Rough running S2

stevep2000 · Oct 3, 2006

My S2 suddenly started running rough - was fine earlier this evening. Feels almost like it's on 3 cylinders. Getting a clicking from fusebox / glovebox area when trying to rev, replaced DME relay with new spare, but didn't help. No smoke, so hopefully nothing serious - any ideas?

sawood12 · Oct 3, 2006

Had similar symptoms on my Focus yesterday. A new set of HT leads solved the problem (so far at least). Electrical problems are difficult to trace so my philosophy is to start replacing old and tired components - they're probably due for a change anyway.

Big Dave · Oct 4, 2006

Try a new dizy cap + rotor arm. It might be the damp weather we now got , has got into your electrics.....
BUT i cant comment on the "clicking" from the fusebox.

stevep2000 · Oct 4, 2006

Bad news - done a quick compression test & came up virtually zero on the front cylinder. Only good news is my AA cover will transport to nearest specialist, so will have to wait to hear.....

Big Dave · Oct 4, 2006

That sounds pretty expensive....[

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stevep2000 · Oct 4, 2006

Had the Good News / Bad News call - Good news was the when the garage tested the compression they found it to be intermittent, and have traced the problem to a 'sticky hydraulic cam bucket', which didn't sound too bad. The bad news was that to get there they've taken the top end apart, and tell me that the camshafts are both badly pitted, and other parts of the valve train need attention too - they're pricing it all up & giving me the bottom line in the morning.....will be a decision to repair, engine transplant, or cut my losses. (She has 224k on the clock, so will have to take a view what else may give up before spending too much!)

sawood12 · Oct 4, 2006

I'm sure it's been mentioned on this forum before that there is an issue with the case-hardining of the cams on an S2 (I think Fen might have mentioned it) which can lead to premature replacement - although I wouldn't call 224k miles premature!! On the bright side at least it's not piston rings. With the linerless design of the 944 engine it would have probably resulted in the block being scrapped or at least requireing a very expensive re-bore. Cylinder head work is a much cheaper alternative. A replacement 2nd hand cylinder head might be a more cost-effective solution.

It'd be interesting to know the condition of the bores after 224k miles. The specialist I use reckons hes seen plenty of good 944's with compression readings that equate to 'just run in' against Porsche manual limits at milages well over 150k so by that measure 225k is barely a half-life engine!

Fen · Oct 4, 2006

If the quote is scary let me know; my indie can replace the cams in an S2 for under £1k usually (depends on the price he gets the cams for from his secret source; he can even do 968's for £1k quite often).

I don't think anything you have listed needs the head to come off; I know my cab had the cams replaced without disturbing it and then again we had it apart after finding a bot of valve spring on the sump plug - it turned out the spring had been replaced previously and it was a bit of debris that had still been in the engine.

That car was still going strong at 192,500 miles and I don't doubt with regular servicing it will get to 225k quite easily.

stevep2000 · Oct 5, 2006

Prices so far (ex VAT);

Cams £434 each
Hydraulic followers x 16 - £402

Be interested in what sort of numbers your man can quote Fen, although I guess from your sig that it's west country way?

Fen · Oct 5, 2006

I'll ask the question and let you know. He's in Honiton so yes, West Country.

The hydraulic followers aren't normally part of just replacing the cams, but I think when we discussed replacing a noisy one on my car that they were about £20 each. We didn't do it because it's so difficult to tell which is noisy and the other 15 of mine were still OK. Can you tell which of yours is collapsed? I'd only replace that one personally, and it has to be one of 4 since you know which cylinder had no compression.

Fen · Oct 5, 2006

He can get cams for £315 each including VAT. He's still working on a price for the followers. If you let him know by 9:00 tomorrow he can have them by Tuesday, it will be a bit longer if he orders them after that as you'd lose the weekend. Give him a ring to chat through options (he can supply parts only perhaps if he's too far away?) on [FONT=arial"]07762 244477 [FONT=verdana,geneva"]

and say I sent you. His name is Andy Moss.

stevep2000 · Oct 5, 2006

Cheers Fen you're a star - will give him a call in the morning. I guess they're going to be the same OEM & quality wherever you go, so seems a bargain.

stevep2000 · Oct 12, 2006

Update on the saga, more bad news - new cams & followers are in, and still losing compression on 1st cylinder! Suspected bent valve - presume that is a result of the sticky follower as was running ok before, but looks like more big numbers to come - or alternatively cut my losses.....didn't cost me a lot in the first place & garage has offered to take it off my hands for the cost of the bill so far. Was really looking forward to getting her back tomorrow, and then the dreaded call....Anyone suggest likely cost for top-end rebuild?

Gutted [

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sawood12 · Oct 12, 2006

It might be cost effective to source a 2nd hand cylinder head from a breakers. I realise it wont be freshly refurbished but it will be a hell of alot cheaper, although i'm not sure how hard they are to find. It'd be a shame to have to sell your car as it must be in pretty good shape or the garage would not have offered to take it off your hands - these people are not in the habbit of doing you a favour out of the kindness of their hearts. He obviously smells a profit.

The problem with these cars is that because they are relatively cheap to buy and you keep them for a reasonable amount of time you are bound to spend more than their market value through your period of ownership.