What have you done to your car today?

Patrick said:
This is my son's car - he purchased it when he was 16.5yo - in late 2019
He had been saving for a car in a special account since he was 5. That special account meant we matched whatever he put into it,
and if he took any out, we took out the same.....anyway, it worked out.

it is a 2016 Chevy Cruze with 66k miles on it now. Wasn't much driving during covid, and he couldn't have it at school as a freshman.
He has since graduated kollege and is working north of Boston.
So this real, adult thing happened to him.

Simultaneously, TPMS goes on three wheels, Vac pump dies (meaning no assisted brakes), stabilitrack goes, and it starts running rough.
Change oil warning comes on.
I'm figuring a coil pack and vac pump and good to go.
Tell him to bring it to a dealer.

They diagnose low compression on cylinder 3 associated with the rough idle along with new vac pump and TPS sensors.
"It needs an engine." - somewhere around $8k for a reman with warranty. $6k for a salvage

So I'm wondering what type of compound failure could be caused by losing a vac pump.
It is a 1.4L Turbo.
Over boost? under boost? lean condition?
Do we have a damaged valve? or even worse, cracked cylinder? Rings?
I'm going to guess that the oil isn't contaminated with antifreeze - haven't looked yet.
I checked-in with @UtahJoe - and he was thinking the same thing - gotta do more diagnosis.
Leak down for rings, listen for a valve leak out the exhaust under compressed air.
Contaminated oil

Anyway, it still runs - His adult decision was new car.
He offered it to the dealer, and they didn't want it!
He picked-up a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - nice first new car.

So I grabbed an auto transport and drove up to MA - using Mother's Day as an excuse.
Towed the car back. Rolling at 10,000lbs is fun!
it was well within the limit of my tow system and GVW.
Still.....

It will be in the garage for a quick check of the obvious.
The local wrecker has a whole engine with the same mileage for $1,400.
If it is just a head, I'll send it out. Otherwise we'll be doing a swap.
Car is in nice shape for 10 years old. Should be worth a home repair.
or fire.

To Be Continued......
Click to expand...
I'd confirm that low compression diagnosed by the dealer. My mind goes to something else like rodent damage that took out some wiring and vacuum hoses, then caused a Cascade of other "failures"
 
shrpshtr325 said:
lol would love it from that perspective, but not sure i can get past the whole bi-level layout (or the small driveway), will keep my eye on it to see when it pops up on the market anyway just in case the price is enough of a motivating factor.
Click to expand...
House a few doors down just sold, but this one was updated throughout. No idea what the blue one looks like inside, I'm guessing close to original.

 
Patrick said:
This is my son's car - he purchased it when he was 16.5yo - in late 2019
He had been saving for a car in a special account since he was 5. That special account meant we matched whatever he put into it,
and if he took any out, we took out the same.....anyway, it worked out.

it is a 2016 Chevy Cruze with 66k miles on it now. Wasn't much driving during covid, and he couldn't have it at school as a freshman.
He has since graduated kollege and is working north of Boston.
So this real, adult thing happened to him.

Simultaneously, TPMS goes on three wheels, Vac pump dies (meaning no assisted brakes), stabilitrack goes, and it starts running rough.
Change oil warning comes on.
I'm figuring a coil pack and vac pump and good to go.
Tell him to bring it to a dealer.

They diagnose low compression on cylinder 3 associated with the rough idle along with new vac pump and TPS sensors.
"It needs an engine." - somewhere around $8k for a reman with warranty. $6k for a salvage

So I'm wondering what type of compound failure could be caused by losing a vac pump.
It is a 1.4L Turbo.
Over boost? under boost? lean condition?
Do we have a damaged valve? or even worse, cracked cylinder? Rings?
I'm going to guess that the oil isn't contaminated with antifreeze - haven't looked yet.
I checked-in with @UtahJoe - and he was thinking the same thing - gotta do more diagnosis.
Leak down for rings, listen for a valve leak out the exhaust under compressed air.
Contaminated oil

Anyway, it still runs - His adult decision was new car.
He offered it to the dealer, and they didn't want it!
He picked-up a Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid - nice first new car.

