Offroad-Express

Hi There

I am hoping someone out there can help me. Recently we bought a 1996 Isuzu BIghorn, Plasir Model and it has a 3.1 diesel engine, with intercooler turbo.

We had it for 3 weeks before the accelerator stuck on nearly causing an accident. We took it to a mechanics who put it on a computer and did some diagnostic testing and from what I understand the motor is wrecked. Basically we bought a lemon.

It is something to do with the cylinder and oil compression?!?. The mechanic said basically oil has blown up all through the motor and it has been running on oil not diesel if that makes any sense. Obviously I am a female reporting the very basic story I have been given, but the short story is that it needs a complete engine rebuild or a new engine. I would really love to sell it to a salvage yard and cut my losses but my husband is adamant that he wants to get it fixed.

We have had a couple of quotes for new engines so far and one is for about $3,800 and one for $5000 and that is without any labour.

Is anyone able to give me an idea of the hours involved in rebuilding an engine - it's very hard to get an approximate quote from a mechanic. I'm wondering if going that way would be more or less expensive than a new motor.

Also would anyone have any suggestions where I could try to buy a new engine. I have looked on Trademe and have found a couple of places in Auckland that deal in diesel engine imports and isuzu parts. Any other ideas?

I thought I would ask here as you guys seem to be the experts and I can use all the advice I can get.

Thanks in advance
Debi

Where are you? How far has it gone? It is really hard if you don't know the history of the vehicle.

I was in at Bits for Isuzu the other day in Onehunga & they had a complete 2nd hand 3.1TD engine on the floor for under $2,000 (condition unknown). Maybe check them out.

OUCH!
Sorry to hear about the problems, here are a couple of places that might be worth a try....
http://www.lorryland.co.nz/good%20engines.html
http://www.blairs.co.nz/
http://www.vernonandvazey.co.nz/?action ... ode=ENGINE

if you got it from a caryard take it back and get them to sort it.

oh, and like anything else thats gonna cost heaps, get a second opinion..

For A Diesel engine to get that bad It didn't happen over night, If the oil control rings where letting oil passed to that extent that your motor was running on engine oil there would have been signs of excessive smoke and consumption of oil for some time and gradually getting worse. The engine can Diesel on an engine oil mixture and if it has happened rapidly I would suggest that the Turbo seals have gone and the oil is entering the engine through the Inlet system,and this can cause the engine to race with no application of the throttle. I would be looking at getting a compression and leak down test done, If you have that much oil around the pistons I would think you would have high compressions.
Keep us updated.

I THOUGHT THESE THINGS ONLY HAPPENED TO ME,

FITZY.

Those dollars sound about right. My rebuild cost me around $4k in parts and specialist labour. We did all the engine removal, strip down, reassembly and reinstall ourselves. There are some rebuilt engines available on Trade Me with limited warrenties. I wouldn't buy a secondhand un rebuilt engine unless you know the history of the engine and trust the person your buying off. You could just be buying another dud. I always buy mechanical insurance for one year when I buy a secondhand vehicle, if it's going to go wrong it will do it in the first year.