Opel Corsa (engine) Noise??

SJPK

Right...
So a 'family member' has a 03 Opel Corsa, 1L with a dodgey head gasket, its timing chain has already been rattly and noisy but it has now developed a new noise!
Its sounds like a sort of rubbing noise from the right side of the engine, over near the alternator. When you rev the engine the sound of the 'rubbing' speeds up the engine and the noise persists the whole time. There is also more yellow mustardy stuff on the oil cap than before and I THINK the oil level has dropped, last two notches, still oil in the engine just not as much...
Also it seems theres some type of oil or something seeping around the gearbox!

So, does anybody have any idea of what may be wrong? Just an idea before we try 'n' book it in fr a look somewhere tomorrow!

Any help will be greatly appreciated,
SJPk

I know its late but thats just how i roll!

Nissan doctor

The alternator is at the rear/left of the engine as you look into the engine bay.

Is the noise coming from the gearbox side or the timing chain side?

Have you checked the coolant level? Also, if they know the head gasket is gone...are they still continuing to drive it?

Lucifer

It sounds like your water pump I would think. It's run by the same belt as the alternator. They sometimes go noisy on that model.

Mar4ix

if headgasket gone, wouldn't suggest drive car.
To get that car right, new headgasket, all belts, timing chain kit, waterpump, also skim engine head , if sound going from gearbox side, so more likely clutch release bearing on the way out. a bit greasy work, i done it on nissan micra, but possible.
as it is 1 litre engine, would be easer get an engine out, as there is sump has to go off, and engine side wall has to go off..

Once you are goin give that car to garage, so you shouldn't worry about all that, just bring it over, and say - "fix it"

conclusion, if that car has not over 250 k miles (less likely), all problems caused by lack of maintenance. coolant havent changed in time, thermostat not changed(if headgasket gone, mean engine been overheated), oil not changed in time.... long overdue. unless you wiling spend a lot of money keep that car, fix it, otherwise, wouldnt worth it, just sell for half of market price, and youll have less headaches.

SJPK

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The alternator is at the rear/left of the engine as you look into the engine bay.

Is the noise coming from the gearbox side or the timing chain side?

Have you checked the coolant level? Also, if they know the head gasket is gone...are they still continuing to drive it?

yea see the HG isn't badly gone if yea get me, mechanic said there might be a hairline crack but after putting radweld in, its grand not using much water at all. I'm nearly certain the noise is coming from over near the alternator alright, its just i noticed some 'deposits' of oil or seeping over on the gear box.

Mar4ix wrote: »

if headgasket gone, wouldn't suggest drive car.
To get that car right, new headgasket, all belts, timing chain kit, waterpump, also skim engine head , if sound going from gearbox side, so more likely clutch release bearing on the way out. a bit greasy work, i done it on nissan micra, but possible.
as it is 1 litre engine, would be easer get an engine out, as there is sump has to go off, and engine side wall has to go off..

Once you are goin give that car to garage, so you shouldn't worry about all that, just bring it over, and say - "fix it"

conclusion, if that car has not over 250 k miles (less likely), all problems caused by lack of maintenance. coolant havent changed in time, thermostat not changed(if headgasket gone, mean engine been overheated), oil not changed in time.... long overdue. unless you wiling spend a lot of money keep that car, fix it, otherwise, wouldnt worth it, just sell for half of market price, and youll have less headaches.

yeah, bit of lack of maintenance there alright, really just want to get an idea of what might be wrong/how much to fix!

BTW, if worst came to worst how much would a secondhand rngine cost to replace it i.e engine= €250, labor €???, hours=???

Leonard Hofstadter

Mar4ix wrote: »

if headgasket gone, wouldn't suggest drive car.
To get that car right, new headgasket, all belts, timing chain kit, waterpump, also skim engine head , if sound going from gearbox side, so more likely clutch release bearing on the way out. a bit greasy work, i done it on nissan micra, but possible.
as it is 1 litre engine, would be easer get an engine out, as there is sump has to go off, and engine side wall has to go off..

Once you are goin give that car to garage, so you shouldn't worry about all that, just bring it over, and say - "fix it"

conclusion, if that car has not over 250 k miles (less likely), all problems caused by lack of maintenance. coolant havent changed in time, thermostat not changed(if headgasket gone, mean engine been overheated), oil not changed in time.... long overdue. unless you wiling spend a lot of money keep that car, fix it, otherwise, wouldnt worth it, just sell for half of market price, and youll have less headaches.

A big +1 on this. A lot of people in Ireland who have problems with their cars have them as a consequence of their own actions - namely a lack of servicing at the required intervals and general abuse and neglect towards their cars. Admittedly the three cylinder Corsa isn't the most reliable at the best of times but driving a car that the OP openly admits has a dodgy head gasket is a recepie for expensive bills. All the problems with this Corsa would appear to be a direct result of lack of maintenance.

