Problems With Engine

[tczwoju]

Hi guys,

My car is Avensis 2003(new shape) semi automatic, 2.00 litre VVTi,T4

I was driving towards Birmingham Airport on M5 and after 2 hours my car got broken. During when I have been taking over a lorry (pressed the acceleration pedal to the bottom) the oil icon came up on dashboard. After I have finished the manoeuvre(500 houndres meters) I have stopped immediately on hard shoulder and turned off engine.

I have wait 15 minutes and check the engine and the icon was still there flashing (flickering).After another 20 minutes the icon has gone but it appeared again once I press acceleration pedal to rev a bit,and it was also loosing the rev after reales the pedal and was dying(stopping).

So I have called AA and they have checked my oil and the oil was on the minimum level. I was surprise because I have checked the oil a month ago and I did it regularly before. MY fault I should check it before driving but...

They have filled up this oil (the icon has gona away) and checked again and there was some mild knocking in the engine after this.Thay have dropped my car to my local garage.

The car is in the local garage now for diagnose and they have told me that there is fault code related pressure and there is also some knocking hence it looks like two separate units confirm that something is wrong. They are looking to find what is wrong with it.

My concerns are:

Is it possible that this oil problem has managed to damage the engine even thought I have stopped immediately after this icon appears?

Is it possible that this knocking was before and I have not noticed that .The car was driving well?

What could be potentially broken or maybe my engine is dead already?

Thanks in advanced,

Wojciech

[Q.S.]

Hi guys,

My car is Avensis 2003(new shape) semi automatic, 2.00 litre VVTi,T4

I was driving towards Birmingham Airport on M5 and after 2 hours my car got broken. During when I have been taking over a lorry (pressed the acceleration pedal to the bottom) the oil icon came up on dashboard. After I have finished the manoeuvre(500 houndres meters) I have stopped immediately on hard shoulder and turned off engine.

I have wait 15 minutes and check the engine and the icon was still there flashing (flickering).After another 20 minutes the icon has gone but it appeared again once I press acceleration pedal to rev a bit,and it was also loosing the rev after reales the pedal and was dying(stopping).

So I have called AA and they have checked my oil and the oil was on the minimum level. I was surprise because I have checked the oil a month ago and I did it regularly before. MY fault I should check it before driving but...

They have filled up this oil (the icon has gona away) and checked again and there was some mild knocking in the engine after this.Thay have dropped my car to my local garage.

The car is in the local garage now for diagnose and they have told me that there is fault code related pressure and there is also some knocking hence it looks like two separate units confirm that something is wrong. They are looking to find what is wrong with it.

My concerns are:

Is it possible that this oil problem has managed to damage the engine even thought I have stopped immediately after this icon appears?

Is it possible that this knocking was before and I have not noticed that .The car was driving well?

What could be potentially broken or maybe my engine is dead already?

Thanks in advanced,

Wojciech

By the time an engine oil pressure light has come on, there is virtually no oil pressure left and the damage could already be done. Possibilities include Camshaft bearings and Crankshaft bearings (mains or big ends), both are rotating shafts and rely on oil film on their bearing surfaces, also possible piston damage from lack of oil splash/spray onto cylinder walls.

Sorry for the doom and gloom but a knocking noise after a lack of oil doesn't bode well.

[tczwoju]

Hi Q.S

Thanks for the answer,

This sounds bad...

Rgds

Woj

Hi guys,

My car is Avensis 2003(new shape) semi automatic, 2.00 litre VVTi,T4

I was driving towards Birmingham Airport on M5 and after 2 hours my car got broken. During when I have been taking over a lorry (pressed the acceleration pedal to the bottom) the oil icon came up on dashboard. After I have finished the manoeuvre(500 houndres meters) I have stopped immediately on hard shoulder and turned off engine.

I have wait 15 minutes and check the engine and the icon was still there flashing (flickering).After another 20 minutes the icon has gone but it appeared again once I press acceleration pedal to rev a bit,and it was also loosing the rev after reales the pedal and was dying(stopping).

So I have called AA and they have checked my oil and the oil was on the minimum level. I was surprise because I have checked the oil a month ago and I did it regularly before. MY fault I should check it before driving but...

