New Engine Needed: Astra Z14XE (2001 Petrol)

cormie

Hi,
Just on the off chance anyone knows anyone or anywhere that may have a 2001 Astra Z14XE (2001-2004) engine please let me know

Still ringing around myself, the only one I've found is going for €400 so I'm not sure how good that is and I don't think that's including VAT either so looking to hopefully get one a bit cheaper if possible.

Also, how heavy and big are these things? Would 2 people lift it, would 1 person lift it? Would it fit in the back of a car van if I was to collect it myself or would I be better off taking a bigger van?

Any feedback appreciated

Nissan doctor

Try Trainors in the north.

You'd be doing well to remove/refit an engine withou some lifting gear.

GTDolanator

get youself over to totalopel.com

should find one there
as for moving and lifting two people can do it with the gearbox still in place(but im big and so is my mate)
it will fit in the back of say a fiesta van but for less hassle a transit type or berlingo etc will make it alot easier

cormie

Thanks for the replies had a look on total opel but there doesn't seem to be anything available there.

I'll probably end up buying it at a scrap yard so just wondering on the lifting thing, I guess they'll have all the equipment to remove it from the car itself so I'll just be picking up the engine itself, so when I get it, should it be ok to just go in the back of an Astra van and is there any chance at all I could lift it out myself if need be or would it be far too heavy/awkward for one person to manage alone?

cormie

Hmm, found one up in Cavan, had 126,000 miles on the clock and he's saying 300 for the whole car. It's still driving and just has roof damaged after his wife flipped it over.

Sounds like too much hassle to go all the way up there and then have to get the engine taken out for one with high mileage on it though..

cormie

I've found two others for a reasonable cost, but I'm just a bit wary as when I asked why the car is scrapped, they are both because of frontal damage, but both cars still started with the engine. What's the likelihood of the engine being damaged if the car has been scrapped because of frontal damage I wonder? Don't want to get a lemon

-Corkie-

I would be bringing someone with me that knows.. You will not be able to lift it yourself. That Astra was a bad buy lad..:(

cormie

It was actually driver ignorance that lead to it needing a new engine

Is there any way to tell if an engine is ok from just looking at it? What should I be looking out for if I can't get somebody who knows to come with me?

lifer_sean

Two different types of Astra 1.4 engine - the one with the throttle cable (98 to 01) and the fly-by-wire engine (03-04). In 02 you could have either so you need to check. They are not interchangable, even after swopping ancilliary stuff.

The fly-by-wire one is hard to get. Just got one locally but had to wait for a crashed car to clear insurance. Previous time I wanted one we had to travel 100 miles for it. In both cases I paid 400 euro, and considered myself lucky to get it.

Engine is a two person lift - you and the guy who is selling it ! No problem into Astra van, just bring a few large carboard boxes to protect van from scrapes / mop up oil spills.

Unlikely to get in Northern Ireland, not too many 1.4s up there.

cormie

Thanks for the input! Are you saying there are two types of Z14XE, or just two types of 1.4? It's the Z14XE I'm after, I know there is just a XE I think and that's not the one I'm after, but I'm after the Z from 01-04. Does that sound right, or is there still two types of Z14XE? It's a 2001 car I have anyway.

I've been told it's luck of the draw as to what kind of condition the engine will be in so is there anything I should look out for, besides wanting low mileage?

firefly08

Two different types of Astra 1.4 engine - the one with the throttle cable (98 to 01) and the fly-by-wire engine (03-04).

Are you saying there are two types of Z14XE, or just two types of 1.4

The 2 different engines referred to by lifer_sean are the X14XE and the Z14XE. I don't think there are 2 types of Z14XE. The X14XE has the throttle cable and the Z is drive-by-wire.

cormie

That sounds like what I was told alright, so I need the Z14XE

Just incase I get a seller who thinks it's the Z, and I haven't a clue myself, is there an easy way to that it is indeed the Z? What does this drive by wire look like?

Also, what's the story with the timing belt etc? Will an engine I buy come with the timing belt? One seller had one for 500eur and he was saying about the timing belt being new and it coming with a warranty..

lifer_sean

The engine number (stamped on block) should say Z14XE I'd expect (true for Opel diesels, havn't checked a 1.4). The other way is to look at the throttle body ... if it has facility for a throttle cable then it's not drive by wire.

