Car Cutting Out, Anti Pollution and Converter Warning

[Capncol]

Emme, just a couple of things that don't make sense-

#1 The starters only function is to start the engine. Once started it does nothing.

#2 The cam belt being worn also won't cause the problems you describe. It only causes a problem if it jumps a tooth (or two) or breaks completely. Your post above suggests it hasn't done either of these things.

I agree it's worth changing the belt due to the age, but it won't cure your problems of *shuddering along* and neither will the starter.

I haven't commented on your mechs ability so far, even though I have had my misgivings about his methods (Trying a new fuel pump without measuring fuel delivery and pressure) I call this diagnosis by the *poke & hope* method.
If he bought his laptop along the other day, why didn't he plug it in and get the codes instead of saying "the engine sounded funny, it might be the cam belt"??

I would suggest you get a second opinion before giving the go ahead, or I fear you will be back for more help. (Not that you wouldn't be welcome of course)

Keep us posted.

[Rivis]

Excellent result Emme, £200 is very cheap for all that work. I hope that sorts all your problems out.

[Capncol]

John, that bothers me a bit.
A cambelt kit, waterpump, anti freeze and a new starter are going to be getting on for the £200 on their own before allowing for fitting (unless he's using some cheapo bits or only changing the belt and no tensioners or pump)

[Rivis]

Col, let's hope he's throwing in the labour for free then, Emme did say it's mates rates. I should imagine garages can buy parts substantially cheaper too? I'm wondering if the starter motor was always engaged allowing the car to start but would make a horrible noise driving, I guess that might be an answer, although not sure it would cause shuddering, that's more likely ignition/fuel issues.

Keep us posted Emme, it's a worrying time when your pride and joy goes wrong. The good thing is you've had your car for a while so I reckon these problems are caused a sudden failure of just one component, I'm sure they will find it and sort it for you.

[Emme0810]

Well, Col was right again! I had had a look for parts and I had only priced the belt and motor itself! But he is changing the starter motor so needs water pump etc, as well, so it's £150 for the kit plus whatever the motor is going to cost, and £120 for the labour. Altogether around £300-£320 I think I've just spent £200 getting the cosmetic side of the car done (a wing panel and the mirror) and now another £300! Ahhh!
Col - when he came down on Monday, he didn't bring his laptop with him, he was just dropping off a car for me and had originally planned to take my car with him, but since it wasn't starting, he couldn't! But he has confirmed that it is the starter motor, and now my partner is thinking that the water pump could be the reason for the car cutting out in the first place? I'm getting to the change where I'm not bothered what went wrong- just fix it!

[Capncol]

Emme. You really need to get the codes read. I really am trying to save you some cash here.
1st the fuel pump, then the cambelt, then the starter now the waterpump???????????

When you turn the key, does the engine turn over without starting, or does it click or something else?

The waterpump won't cause cutting out.

[Emme0810]

Hi Col,
The engine doesn't start at all. He says that he's read the codes, and that it's definitely the starter motor. It was my partner who suggested that it could've been the water pump but the mechanic said that it couldn't and he's talking rubbish.
The car only didn't start on the Sunday, whenever the car cut out before, it always started immediately again. So I think that the starter motor has definitely gone because it wouldn't even start up. I'm hoping and the mechanic is assuring me, that by changing the cambelt, that the car won't ever cut out again. The car has been cutting out for a while now, and I'd only mentioned it to him on the Sat before the car cut out completely, so the fuel pump was only a guess really. But he says that he's looked at the codes and he's sure that this will fix the problem. I trust him, he's never let me down before and I get the car back tomorrow so I shall update! Tomorrow is judgment day!

[Emme0810]

Update!
I will say this for myself. When I break something, I don't do it in half measures!
So the starter motor has been changed. When they took the old one out, it literally fell apart in their hands. It was buggered! But now my car starts again without any problem
They changed the belt and the kit that goes with it, and this time, I was kinda right! The cam belt had never been changed all in its 9 years! So it was definitely overdue and now my car is running nicely again.
BUT! They weren't sure. The cambelt wasn't in good condition, definitely needed done but they couldn't see anything that would cause it to cut the car out in the first place. So they check.
2 misfiring cylinders! Which means - a new coil pack! Which was what I thought it might've been in the first place! Argh!
So all in all, the coil pack was causing my very first problem - the car cutting out. And after a while of me starting the car mid drive, the motor had gone completely. And since the cambelt had never been changed and prevention is better than cure, it's been changed as well. The mechanic said that if I hadn't got it changed, it would've started causing problems for me very soon and since I drive to England quite often, I didn't need to be fixing something else!
So thank you to everyone who has given me advice, and I will give one back - always trust your gut instinct! Something told me it was the coil pack! I love my baby but it doesn't half cost money sometimes!

[Enright]

Good result. Could have been so much worse, and it should be reliable now.

[gazza82]

Something told me it was the coil pack!

Ummm .. I did!

If they had read the codes like we kept telling you to get done, it would have been obvious from day 1.

I don't think you can break a starter ... they can break on their own due to wear and tear. Damage the gears yes, if you try and start it and the engine is running.

You say you drive to England ... so where exactly are you? Europe I guess.


You can never be too careful on a cambelt so you have a few years of hopefully less worry. But even I don't think I'd want to trust one for 10 years ... my Alfa should get replaced every 3 years or 36000 miles according to Alfa. That I think is over kill, but I've had one go after 73000 ... the original interval was 72000 but it had a new belt when they had to replace something else. I my case the belt was fine ... until one of the idler wheels seized! ...

[Rivis]

Good result Emme !

[Capncol]

Glad you're sorted, and thanks for the update.