Maat · Jul 24, 2022

Stoped while driving and won't crank anymore.

A bit of info: '99 Disco 2 Td5 with auto gearbox. Gearbox faulty, drives only in first, reverse and 3rd (limp mode). Just finished cleaning intercooler and inlet manifold after a long period of sitting in abandoned in a field. Was driving in 1st closing in on 3krpm ready to switch gear when engine died (gf says she also heard a metallic noise, but hard to tell with loud exhaust). Stoped and now won't crank. Anybody know what it might be? It feels like a huge repair, and know won't be driving it anytime soon, but would like to hear some opinions.

P.S.: it did drive and behave very well (the engine) since the fix, albeit only a few drives - 9 miles.

Cheers, all the best,
Matt

sierrafery · Jul 24, 2022

That engine is FUBAR as the cankshaft doesnt turn with the starter or there's no compression for some other reason but what ever that reason is it's catastrophic... better find another engine and change the whole thing cos it will be cheaper than a full repair for that one

AllanWorms · Jul 24, 2022

Just FYI (to avoid confusion); that IS cranking, but not starting.

It appears to have no compression, so I suspect that "metallic noise" was probably valves crashing into pistons - maybe the timing chain broke?

Maat · Jul 24, 2022

AllanWorms said:
Just FYI (to avoid confusion); that IS cranking, but not starting.

It appears to have no compression, so I suspect that "metallic noise" was probably valves crashing into pistons - maybe the timing chain broke?

I was thinking the same myself, so just before it got dark I managed to take the rocker cover off and inspect, although the chain is intact and tensioned. I don't think it slipped out of time but I can see tomorrow if the crankshaft spins freely by hand (i.e. No compression) or if it is seized. Whatever the result I want to take the head off just out of curiousity.

Maat · Jul 25, 2022

I will update this thread as I discover more in case anyone is ever in the same situation.

I took the viscous fan off and spun the crank pulley with the rocker cover off. I can feel and hear that the engine has compression and also it spins normally like any other. What seems to be the fault is that the timing chain is still and is not spinning the camshaft. But the chain still feels tensioned and is snug around the top cogwheel for some reason? And upon inspecting with a flashlight I can see itt being tensioned all the way down. All I can think of at this point is a cogwheel with its teeth worn out. That would explain the metallic noise when trying to crank... I haven't dealt with timing chains before so maybe I'm wrong, happy to hear any opinions.

I'm going to take the cylinder head out anyway since this engine has become perfect learning material now..

PopPops · Jul 25, 2022

Maat said:
I will update this thread as I discover more in case anyone is ever in the same situation.

I took the viscous fan off and spun the crank pulley with the rocker cover off. I can feel and hear that the engine has compression and also it spins normally like any other. What seems to be the fault is that the timing chain is still and is not spinning the camshaft. But the chain still feels tensioned and is snug around the top cogwheel for some reason? And upon inspecting with a flashlight I can see itt being tensioned all the way down. All I can think of at this point is a cogwheel with its teeth worn out. That would explain the metallic noise when trying to crank... I haven't dealt with timing chains before so maybe I'm wrong, happy to hear any opinions.

I'm going to take the cylinder head out anyway since this engine has become perfect learning material now..

Could the camshaft have seized?

Stanleysteamer · Jul 25, 2022

PopPops said:
Could the camshaft have seized?

Or sheared where you can't quite see it, after having seized or been blocked from turning in some way. Maybe a valve has jammed and the lobe jammed behind it.
without knowing how the camshaft is connected to the chain and sprocket, could it be bolts holding one to tother have sheared? had this once on a Dolomite Sprint.

Maat

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sierrafery

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AllanWorms

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Maat

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Maat

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PopPops

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Stanleysteamer

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