1999 Toyota Corolla 1.3 - Worth fixing?

Sleepy

So my engine went with an almighty bang last night. Chief suspect is the timing belt which was about 10k past it's scheduled change (was hoping to get it done in January with the car's service).

The car's a 1999 Toyota Corolla Liftback with a 1.3 litre engine and circa 190k on the clock with a long NCT (about 20 months).

Question I have is how much is worth putting into the car to get it fixed? A mate tells me my worst case is a new engine which could be picked up second hand for about €300 but I'm assuming there's a fair amount of labour to pay for in getting an engine swapped 1/2 days at least even on such a "simple" engine?

Assuming €500 for labour and 3/400 for parts, I'm thinking this probably makes the car a write-off as I paid less than that for her (though it was mates rates at the time). Any suggestions? This close to Christmas, I'm absolutely strapped for cash so need to make the right decision here!

Big Nasty

200 clams for scrap!

langdang

MCMLXXV wrote: »

200 clams for scrap!

I'd say about half that unfortunately.

Raskolnikov

An all-in cost of €800-€900 for a new engine might be a little expensive. You might get it done for €500 by an indy mechanic.

Leonard Hofstadter

Sorry to hear OP, but this is what happens when you don't look after your car properly. It did well to get this far without changing the belt to be honest.

The good news is that these engines are supposed to be non interference, which means that all you need to do is change the timing belt and water pump, and the engine will just run again without any damage. Non interference engines don't get damaged when the belt fails you'll be pleased to know.

Assuming it is indeed a non interference engine, just change the belt and water pump, and keep driving!

190,000 miles is only well run in on a 4E-FE Toyota, it should get to 250,000 provided you service it properly!

Nissan doctor

Sleepy wrote: »

So my engine went with an almighty bang last night. Chief suspect is the timing belt which was about 10k past it's scheduled change (was hoping to get it done in January with the car's service).

The car's a 1999 Toyota Corolla Liftback with a 1.3 litre engine and circa 190k on the clock with a long NCT (about 20 months).

Question I have is how much is worth putting into the car to get it fixed? A mate tells me my worst case is a new engine which could be picked up second hand for about €300 but I'm assuming there's a fair amount of labour to pay for in getting an engine swapped 1/2 days at least even on such a "simple" engine?

Assuming €500 for labour and 3/400 for parts, I'm thinking this probably makes the car a write-off as I paid less than that for her (though it was mates rates at the time). Any suggestions? This close to Christmas, I'm absolutely strapped for cash so need to make the right decision here!

Have you had the engine checked for damage? A 10 min check with the right equipment will tell if valve damage has been done.

Those engines are listed as interfearance engines but in the majority of cases, unless you were at motorway speeds or high RPM, they manange not to damage the valves when the belt breaks.

PaudyW

is the engine gone, had a timing belt go on a civic few years ago as i was bombing down the road got it towed to garage 200 euro for parts and labour, drove home no engine damage

Leonard Hofstadter

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Have you had the engine checked for damage? A 10 min check with the right equipment will tell if valve damage has been done.

Those engines are listed as interfearance engines but in the majority of cases, unless you were at motorway speeds or high RPM, they manange not to damage the valves when the belt breaks.

I was looking online before I posted, and what I saw on Toyota forums was that those 4E-FE engines are non interference?

Not having a go at you (as it's perfectly clear from your other posts you really know your stuff), I'm just saying that that's what the Toyota people seem to think, they could of course be wrong:)!

Tallon

Bite the bullet and buy a new car for the money you'd spend on it

Sleepy

Well, given that the HT leads appear to have been spat out by the engine, I'm guessing there's damage?

Will know more when my cousin's husband (who's a mechanic) takes a look later.

captainspeed - It had it's last timing belt change at 100k so I thought I'd be safe enough getting it done again at 190k, I know the importance of regular maintenance, just didn't expect leaving a scheduled maintenance a month later than normal would have such a catastrophic effect! Putting this down to bad luck rather than bad maintenance tbh.

Leonard Hofstadter

Sleepy wrote: »

Well, given that the HT leads appear to have been spat out by the engine, I'm guessing there's damage?

Will know more when my cousin's husband (who's a mechanic) takes a look later.

captainspeed - It had it's last timing belt change at 100k so I thought I'd be safe enough getting it done again at 190k, I know the importance of regular maintenance, just didn't expect leaving a scheduled maintenance a month later than normal would have such a catastrophic effect! Putting this down to bad luck rather than bad maintenance tbh.

A quick Google says that the belt has a 60,000 mile interval, so it should have been done 30,000 miles ago if the last time it was done was at 100,000 miles:).

Unfortunately if the HT leads came out then there is a good chance of there being more significant damage than what I suggested .

