02/2013 08:23:55 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Melethia:
An aside - I keep seeing this as Cat Gurus and wonder why the heck you want to put an engine in a cat....
Carry on. |
You've never seen a kitten with a turbocharger????? |
...is kerosene involved?
Ray
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09/02/2013 08:25:59 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by RayEthier:
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by Melethia:
An aside - I keep seeing this as Cat Gurus and wonder why the heck you want to put an engine in a cat....
Carry on. |
You've never seen a kitten with a turbocharger????? |
...is kerosene involved?
Ray |
...choke... |
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09/03/2013 06:44:23 PM · #15 |
"Well, firstly I suggest you post this in the forums over at Car Talk (while you're there ask them what lens to use to document the operation!"
What a lovely response. |
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09/03/2013 08:53:20 PM · #16 |
Get a HEMI
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09/03/2013 09:06:53 PM · #17 |
My 2c - I just had the engine replaced in a 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. The engine (with 60k miles on it) cost $1700, and replacing the blown one with it cost another $1k. Keep in mind that although not rare per se, that engine is kind of hard to come by.
The engine in your Escort is not a high performance version of a common engine - it's a common engine, period. So if anything, it should probably cost about $2k installed, assuming it has 60-80k on it. Make sure they give you a 30-day warranty on it (yes, they do that). |
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09/03/2013 09:13:58 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Kronus:
Get a HEMI |
Get a Herbie
Message edited by author 2013-09-03 21:14:41. |
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09/03/2013 10:16:12 PM · #19 |
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09/03/2013 11:24:13 PM · #20 |
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
Originally posted by NathanWert:
I have a 2002 Ford Escort. 2-ltr SOHC sedan with 156,000 miles. It was paid off in full when we bought it 2 years ago.
Two weeks ago it died on me. My mechanic (who is working for free) has figured out that a rocker arm to one of the valves broke. He hasn't gotten the engine apart enough to see it and what damage it caused. He tells me that if we're VERY lucky just the arm broke and nothing else is broken (but he doubts that). If we're just normally lucky the arm broke and did minimal damage to the cylinder and we can pay around $300 for it to be re-bored. Or what's probably the truth is we've got a very large lawn ornament.
The first question is...How much do you think it would cost to replace the engine (not counting labor)?
The second question is...Do we spend the money to get the engine replaced or just suck it up and buy a new (to us) car? |
You shouldn't have any cylinder damage at all unless the valve broke. Your engine should be a freewheeler (If the timing belt breaks the pistons won't hit the valves.). I would suggest firstly that you take the car to someone who is familiar with the car/engine. Most of what you've stated here doesn't make sense. You shouldn't have to take the engine apart at all unless a valve broke or a valve seat dropped. Simply removing the valve cover will most likely facilitate diagnosis. Still, that should only result in top end damage, and it isn't a big deal to just repair a broken rocker arm.
$300 to "rebore" the engine???? You first have to remove it and completely disassemble it, and them maybe the machine work would only cost $300. Then you'll still have to pay for the parts & labor needed to put a 150K engine back together if you expect it to stay together for any time at all. Generally, if you have metal shrapnel floating around in a cylinder, it will beat up the walls such that the only way to salvage the block would be to sleeve it. NOT really an economically viable solution considering the age & worth of the car. You should be able to find a passel of boneyard engines from reputable salvors for a few hundred bucks as there is not much demand for them any more.
Get a second opinion, PLEASE! |
The last generation Escort came with 2 different engines, the Zetec engine in the ZX2, which is a non-interference design and an SPI engine, which does have interference issues.
Either way, I'd be hesitant to put much money into a car that old unless it has collector/sentimental value well beyond it's book value (~$1800 in average condition).
Message edited by author 2013-09-03 23:25:53. |
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