(Well, is it ripping my girlfriend off to be specific...)

 

Is it possible to inspect engine internals without dismantling the engine?

 

This garage reckon one of the cylinders is scored, but it turns out they haven't taken the engine to bits at all- I'd have thought you at least have to remove the head. They are also saying that labour to mend the engine would be prohibitive and it's cheaper to buy a new engine at £1200 + labour (Vauxhall Astra, not a Zed!)

 

Before she put it in to a garage, everyone I spoke to said it would be probably valve stem oil seals (puff of smoke on start-up, generally going through oil about 1L a month).

 

What do you reckon?

 

Mark

Go to the garage, pick up the car, take it to another garage on a freinds recomendation :)

what year Astra? For an old model thats a bit expensive, even for a new one where perhaps its a bit more awkard to get at its still expensive!!! You can always source the parts yourself if you ask what they need as Vauxhall parts are usually twice the price of other motor factors that can supply them.....

It's only a '99. The garage in question has been used by her family for the last thousand years or so, so when she wanted to put it in there rather than the one I use I just left her to it.

 

Add to this that it's actually her Dad who's dealing with the garage directly, so I'm getting the info 3rd hand...

if its the same engine as me ex's tigra 16v then they are well known for this bore problem she had to have a new engine fitted in the end,

 

always worth having a second oppinion on the car bud!!