Engine Advice..?

Hello all

I packed my 300TDi Disco off to the local Landrover specialist as there is a terrible racket coming from the engine bay (sounds like tappets, but it isn't).

Turns out that the Vacumn pump is the cause of the noise. The mechanic advised me that although it was pretty straightforward to replace the vacumn pump. there could well be damage to the cam. Apparently bits fall off the cam, and so on.

I am waiting for the final prognosis, but I would appreciate your thoughts...on the following

The Disco is an S Reg 300 TDi GS, with a genuine 75,000 on the clock. It has a full main dealer service history up until 60,000, and I bought it when it had done 67,000 in January 2009. The car has been looked after very well, with no signs of rust in the usual places, and the chassis has been Waxoyl'd annually.

Body work and interior are immaculate.

So here's the question..

If the cam has gone, do I get the cam replaced.... replace the engine with a short engine.... or bin the car ?

What costs are involved...?

Cheers all

I've heard of many vacuum pump failures on 300s, but never a resulting cam problem.
Just watch they're not trying to shaft you.

Treworgey 90 said:

I've heard of many vacuum pump failures on 300s, but never a resulting cam problem.
Just watch they're not trying to shaft you.

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Yeah same here, they're known for making a racket when they let go but I've never heard of one actually damaging the camshaft.

Do you know the dealer? Possibility that they are on the make? Either way I'd get a second opinion if they do say the cam needs work.

Right chaps,

The garage rang to say that the Vacumn pump had gone, and that the cam shaft had started to fail. I questioned this, and the mechanic said that it was marked (?) and that the hardening was failing (?). I have heard that cam shafts can get scratched, but unless bits have actually fallen off the shaft, it should make any noise ... I think thats right.

He also said that the "P" gasket behind the water pump had failed, and that this was an indication that the engine had overheated at some point. Admittedly the water pump does show signs of leaking water.He thnks that the enhine has overheated at some point, and that the engine noises are a result of that, as well as cam shaft damage.

The mechanic gave me a number of options:

1. Fit a new Vacumn pump, and get shut of the car.
2. Fit a new Vacumn pump and cam shaft, rebuilding the engine as he goes (head off, and so on).
3. Fit a recon engine.

I am going to get him to fit a new Vacumn pump and take it to a Landrover main dealer for a second opinion.

Any comments chaps ? All comments welcome...know a good Lanny spanner man ? Let me know !

Cheers

MW1LCR said:

the mechanic said that it was marked (?) and that the hardening was failing (?).

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Any surface which rubs against another will "mark" - initially polishing and eventually wearing. as for the hardening "failing", how many miles has the engine done - it is unusual for a camshaft to wear without the cam followers being completely buggered. It would be useful to see :nopics: photographs of the pump lobe on the cam and the "failing" surface hardening.
If you are unsure, then sell it - its the easy option.

The engine has done 75,000 miles. I bought in March at the 67,000 mile point. I'll have the old Vacumn pump in he next day or so, and I'll photograph the wear on the pump lobe.

I am begining to think that the engine has overheated at some point, and this with the failed Vacumn pump maybe causing the noise etc. There's no smoke from the engine (except if I floor it, and then only puff of black smoke).

Any thoughts?

MW1LCR said:

I'll have the old Vacumn pump in he next day or so, and I'll photograph the wear on the pump lobe.

Click to expand...

nope - i meant take a picture of the CAM lobe that drives the pump, coz that is what they say is worn.

So here's the question..

If the cam has gone, do I get the cam replaced.... replace the engine with a short engine.... or bin the car ?

What costs are involved...?

Cheers all[/quote]

Best way out mate, bring it to my yard and I'll give yer a one'r for it.

Sounds to me they are trying to con you. I believe the "P" gasket is a fairly common failure, but I'm sure not normally the result of overheating. If it still has the original in, they did change the material, and bolts, fairly early on.
On the other hand failure of the "P" gasket could result in overheating, something to avoid with a Tdi! Get it changed (or change it yourself) but by someone else!

i recon they are trying to 'cam' shaft you !

vivnap said:

i recon they are trying to 'cam' shaft you !

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yep, yer not wrong, unless thers big chips out of the cam shaft yer ok , done my cam shaft last thursday , the worst damage was a bit of polishing , not effecting the cam at all,
thers a roller that drops on top of the cam reducing virtualy all the wear to the followers and in turn the push rods

MW1LCR said:

Hello all

I packed my 300TDi Disco off to the local Landrover specialist as there is a terrible racket coming from the engine bay (sounds like tappets, but it isn't).

Turns out that the Vacumn pump is the cause of the noise. The mechanic advised me that although it was pretty straightforward to replace the vacumn pump. there could well be damage to the cam. Apparently bits fall off the cam, and so on.

I am waiting for the final prognosis, but I would appreciate your thoughts...on the following

The Disco is an S Reg 300 TDi GS, with a genuine 75,000 on the clock. It has a full main dealer service history up until 60,000, and I bought it when it had done 67,000 in January 2009. The car has been looked after very well, with no signs of rust in the usual places, and the chassis has been Waxoyl'd annually.

Body work and interior are immaculate.

So here's the question..

If the cam has gone, do I get the cam replaced.... replace the engine with a short engine.... or bin the car ?

What costs are involved...?

Cheers all

Click to expand...

What area are you in and who is the local specialist who is trying to rip you off?

I think we ought to know.

Yu can get a replacement engine of ebay for £150/£200 Don't let these cowboys touch your motor. They sound like a rite bunch off Cuunts. Oh and if you do get a fixed price before they start. None of this "well we won't know until we've stripped the engine down" ****e that they usually spout