Mycroft H

Sleepy wrote: »

Well, given that the HT leads appear to have been spat out by the engine, I'm guessing there's damage?

Will know more when my cousin's husband (who's a mechanic) takes a look later.

captainspeed - It had it's last timing belt change at 100k so I thought I'd be safe enough getting it done again at 190k, I know the importance of regular maintenance, just didn't expect leaving a scheduled maintenance a month later than normal would have such a catastrophic effect! Putting this down to bad luck rather than bad maintenance tbh.

Your one of the few people I've heard of killing a 4E-FE engine. Possibly one of the most reliable engines ever made


I'd find another good engine and fit it, the devil you know and all that....

Put it this way. Whats the cost to change to something else? Remember your current car has an NCT, Tax (hopefully ) and is insured.

captainspeed

captainspeed wrote: »

...............

Unfortunately if the HT leads came out then there is a good chance of there being more significant damage than what I suggested .

Why
I'm struggling to link leads coming off plugs and valvetrain damage conceptually tbh.

Nissan doctor

captainspeed wrote: »

I was looking online before I posted, and what I saw on Toyota forums was that those 4E-FE engines are non interference?

Not having a go at you (as it's perfectly clear from your other posts you really know your stuff), I'm just saying that that's what the Toyota people seem to think, they could of course be wrong:)!

They are listed in the workshop manuals as interferance but in reality, as I said, they rarely cause damage. Compared to some engine, the overlap is almost non existant.


With regards to the plug leads coming off, are the plugs still in place? If one or more plugs have been blown out then you've had a much worse failure then a broken timing belt:eek:

Sleepy

As in the plug came up out of the engine...

Sleepy

I suppose the question at this stage is, is it worth fixing my one / dropping in a new engine etc. or would I be better off just heading to donedeal the money it'll cost to repair?

Nissan doctor

Sleepy wrote: »

As in the plug came up out of the engine...

Ah, you've had a much worse failure then a timing belt so:eek:

Sleepy

BX 19 wrote: »

Your one of the few people I've heard of killing a 4E-FE engine. Possibly one of the most reliable engines ever made

*hangs head in shame*

Sleepy

Sleepy wrote: »

...............or would I be better off just heading to donedeal the money it'll cost to repair?

Donedeal definitely me thinks.

Sleepy

Mechanic reckons it's just spark plug threads... timing belt is fine and he's gonna fix the problem in the morning.

I'm not holding my breath but other half reckons he sounds so confident he has it sussed it's worth throwing a few euros at and I'm inclined to agree...

If it runs tomorrow, I promise to the almighty gods of petrol I'll change the timing belt as soon as possible!

Tallon

Sleepy wrote: »

Mechanic reckons it's just spark plug threads... timing belt is fine and he's gonna fix the problem in the morning.

I'm not holding my breath but other half reckons he sounds so confident he has it sussed it's worth throwing a few euros at and I'm inclined to agree...

If it runs tomorrow, I promise to the almighty gods of petrol I'll change the timing belt as soon as possible!

Why not tomorrow, while the mechanic is at it?

Otherwise this is going to happen next week... Murphys Law and all that

edit: Re-Read the op and I see you're getting it done in Jan

Sleepy

Cause I want to be sure he's right before I shell out for a timing belt

No point replacing a timing belt on an engine that I'm not 100% has been fully diagnosed and corrected. First time I've used the guy and, honestly, the news sounds too good to be true!

Tallon

Makes sense

Sleepy

All sorted, panic averted, I didn't manage to kill a Corolla 1.3

-Corkie-

Sleepy wrote: »

All sorted, panic averted, I didn't manage to kill a Corolla 1.3

What happened it after..

Sleepy

Spark plugs had sheared their threads: the almighty bang I assumed was a wrecked engine was just the HT lead shooting up against the bonnet. Mechanic re-threaded the block and replaced the plugs and she's running fine again.

He's of the belief that the garage that did my last service didn't replace the plugs even though they were listed on the receipt for the service.

Gophur

Sleepy wrote: »

Spark plugs had sheared their threads: the almighty bang I assumed was a wrecked engine was just the HT lead shooting up against the bonnet. Mechanic re-threaded the block and replaced the plugs and she's running fine again.

He's of the belief that the garage that did my last service didn't replace the plugs even though they were listed on the receipt for the service.

Sounds more like a plug was threaded incorrectly.

Nissan doctor

Definatly damaged when being fitted, Unless the plugs had corroded away then there is no way they can just come out regardless of age.

Is the car running perfectly?

Sleepy

Seems to be. Took her for a spin to Arklow and back Sunday and commuted to work in her today, no knocks or noticeable problems with smoothness of power etc.

Delighted.