Mar4ix

SJPK wrote: »

yea see the HG isn't badly gone if yea get me, mechanic said there might be a hairline crack but after putting radweld in, its grand not using much water at all. I'm nearly certain the noise is coming from over near the alternator alright, its just i noticed some 'deposits' of oil or seeping over on the gear box.



yeah, bit of lack of maintenance there alright, really just want to get an idea of what might be wrong/how much to fix!

BTW, if worst came to worst how much would a secondhand rngine cost to replace it i.e engine= €250, labor €???, hours=???

It is wrong way, use radweld, usually use for cars for quick sell. why you think second hand engine will be better than yours?

Get parts, and get somebody to fix it, just who not goin rip off you. , or small garage, where honest people working. , and would fix your car. (actually i know one that beside blanchardstown). timing chain kit would cost 150 ish delivered from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?Make=Opel&_pppn=v3&rt=nc&Model=Corsa&_nkw=opel%20corsa%20chain%20kit&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1539 , headgasket kit would be 40 -50 ish ... depend which you go - http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?Make=Opel&_pppn=v3&rt=nc&Model=Corsa&_nkw=opel%20corsa%20chain%20kit&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1539
head skim and test would be around 70 quid ... would say new oil and oil filter ... i dont know how much work would cost, because i never did such big job for somebody else, i was working on micra (engine change and engine head removed, skimed, new gasket... etc) and on my punto... micra was sold with some cash gain.
would say roughly 200 -300 for work ... sure. it is 600 roughly ... same amount put unknown engine ....
soon goin to that garage, i may ask them how much for such job. ... if you interested .

SJPK

Mar4ix wrote: »

It is wrong way, use radweld, usually use for cars for quick sell. why you think second hand engine will be better than yours?

Get parts, and get somebody to fix it, just who not goin rip off you. , or small garage, where honest people working. , and would fix your car. (actually i know one that beside blanchardstown). timing chain kit would cost 150 ish delivered from ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?Make=Opel&_pppn=v3&rt=nc&Model=Corsa&_nkw=opel%20corsa%20chain%20kit&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1539 , headgasket kit would be 40 -50 ish ... depend which you go - http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?Make=Opel&_pppn=v3&rt=nc&Model=Corsa&_nkw=opel%20corsa%20chain%20kit&_dmpt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&_fln=1&_ssov=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m1539
head skim and test would be around 70 quid ... would say new oil and oil filter ... i dont know how much work would cost, because i never did such big job for somebody else, i was working on micra (engine change and engine head removed, skimed, new gasket... etc) and on my punto... micra was sold with some cash gain.
would say roughly 200 -300 for work ... sure. it is 600 roughly ... same amount put unknown engine ....
soon goin to that garage, i may ask them how much for such job. ... if you interested .

The last time it was at the mechanic, he said if you were doing the timing chain, head gasket... 'you might aswell get a new engine', just thought maybe a good secondhand engine would be the better/handier/possibly cheaper choice! I know you might think he just said that to save himself all the work but he's normally always honest!
Yea if its not too much bother, it's be great. The car is situated in Galway or Mullingar.

Mar4ix

In monday ill have pick up my puntie, as it had misfiring , caused by some electrical problems . ... i will ask guys, do they want do such job, actually they are more focused to hybrid cars...

Mycroft H

I'd go for a new engine to be honest. Far less hassle.

Mar4ix

BX 19 wrote: »

I'd go for a new engine to be honest. Far less hassle.

yes, it also good option, just if seller guarantee it is in good condition, as all those little engines usually been raped till the end.

SJPK

theres an engine in a local scrapyard for €250, said theres low miles on it, same year/size, no damage... but wants to know if the current engine is 'injected from the side or on top' i'm assuming top, never really new there was different 1L engines....?

Nissan doctor

SJPK wrote: »

theres an engine in a local scrapyard for €250, said theres low miles on it, same year/size, no damage... but wants to know if the current engine is 'injected from the side or on top' i'm assuming top, never really new there was different 1L engines....?

Sounds like either its not for the same car at all or the guy hasn't got a clue. All 1.0 3 cylinder corsa engines have the same injection set up.

As for your mechanic saying that if you need to do the chain and HG you may as well get a new engine, sounds like another mechanic who couldn't be arsed to use his training. Its very difficult to find good second hand 3 cylinder Opel engines as very few are looked after properly so, while it may seem cheaper then having the repairs done on your own engine, you could find yourself in the same situation again in a very short time.

SJPK

we'd be getting the mechanic to look at the scrapped engine beforehand if that makes any difference ??

feel i might be jumping the barrel at this stage as it hasn't even been checked or diagnosed!!

does anyone have any other ideas of what it might be??

Nissan doctor

SJPK wrote: »

we'd be getting the mechanic to look at the scrapped engine beforehand if that makes any difference ??

feel i might be jumping the barrel at this stage as it hasn't even been checked or diagnosed!!

does anyone have any other ideas of what it might be??

Unless the engine you are going to buy is still in a car and can be seen running then there is very little checking that a mechanic can do.


With regards to your noise, the water pumps often give trouble on the corsa's which could explain both your noise and you water loss.