They have filled up this oil (the icon has gona away) and checked again and there was some mild knocking in the engine after this.Thay have dropped my car to my local garage.

The car is in the local garage now for diagnose and they have told me that there is fault code related pressure and there is also some knocking hence it looks like two separate units confirm that something is wrong. They are looking to find what is wrong with it.

My concerns are:

Is it possible that this oil problem has managed to damage the engine even thought I have stopped immediately after this icon appears?

Is it possible that this knocking was before and I have not noticed that .The car was driving well?

What could be potentially broken or maybe my engine is dead already?

Thanks in advanced,

Wojciech

By the time an engine oil pressure light has come on, there is virtually no oil pressure left and the damage could already be done. Possibilities include Camshaft bearings and Crankshaft bearings (mains or big ends), both are rotating shafts and rely on oil film on their bearing surfaces, also possible piston damage from lack of oil splash/spray onto cylinder walls.

Sorry for the doom and gloom but a knocking noise after a lack of oil doesn't bode well.

[Duffryn]

Is that right - "oil pressure warning light doesn't come on until there is virtually no oil pressure left"?? What's the point of it coming on at all if the damage has already been done? All seems a bit odd.

[Q.S.]

Is that right - "oil pressure warning light doesn't come on until there is virtually no oil pressure left"?? What's the point of it coming on at all if the damage has already been done? All seems a bit odd.

Oil pressure switches can be as low as 5 psi. so will stay off as long as there is some oil pressure circulating the system, when it comes on (as in this case) when there is too little oil for the pump to pick up, there is no oil at all circulating hence the bearings run dry. When the crankshaft is turning at speed, (anywhere between 1000 and 6000 rpm, camshaft at half this) it doesn't take long to do some damage. So if you are batting on at 80mph when it comes on and overtaking, you then have to get past, get back in and onto the hard shoulder before switching off,all with bearings running dry. The quality of the oil in the system will have a bearing on the outcome too, as to how long the residual oil film lasts.

The pressure switch is there to warn of a pressure failure, NOT to tell you when there is no oil left. Oil circulating at say, 3 psi will still protect, no oil at all will not.

[tczwoju]

HI Guys,

I have spoken to the garage and...

It looks like the Big End bearing and crankshaft is damaged. We have notice plenty small bits of metal, very small in the oil sump. They Manager say these are the bits from this Big End bearing...

Now the problem is that they would have to strip down the engine to be 100%sure that only bearing is damaged not anything else but they believe that not only. They also said that this did not become damage now it must to started long time ago and.

The estimated cost for repair is about 1500 pounds without stripping down the engine, with stripping even 1800 pounds.

I have also contacted to couple car breakers specialize in spare engines and I can buy couple of engines no problem at all. One of them has got 18000miles only and they are giving 3 months warranty for this engine for any problems may occur. This engine is tested with pressure test and they can give me Certificate for this. Insurance company which they are buying from will send me something like MCV certificate which states all history of the car, mileage, services, how the car was damaged, etc..

This engine cost 1200 pound and to fit it will cost me another 300 pounds so less but is it worth it. Did anybody did it?

I have got a few days to decide.

What you think guys?

Wojciech

[Q.S.]

HI Guys,

I have spoken to the garage and...

It looks like the Big End bearing and crankshaft is damaged. We have notice plenty small bits of metal, very small in the oil sump. They Manager say these are the bits from this Big End bearing...

Now the problem is that they would have to strip down the engine to be 100%sure that only bearing is damaged not anything else but they believe that not only. They also said that this did not become damage now it must to started long time ago and.

The estimated cost for repair is about 1500 pounds without stripping down the engine, with stripping even 1800 pounds.

I have also contacted to couple car breakers specialize in spare engines and I can buy couple of engines no problem at all. One of them has got 18000miles only and they are giving 3 months warranty for this engine for any problems may occur. This engine is tested with pressure test and they can give me Certificate for this. Insurance company which they are buying from will send me something like MCV certificate which states all history of the car, mileage, services, how the car was damaged, etc..

This engine cost 1200 pound and to fit it will cost me another 300 pounds so less but is it worth it. Did anybody did it?

