Club 80-90 Forums

I was heading out on Wednesday nigth for a bit od Midwinter camping and got about 6 miles fro home. All seemed to be going well the van (1990 'velle- 1.9 DG engine) was loaded up. and the oil light came on!!! Crap went about 500 metres and pulled into the layby. Check the oil it was low but much under the low mark. I topped up the oil and went to turn the engine over- no go!!!!
The strange thing is that the water and oil were checked approx 50-70 miles before this happened and were fine- no oil on driveway or over the engine.
So even though I m not clued up totally on engine work I'm pretty sure I've killed the engine. Just wondering if there are any options to repair or will it be a new donkey?
Please let me know the options I have- maybe with ball park costs!

Cheers,

What happened when you turned the key?

A stuck starter solenoid can made it seem as though the engine has seized - you hear a click but the engine won't turn over. It might (hopefully) be something as simple as that

Thanks for the reply dude- I think the starter is fine unfortunatley.
Been through that prob with the 71 bug recently. It sounded like the was a mouse in the crank- on each turn it sqeaked. so I think I have answered my own question- SEIZED.
But I am wondering if it can be repaired if it is not damaged too much- is that a possibility or is it just me in denial?
Cheers,
Ric

Can the crank be turned by hand? or use a big spanner on the pulley crank nut.. you should be able to turn the pulley by hand, or stick it in 3rd gear and rock the vehicle with the handbrake off (on level ground!!!)

if it has seized, then better off finding a replacment engine, could be the crank gone and any number of other items

toomanytoys- I forgot to mention that the velle is using an auto box. I presume I can't crank it then?
Cheers,
Ric

I think so toomanytoys is right... there's a big nut (no not you!) driving various belts or even just one turn it with a big adjustable or a spanner

yes being an auto the rocking in gear won't work

you can turn it over in the engine bay, but no you wont be able to "put it in gear and rock it"

I have to get a spanner as I can't seem to be able to move it by hand.
I suppose another sign its Fubarred.
Cheers,
Ric

Have you checked to see if there is any cross contamation oil/ water
the oil must have gone someware

There doesn't seem to be water in the oil or vice versa.
I check this regularly as I am paranoid about the the dreaded head gasket issue.
cheers,
Ric

very unlikely that the oil will mix with water in a wbx.. they are different to "normal" engines..

Was it burning oil at all? Any light blue smoke? Any loss of performance before it failed? Any noises at all out of the ordinary? Just seems a bit strange, thats all.

airhead- i could smell a bit of burning oil- but this smell has been with me since i got the bus- I just check an top up when needed. As for loss of power it did drop about the time the oil light came on.
cheers,
Ric

God knows what went wrong. Youd need to strip the engine to know for sure.

I have tried to turn the engine with a spanner and it seems to go alright.
I tried to start the bus again and it turns but won't fire and then the battery conks out. It this because it is seized- is the fact it is turning over without a squeaky noise a good sign?
I suppose I now have to learn how to take a wasser out and split it?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Cheers Ric

PS Happy New Year.