Looking for best guess

[James from Praha]

Hi All,

Rover 75 2003 V6 2.0 5speed 235,000 KLM

The other day heard a grinding noise (like something dragging)....when we stopped we found water coming out behind the right front tire....

Was close to home so tried to get back before it over heated...it never heated up....but eventually it stalled....now doesn't start....the starter just spins and nothing happens....

Do you think the timing belt went? (any other ideas)

I love the car, but much cheaper to just get a new one then do a major repair...

Thanks James

[RPWC]

The only way to tell is take the front rocker cover off and spin the engine ,but if the belt had gone you would have got more of a bang, as the valves and pistons came together, and it would stall,instantly. Have you checked the coolant level in the expansion bottle?

[RPWC]

Originally Posted by James from Praha

I love the car, but much cheaper to just get a new one then do a major repair...

Thanks James

New engine or new car? It will be cheaper to get either, but you don’t know what state the engine you purchase will be in. The words frying pan and fire come to mind. Same with another car, if you decide to go down this route, then consider looking for a member’s car in the cars for sale section. At least that way you will get a car that has the usual problems rectified, or buy a “project car”; that has the known faults listed. I would find out what has happened to your existing engine first though, might be an easy/inexpensive repair.

[James from Praha]

Hi Rich,

There is no coolant in the car at all....it has all ran out.....is there a special safety engine cut off that disables the car when the coolant reservoir is empty?

[trikey]

Originally Posted by James from Praha

Hi Rich,

There is no coolant in the car at all....it has all ran out.....is there a special safety engine cut off that disables the car when the coolant reservoir is empty?

It will run when empty of coolant, I would check the water pump area first.

[slovcan]

Originally Posted by trikey

It will run when empty of coolant, I would check the water pump area first.

^^^I suspect the water pump may have tightened up and seized stripping the teeth off the timing belt. I hope not.

Good luck,
Glenn

[James from Praha]

Glen,

This exactly what I suspected happened....

Is this just as bad as breaking the timing belt, or would it have stopped moving and not crashed all the values?

Any thoughts,

Thanks

[slovcan]

Originally Posted by James from Praha

Glen,

This exactly what I suspected happened....

Is this just as bad as breaking the timing belt, or would it have stopped moving and not crashed all the values?

Any thoughts,

Thanks

I'm sorry, James, I don't think the valves would survive. That said, I think this same thing happened to someone here a little while ago and only killed the valves on one bank. Still a big job. I know there are good 75s available in the Czech Republic if that is what has happened. Isn't there a cambelt cover that you can remove that will let you see the timing belt?

And maybe it was something different.

Good luck,
Glenn