EVEN MORE HOT AND BOTHERED!

Here's a thought..... I decided to check my spark plugs at lunchtime. As I loosened the first plug, I could hear slight de-pressurisation from the expansion tank. Does this suggest a head gasket leak (i.e. combustion gases getting into the coolant)? The only thing which I take comfort in in that, for the effect to have happened, both inlet and exhaust valves would have had to be completely closed! It makes me wonder what the probability of picking the cylinder with both valves closed is.

[Alpineandy]

Ok, I spoke too soon so please revoke my last post.

sorry

This is going to be one of those 1/1,000,000 chance things.
I'd go back to my previous guess that it's the water pump. Maybe the impeller is broken from the shaft but every now and then it 'hooks up' again. Having said that I'd find it difficult to believe it could happen without making a serious noise...

I'm pretty gutted, i really thought it was sorted. Really unsure what the next step is, what it could be or where to take the car for diagnosis/repairs/estimate etc. I doubt very much it'll be making it to Donnington...

Oh and Steve, I was joking when i mentioned the RAC last night, but you know what they say "Many a true word is spoken in jest".

Incidentally, are all GTA's cursed? I seem to have nothing but grief with them.

Here's a thought..... I decided to check my spark plugs at lunchtime. As I loosened the first plug, I could hear slight de-pressurisation from the expansion tank. Does this suggest a head gasket leak (i.e. combustion gases getting into the coolant)? The only thing which I take comfort in in that, for the effect to have happened, both inlet and exhaust valves would have had to be completely closed! It makes me wonder what the probability of picking the cylinder with both valves closed is.

This is what you do in a leak down test. Set no.1 to TDC so both valves are closed, and check for bubbling or air in the expansion tank, thus a head gasket problem. Like wise, noise from the air filter, or exhaust indicated a dodgy valve...

Mr Jon....your GTA is doing a copycat of my Omega and I'm afraid it sounds like your head gaskets are on their way to Alpine heaven....I hate my GTA at the minute too due to the never ending clutch saga.....thankfully it should all be sorted by tomorrow night (fingers crossed!!!!). The engine out job isnt as bad as people have made out.....they arent complicated cars, just a bit awkward at times!

Good luck and fingers crossed your clutch problem is sorted tomorrow Peter!

My engine is so pressurised, when removing the expansion tank lid when cold/hot it fizzes up, seems like it can only be gaskets or cracked block afteral...

Thanks David,
I'm far down the road of having the heads off - its just got intolerble! The gearbox on my Jeep is f***ked so I'm basically knackered for getting to work. This evening's decision (beer induced but had the thought earlier) is to buy a cheap banger to get me through the next gew days. I don't have the facilities (on my drive) for dropping engine, gerbox and subframe so it's going to have to be a heads out the top job. Am I mad?

It turns out we were all wrong, not head gasket, blockage etc etc. It's only the wet liners at fault....! Best start planning a bank job as the engine needs taking out

[Alpineandy]

what's up with them?

[phildini]

Please dont talk about liners!!!! I am about to do my head gasket because I am getting the same problems as MR JON. I did a liquid test to see if it detected fumes in the expansion tank and it was positive. found out costs for One head gasket £70!!!

[phildini]

Mr Jon, how did you find out that it is the liners giving you the problem??

hi all

i found out my liners were part of my trouble when the engine was in bits
it was due to corrosion i had to replace the block

the joys of a gta

alpinerob

[Alpineandy]

i had to replace the block

Is the Volvo block the same, I may be getting a cheap Volvo engine.

The plot thickeness yet agin, after closer examination with a bore scope the liners seem ok. Next step is some dye in the coolant system and see if it has reached the radiator.

It's definitley not the head gaskets yet the engine is really losing pressure. We now suspect a blocked radiator. Apparently it's a new one for Prima Racing, and they've seen it all!!!

I'm tempted to chuck the towel in after this and get a 968 club sport, I know i'm being unfaithful but frankly i've had enough of these tempramental lumps of plastic! My ex bird was more reliable and she was a complete mentalist...

Suggest to Prima it may be the liner seals. You can't inspect these with a bore scope as its below the piston.

It a common fault of overheating/water use on a wet liner vehicle, but you'd expect water in the oil.

I thought you checked the radiator, as I mentioned at the ACE it could be blocked because you said it was running cold water when you bled it?