I have got a few days to decide.

What you think guys?

Wojciech

I would get a price for a reconditioned engine before decideing on a second hand one. A reconditioned will carry 12 months warranty or more, £1200 for a second hand engine seems rather pricey to me.

[tczwoju]

HI Guys,

I have spoken to the garage and...

It looks like the Big End bearing and crankshaft is damaged. We have notice plenty small bits of metal, very small in the oil sump. They Manager say these are the bits from this Big End bearing...

Now the problem is that they would have to strip down the engine to be 100%sure that only bearing is damaged not anything else but they believe that not only. They also said that this did not become damage now it must to started long time ago and.

The estimated cost for repair is about 1500 pounds without stripping down the engine, with stripping even 1800 pounds.

I have also contacted to couple car breakers specialize in spare engines and I can buy couple of engines no problem at all. One of them has got 18000miles only and they are giving 3 months warranty for this engine for any problems may occur. This engine is tested with pressure test and they can give me Certificate for this. Insurance company which they are buying from will send me something like MCV certificate which states all history of the car, mileage, services, how the car was damaged, etc..

This engine cost 1200 pound and to fit it will cost me another 300 pounds so less but is it worth it. Did anybody did it?

I have got a few days to decide.

What you think guys?

Wojciech

I would get a price for a reconditioned engine before decideing on a second hand one. A reconditioned will carry 12 months warranty or more, £1200 for a second hand engine seems rather pricey to me.

Hi Q.S

Thanks for help.

I have spoken to one of the person who rang me today regards engine. He said that he is recommending the second hand one rather than the reconditioned one due to that reconditioned one has got some Chinese parts in side? I do not know but the recon one was more expensive .

Rgds

Wojciech

[Q.S.]

HI Guys,

I have spoken to the garage and...

It looks like the Big End bearing and crankshaft is damaged. We have notice plenty small bits of metal, very small in the oil sump. They Manager say these are the bits from this Big End bearing...

Now the problem is that they would have to strip down the engine to be 100%sure that only bearing is damaged not anything else but they believe that not only. They also said that this did not become damage now it must to started long time ago and.

The estimated cost for repair is about 1500 pounds without stripping down the engine, with stripping even 1800 pounds.

I have also contacted to couple car breakers specialize in spare engines and I can buy couple of engines no problem at all. One of them has got 18000miles only and they are giving 3 months warranty for this engine for any problems may occur. This engine is tested with pressure test and they can give me Certificate for this. Insurance company which they are buying from will send me something like MCV certificate which states all history of the car, mileage, services, how the car was damaged, etc..

This engine cost 1200 pound and to fit it will cost me another 300 pounds so less but is it worth it. Did anybody did it?

I have got a few days to decide.

What you think guys?

Wojciech

I would get a price for a reconditioned engine before decideing on a second hand one. A reconditioned will carry 12 months warranty or more, £1200 for a second hand engine seems rather pricey to me.

Hi Q.S

Thanks for help.

I have spoken to one of the person who rang me today regards engine. He said that he is recommending the second hand one rather than the reconditioned one due to that reconditioned one has got some Chinese parts in side? I do not know but the recon one was more expensive .

Rgds

Wojciech

Try twisting his arm on the price ;)

Good luck.

[tczwoju]

HI Guys,

I have spoken to the garage and...

It looks like the Big End bearing and crankshaft is damaged. We have notice plenty small bits of metal, very small in the oil sump. They Manager say these are the bits from this Big End bearing...

Now the problem is that they would have to strip down the engine to be 100%sure that only bearing is damaged not anything else but they believe that not only. They also said that this did not become damage now it must to started long time ago and.

The estimated cost for repair is about 1500 pounds without stripping down the engine, with stripping even 1800 pounds.

I have also contacted to couple car breakers specialize in spare engines and I can buy couple of engines no problem at all. One of them has got 18000miles only and they are giving 3 months warranty for this engine for any problems may occur. This engine is tested with pressure test and they can give me Certificate for this. Insurance company which they are buying from will send me something like MCV certificate which states all history of the car, mileage, services, how the car was damaged, etc..

This engine cost 1200 pound and to fit it will cost me another 300 pounds so less but is it worth it. Did anybody did it?

I have got a few days to decide.

What you think guys?

Wojciech

I would get a price for a reconditioned engine before decideing on a second hand one. A reconditioned will carry 12 months warranty or more, £1200 for a second hand engine seems rather pricey to me.

Hi Q.S

Thanks for help.

I have spoken to one of the person who rang me today regards engine. He said that he is recommending the second hand one rather than the reconditioned one due to that reconditioned one has got some Chinese parts in side? I do not know but the recon one was more expensive .

Rgds

Wojciech

Try twisting his arm on the price ;)

Good luck.

Thanks mate.I will try.

Rgds

Woj

[tczwoju]

Hi everybody,

I have finally got my car back from the garage. The engine has been changed for other one. How can I check the engine serial number? Is there any data base for it to see history excluding form Insurance Company?

Today I will drive and test my Toyota again to see how it performing.

Rgds

Wojciech

[Aamir2892]

Oh oil starvation not good... Does it have a low oil light. I know because mine has one, Its on orange colour with a wiggle line under the oil can symbol. Maybe they only put it on the diesel cars?

The knocking noise could be the Shell bearings where the conrod connects to the crank. This normally goes if thier is no oil.

[tczwoju]

Hi Guys,

I have managed to drive for a few days with my new engine and the performance looks much,much better. Engine seems to work a lot better than my old one.

What I’m surprise is my MPG. It was saying 49 MPG at some point on Cheddar roads and it was also saying 37 MPG and even more! Is it possible that this engine is so good?

I have never had any near to 37 MPG on M3 or 22 MPG around the town with my old engine. Is this mean that my old engine was so rubbish?

Please advice.

Rgds

Wojciech

[tczwoju]

HI Guys,

After when I was driving for a few weeks my aircon has died and I went back to the garage. They have told me that it was leaking somewhere and they have re-gassed.

After a few days I have heard water bubbling in my ventilation tubes when I use a fan so I went back to the garage. They have found aircon pipe blocked and that is why water comes out to the air canals and thru fan down to my basket. There was about 2 glasses of water.

They have fixed this as well for free.

Ok ,just a week after this my fan stopped working so I went back to the garage and they have told me that the fan get seize but they have disassembled it and assembled back and it is still working. They have also agreed that this could be because of this water.

Now I said to the manager that this should be done free of charge due to that all the things happened after when they have change my engine which they did properly but as you can see some problems occurs.

I believe that this fan has died due to this water came thru it and Manager agree but he wants to charge me for new fan and labour if I want to fit.

As I understand this water appear after when they have discharged my aircon and must to disconnect some of the pipes during engine change, then the dirt get inside the pipe and the water has to come out some way.. Am I right?

Please advice me what I can do to encourage them to fix this free of charge or maybe some other way?

Wojciech

[reece]

I was surprise because I have checked the oil a month ago

And the moral of this story is: Check your oil! At least at every fill up, I’ve started doing mine at least once a week after reading some of the horror stories on here as I don’t want a bill for £2000

[tczwoju]

I was surprise because I have checked the oil a month ago

And the moral of this story is: Check your oil! At least at every fill up, I’ve started doing mine at least once a week after reading some of the horror stories on here as I don’t want a bill for £2000

Hi mate,

My oil level was on the minimum so it should not ubik the engine stright.There was something else happening before and I did not notice it.

I'm checking my oil once a month,rather I was ,now once a week but that was not my today question.

Rgds

Wojciech

[Steve84]

Just reading this post my t180 oil is on the full but when cornering hard the ligh comes on stays on for a second or so flickers and goes out. Is this normal i do 20k plus a year up to wales etc and the light comes on several times driving round the twisty roads.

Thanks in advance

[tczwoju]

Just reading this post my t180 oil is on the full but when cornering hard the ligh comes on stays on for a second or so flickers and goes out. Is this normal i do 20k plus a year up to wales etc and the light comes on several times driving round the twisty roads.

Thanks in advance

Hi mate,

If I were you I would go to check it first to be sure.It looks a little bad if the oil icon is coming up with no reason.It could be just sensor playing but never now.

Woj