@bukko had his vehicle sorted in s e Essex, it would be interesting to know how itā€™s going?
Funny you should ask - just gone back under warranty.
Loud crank-speed clanging which started during a test drive following the 800 mile oil change.
 
Only one I know of with a decent name is QP Online Maidstone, did hear they wont even look at a d4 with sus crank unless you pay them a huge chunk upfront, guess they have been bitten to often?


Sadly if you cannot diy then the car is scrap.
QP has the best reputation. I know people who have used them and speak very well of them.
However their prices have gone up recently, same as everywhere I guess.
To rebuild a running engine with their custom made components is now Ā£7k for a 3.0 TDV6 and Ā£7.5k for an SDV6 - all plus VAT.
(I think the 2.7 is cheaper)
If it needs a new block add Ā£1k, new turbos (I assume remanufactured) add Ā£1.4k.
 
Hi mate sorry to hear about your issues, it doesn't always damage the block bought a D3 with a seized motor stripped it down broken crank but on close inspection no visible damage to the block bottom end or bores not even a scratch took block to ivor Searle for a closer inspection came back with clean bill of health, had a crank from a stype had it crack tested and polished you don't have to do all your own measuring and the guy on lr time fitted a new crank and bearings the proof was in the pudding when the crank turned within the specific torque the slightest twist in the block would lock the crank solid, your problem or issue is the labour your looking at about the right price for a used motor don't know your circumstances but it's not as daunting as mechanics lead you to believe but your right it's hard to find the right person's at the right price make sure you find someone who knows their tdv6s and good luck
 
Hi all,

My 2010 (2011MY) 3.0 SDV6 has a broken crank.

I am trying to get it fixed as economically as possible.

My go to mechanic has decided it is too much for him to cope with so wonā€™t help.

Two other mechanics i contacted showed interest but have also disappeared.

I went to a specialist today who refuses to fit anything but a new/recon crate motor.

I cannot find a sensibly prices used unit. Even if i did i cannot find a mechanic to fit it.

I went to an engine rebuilder today who said he would rebuilt the engine for roughly Ā£1700 but i would need a new block most likely so back to the problem of finding an engine.

If i go this route i still don't have a mechanic to fit it.

I have been offered rebuilt engines via ebay from London and Birmingham for around Ā£2.5k but again so far no one to fit them and i don't know really what I am buying. Could be scammers/ low quality.

Anyone got any ideas on how to approach?

Location is Wiltshire, near Warminste/Westbury.

Thanks
This is a dilemma which results in many scraping the vehicle, or selling it as spares or repairs. These engines are ticking time bombs, not even extended warranties will cover them.
One thing to remember, it l may need a new short block, there's no reliable way to rebuild the broken one unless you are very lucky. The heads can normally be reused, providing the pistons didn't strike the head, although in mild cases, the damaged valves can be replaced.

If an engine is for sale cheap, it's very likely BER or a scam. These engines when working are hideously expensive second hand, because there's such a strong market for them.
Very few mechanics will touch them either, as they are difficult to remove (the body ideally needs to be lifted off the chassis) so take many many hours to complete. Very few garages will fit a second hand engine, as they could potentially be liable for a subsequent failure, so simply do work of lower risk. There are many places that claim to fix these vehicles, but often these are shady outfits that have no intention or skills for this kind of work, often stripping the vehicle then simply disappearing overnight.

Unless you are prepared to buy a new short block, and then find a reputable garage to swap everything over (keeping in mine many garages now employ "fitters" not proper mechanics) then you'll probably have to sell it as spares or repairs.

It's sad, but unfortunately these vehicles are horrible to work on, and prices of major components are silly expensive, meaning a broken vehicle isn't worth fixing.
 
BTW scared of crank snap is why I run a D2 TD5
I've a feeling an EV conversion would be too expensive.
I'm not sure a TD5 would have enough power for that car, but given the engine is the worst bit of the D3/4 I'd be tempted if anyone offered a TD5 conversion.
 
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I've a feeling an EV conversion would be too expensive.
I'm not sure a TD5 would have enough power for that car, but given the engine is the worst bit of the D3/4 I'd be tempted if anyone offered a TD5 conversion.