So I grabbed an auto transport and drove up to MA - using Mother's Day as an excuse.
Towed the car back. Rolling at 10,000lbs is fun!
it was well within the limit of my tow system and GVW.
Still.....

It will be in the garage for a quick check of the obvious.
The local wrecker has a whole engine with the same mileage for $1,400.
If it is just a head, I'll send it out. Otherwise we'll be doing a swap.
Car is in nice shape for 10 years old. Should be worth a home repair.
or fire.

To Be Continued......
Click to expand...
Any lights on the dash or codes come up? I dumped my Tiguan off at CarMax. Wasn't worth the headache after needing a new engine due to a slightly bent crankshaft
 
I mean its a turbo econobox....they can blow up at any moment. But id get right to the point and do a compression test of all of the cylinders...its pretty quick and easy and if the results are bad...then move on to a leakdown/borescope the cylinder. It runs, is it burning oil? I once blew the ring land off a piston in my supercharged 97 cobra mustang...would start up and run fine....drive fine...then all of the sudden in one massive cloud pump out a ton of oil smoke, then be fine again. (that was an expensive day at the drag strip)
 
qclabrat said:
Any lights on the dash or codes come up? I dumped my Tiguan off at CarMax. Wasn't worth the headache after needing a new engine due to a slightly bent crankshaft
Click to expand...

How did they come up with bent crankshaft?

anyway, there are some codes - but none of them are valid without the vac pump replaced.
I'll do the compression test - that's easy - and I can replace the plugs if it comes up okish.

Not sure if it is burning oil - it isn't smokin' but the oil was down off the stick after 20 miles from the dealer.
that doesn't mean they put enough in after they claimed they did an oil change without resetting the dash message......

lots of moving parts as they say.....
 
Patrick said:
How did they come up with bent crankshaft?

anyway, there are some codes - but none of them are valid without the vac pump replaced.
I'll do the compression test - that's easy - and I can replace the plugs if it comes up okish.

Not sure if it is burning oil - it isn't smokin' but the oil was down off the stick after 20 miles from the dealer.
that doesn't mean they put enough in after they claimed they did an oil change without resetting the dash message......

lots of moving parts as they say.....
Click to expand...
It was a leaky seal for the crankshaft diagnosed by my mechanic not CarMax. Mine didn't have any codes otherwise they probably wouldn't have bought it. I went an hour before they closed when it was already dark. Pretty there was an oil spot left behind...
 
qclabrat said:
It was a leaky seal for the crankshaft diagnosed by my mechanic not CarMax. Mine didn't have any codes otherwise they probably wouldn't have bought it. I went an hour before they closed when it was already dark. Pretty there was an oil spot left behind...
Click to expand...
Was the offer any different than if you went to their website?
 
Just got my first clue.

Vac pump seized sending various bits of metal into the exhaust camshaft area. Got some of the pieces. What are the chances a piece lodged near a lifter or valve spring?

IMG_1323.jpegIMG_1324.jpeg

Not the simple valve cover from an old V8...

IMG_1325.jpeg
 
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shrpshtr325 said:
i would guess pretty good, important detail: how much damage did it do while lodging in place and being stuck there while the car ran . . .
Click to expand...

well, it has a sloppy fit with the cam shaft - it self centers.
end of the camshaft looks good.

It did eat the seal, and there was an oily mess on that side of the engine.

Will be interesting when I get the valve cover off if it bent a spring or a valve - or chopped off a cam lobe.
I think it has roller rockers.

UtahJoe said:
I was reading that it can cause the timing belt to jump on that motor....so id make sure you check that....although you said it still runs, so good chance it didnt, but probably worth checking
Click to expand...

The kit for doing the timing is $30 on Amazon - I might have to grab it.
Def if I need to go any deeper.
 
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