Any secondhand engine needs to get a new timing belt plus kit plus waterpump when fitting, plus plugs, oil, filter, etc, otherwise you are only making work for yourself. The problem with paying the extra few quid for the one with the belt done on it is that you need to be absolutely sure you can trust that the full job was actually done, ie belt+kit+waterpump, and how can you be sure te seller isn't telling porkies ? If the belt breaks next Christmas, it will be your problem, not his, so you can't take a chance.

Hard to tell what an engine is like when buying used. Make sure that the oil is clean not grey-ish (these have a habit of head gasket trouble), and pref get one that isn't all oily on the outside. Sometimes the seller will warranty the engine for long enough for you to fit it (eg a week), and may mark it so that you can't bring back your own dead engine (it happens ...) - I'd go for this option if available.

cormie

Arghh! Went to pick up an engine today, after having said on the phone to the guy "it's definitely the Z engine, yeah?" about 3 times over three different phone calls, he assured me that he deals in cars and it's definitely the right one. I said a 2001 he said yep, got there and it's an X in a 2000 :mad:

was too late at that stage to go for any other ones and the mechanic was planning to drop the new engine in this evening

Will hopefully get one tomorrow!

cormie

Well today I found another engine, 400 euro this time, but the right one, Z14XE! Went to collect it, dropped it to mechanic at 6 and got a phone call around 8 to say it was no use :mad: That's now 2 wasted days and a possibility that the seller will kick up a fuss when I bring it back to him.

If he says "how do I know that's not the engine you replaced" what can I say to him? I asked him on the phone for a receipt, he said that's no problem, when I got there, he wasn't there and left the engine with 2 other lads in the cabin and neither of them would write me a receipt because it wasn't them selling it to me. I hope it'll be fine anyway but just incase he tries anything!

O.A.P

I'm not helping I know but I would like to know why that engine won't work? What did you miss?

cormie

I forget what the mechanic said exactly, something to do with the cambelt/camshaft or timing belt being loose. As you can see, I haven't a clue

Esel

Should have gone to PMed Lucifer.... he's the resident Opel expert

Did you not hear the engine running before you bought it? Best of luck anyway.

O.A.P

Worn camshaft I'd say but I'm no expert. Would you not be better off changing the car?

cormie

Lucifer is the man on the job Esel It wasn't me driving it when it happened, it could have easily been avoided.

Could be a worn camshaft but I do remember him saying something was loose..

Have considered changing the car, but with it having just passed the NCT and having more than 24 months NCT on it at the moment, with everything else being in fair enough condition and only the engine to complain about, also the fact I've already got signwriting done up on it and everything like that, I think it works out better to just get a new engine, the time it would take trying to find a buyer for it without the engine, then going to look at replacement cars etc would be far too much for the use the car gets anyway.

It isn't driven much at all so if I can get the engine sorted for a few hundred and not have to spend much else on it over the next 2 years I'll be happy! So fingers crossed your man from the scrap yard doesn't try anything and that I can get a working replacement soon!

cormie

It's getting a bit ridiculous at this stage! http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056187806

AzureAuto

Presumably with a lose camshaft, the timing has slipped and there has been valve to piston damage?
In which case, surely the cheaper and less hassle option would be replacing valves and valve stem seals and head gasket??

cormie

Thanks for the input. The loose camshaft was in a replacement engine I bought, not in the original engine, so I think it's best to just get my money back for that if possible, which it was thankfully, rather than messing around with an engine that may not even work once fixed and then the possibility of being told by the seller that I messed with it so it's my fault etc. Got the right engine in the end today so hopefully it works without a problem.

Nissan doctor

IMHO it would have taken your mechanic 2 mins to check that all was ok with the timing belt/tensioners etc before he fitted it, a basic check that would have saved him time and effort fitting it and you hassle regarding getting a refund.

I personally wouldn't put any replacement engine near a car without checking/replacing all service items first. Assumption being the mother of all cock ups and all that.