I think due to the Ford quality engine D3 D4 are doomed unless someone can find an alternative.

Hence I thought of EV.

There was a D3 for not much more when I got my D2. Now it is worth more than quite a few D3s.
 
Not having a go, but why did you buy it broken without looking into how to get it fixed first?
Good question. I made one big assumption which was my go to mechanic would support me and give it a go.
I didnā€™t expect him to disappear initially and finally come back to me with a raft of excuses as to why he cannot do the engine swap. Turns out he has a lot going on in his life that is taking priority over his business.

I guess I always knew there would be different approaches and planned to navigate my way through those options.
The lack of skill and laziness of the ā€œspecialistsā€ also has taken me by surprise. In the old days proper old school mechanics would have picked up the challenge and run with it.
Seems they want an easy life and just want to cjnge parts instead of repair things properly.
That I underestimated also.

Having said all that I now have an engine, its still in a lovely Jag I bought yesterday.

I will find a way.
 
Unless you're lucky and know how to measure the block like that german fellow
This is the thing. The use warranty as an excuse but bottom line is I don't think these guys have the skills.
If they were good enough engineers they would stand behind their work.
 
QP has the best reputation. I know people who have used them and speak very well of them.
However their prices have gone up recently, same as everywhere I guess.
To rebuild a running engine with their custom made components is now Ā£7k for a 3.0 TDV6 and Ā£7.5k for an SDV6 - all plus VAT.
(I think the 2.7 is cheaper)
If it needs a new block add Ā£1k, new turbos (I assume remanufactured) add Ā£1.4k.
Crazy prices,
 
Good question. I made one big assumption which was my go to mechanic would support me and give it a go.
I didnā€™t expect him to disappear initially and finally come back to me with a raft of excuses as to why he cannot do the engine swap. Turns out he has a lot going on in his life that is taking priority over his business.

I guess I always knew there would be different approaches and planned to navigate my way through those options.
The lack of skill and laziness of the ā€œspecialistsā€ also has taken me by surprise. In the old days proper old school mechanics would have picked up the challenge and run with it.
Seems they want an easy life and just want to cjnge parts instead of repair things properly.
That I underestimated also.

Having said all that I now have an engine, its still in a lovely Jag I bought yesterday.

I will find a way.
we have all done the same from time to time underestimated the problems, good luck, these cars are just to good to scrap, hope someone comes up with a answer to sort out crank problem
 
Has anyone looked at EV conversions on them?

BTW scared of crank snap is why I run a D2 TD5
It would be an interesting conversion for sure, although I don't think there's enough useful space for the batteries. The motor would take up less space than the V6, but it's still not going to make a very good EV.

Converting to the TDV8 would be easier, and more advantageous than an EV conversion.

I think due to the Ford quality engine D3 D4 are doomed unless someone can find an alternative.

Hence I thought of EV.

There was a D3 for not much more when I got my D2. Now it is worth more than quite a few D3s.

The problem is the crankshaft isn't made by Ford. The crank is made in France by one of several small engineering firms around the PSA factory. This is how the French seem to operate, which is odd to me. However it seems that one of these small engineering firms didn't make the crankshaft correctly, either not heat treating them correctly, or using lower specification steel or whatever.

The cranks then get shipped off to Ford for assembly into the blocks, which are made in the UK.

I believe that crank failure is a result of undersized bearings mixed with poor material choices, and ineffective heat treatment of the cranks.
This is resulting in higher than normal failure, especially in the 3.0L where torque is huge at low RPM, where there's little oil pressure available to support the bearings.

It's sad as the D4 is lovely, but with an expensive ticking time bombs under the bonnet, it's not a vehicle I'd own, even though I've worked on quite a few over the years.
 
The lack of skill and laziness of the ā€œspecialistsā€ also has taken me by surprise. In the old days proper old school mechanics would have picked up the challenge and run with it.
Seems they want an easy life and just want to cjnge parts instead of repair things properly.


I think that's unfair to blame the specialists. If I was one and had plenty of work booked (as most seem to have) I wouldn't be taking on this job. As said, the garage would have to stand over the job so why look for trouble. It's even difficult to get garages to replace a clutch or gearbox.... why would they if already too busy with simpler servicing and maintenance work.
 

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