Mk2 1.8 GTi 8v Engine - Help Required !

[naut2k5]

UPDATE:

Ok guys, so I finally managed to empty my sump and out pissed a nice mixture of oil and petrol .. waiting on an ecu and then I will try again to see if it works...few questions though.

As my car has been sitting there for nearly a month, should I check for anything else - my battery is nice and flat and now my central locking doesnt work - ooops!!

Is it worth getting a new earth strap or is it easy to clean my existing one? It seemed ok when I looked but I have nothing to compare it to!  And how exactly would you clean one? 

Cheers






Hey guys, does anyone know what I should check for when looking for a replacement engine? 

Mine recently seized in the most unexpected way ever .... stopped at a garage to get some food , came back ..went to turn ignition on and it wasn't starting - was struggling alot ... tried pushing it .. then after a while of trying that I turn the key and it just clicked ... Smells of petrol inside the car now .. The AA guy came down a fewhours later and was just grinning all the time saying it was completey seized and he had seen this happen before and that I had no oil in the sump .... (2days previoulsy it was perfect)

..... mate took a look a few days later and told me that it only half seized but I needed a new engine anyway and that the oil level was low but ok ...

Still though, I am looking for an engine and not sure what to check for - Only had this car a few weeks - Heater Matrix went a few days before which I actually had fixed and then this ... Its been a month now and my car is just sitting on my drive :/

Any help appreciated

Cheers

Jim

[Rain]

if your interested in a complete lump i have one its mk2 1.8 8v with 104 on clocks.

[naut2k5]

How much for mate and do you have any pics? 

Cheers
Jim

[Rain]

make me an offer

[KKK]

Sounds like the ECU's fried.  When you turn on the ignition, does the fuel pump keep buzzing? 

What can happen is the earth strap on the gearbox corrodes.  Suddenly the current to the starter can't earth through the strap, and goes through the ECU loom, frying the ECU in the process.  This causes the injectors to remain open and the fuel pump to keep running.  Car doesn't start.  You keep cranking it, which eventually fills the whole block up with petrol until it hydro-locks.  Then all you hear is the starter clicking.  It looks like there's no oil, because it's all diluted with petrol.

Does the dipstick stink of petrol?
If you undo the sump plug, does 11 litres of fuel and oil piss out?

If so, clean up all your earth straps very, very thoroughly, buy another ECU and change the oil - twice.

Then again, maybe the AA guy knew what he was talking about (not in my experience).

KKK

[monzablue16v]

Mine neither set my mates t25 on fire by not fastening a battery in mind you roys autos found my dirty dizzy contacts in 2 minutes on the hard shoulder!!

Nothing to add really I have seen the hydro lock go before and does act like a seizure. I'd drop the sump and whip the head off nothing to lose have you if it's fooked buy another if it's not fix it!!!!!

[wellfan]

Really does sound like a fried ECU as sugested by KKK. I had this problem some years ago. Your sump will be full of petrol. I did'nt get the hydro-lock as I had a small rust hole in my sump and all of the petrol and diluted oil just pissed out of the hole. Check your main earth connection on the gearbox and swap the ECU and obviously empty the sump and replace the oil. ECU's are freely available on ebay. If you are stuck for an ECU let me know as I have a couple of spares and we could come to some arrangement. However, make sure that it is the ECU by checking your sump for loads of petrol.

[naut2k5]

Cheers guys, so I might not actually need a new engine then. 

I will check it out tonight, dont have the keys with me but will get them and let you know.  Where exactly are the earth connectors then as I dont know too much.

Where about are you wellfan? I did see a few on ebay - I take it there is no way to guarentee they are ok ?

[Mr Blue]

ECU related....

If the ECU is blown does that mean all the other components are fried or is it just the chip inside thats blown?

If its the chip then get a superchip from www.gstar-dubworld.co.uk for about 30 quid. what you recon people?

[naut2k5]

Actually, good question .. what else may be buggered... I feel I may have more electrical problems as just before this happened my heater matrix went and there was steam all over the dash, I could feel heat everywhere, not to mention the constant streaming of water into my car  :embarassed: