Rover 75 1.8 T 53 reg timing belt failure help needed please

paul2cr · 27th July 2010, 20:11

Hi folks, newbie here. I am needing some help please if anyone can.

I have a Rover 75 1.8 Turbo. Its a 53 plate just covered 50k miles. I was driving it home the other night when I heard strange noises from under the hood. Parked up went shopping came back and car would not start.

Had it recovered and taken to garage. They stripped it down and say the timing belt had slipped off or a pulley became loose. It has damaged the cylinder head broke valves etc.

I went to the garage today and inspected the engine. It looks like it will need a new cylinder head. However I am concerned as one of the pistons got a knock and there is a small indent on the top of it.

The garage were wanting £1000+vat to fix it. However I am getting it taken to my parents house and using it as a project to try up my skills see if I can repair it.

I was looking at buying a new gates timing belt kit, a complete head gasket set. New water pump as they are cheap and worth while doing while its all in bits. Also a reconditioned or a cylinder head from the scrapyard.

I was wondering if anyone can help at all. I just have basic tools, ratchets, spanners, sockets etc. I can get a torque wrench if need be for tightening the head. Not sure about teh timing belt though. It is already hanging off and there is no cylinder head on the car as the garage removed it. So how would I go about fitting it and getting the timing right?. I would hate to put it all back together and it to happen again.

Any advice on where to get a cylinder head and is it true I could use any k series head from the 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8?. So any rover 25, 45 or 75? As long as its 16 valve?. Mine is the turbo engine. I still have the camshafts etc and all the parts from my original engine. There is a crack on the cylinder head and alot of burst valves.

Or would I be better just to get a second hand engine?. Thing is getting all the timing belt kits and gaskets etc would put my mind at ease knowing this was all new. Where as if I buy a 2nd hand engine I would need to do all them to be safe anyway. Can get a recon cylinder head for around £175. Timing belt kit for around 30 and gasket for around 30. I heard scrapyards sell cylinder heads for about 20 quid?.

Any help or input would be much appreciated. Its far too nice a car to scrap. I read a post here about head gasket changing on a 1.8 auto.

andy willi · 27th July 2010, 20:22

get a recon head the mark in the piston dose no damage most of the time but check it well it should be ok get mls head gasket and new lower oil rail get a haynes manuel and put it backtogether its not a hard job be carfull and you cant realy go wrong i remove the piston liners and reseal them because if the engine has been turned over while the head is off it could have broken the seals , the seals are only a ring of silicone sealant if you need help contact me and i will do all i can to help

paul2cr · 27th July 2010, 20:40

Hi, thanks for the reply. It was a MLS uprated gasket set I was looking to get. Found one on ebay for £30. Are gates timing belt kits the best to get?.

Also would it be worth while getting a cylinder head from the scrappies?. I seen there is one on ebay for £50 but it has bent valves. Some of the valves in mine are ok.

Thing is if i get a recon cylinder head they sometimes come with all gaskets etc. Then I would have spare. Could get a much cheaper head from scrapyard and clean it up and fit all gaskets.

Really looking to get it all up and working over the next 2 weekends. Will I be able to do it all myself using standard tools?. I do not have any specialist tools for timing belt etc.

I know what most parts are in the engine and have messed around with a few cars but I am no mechanic.

andy willi · 27th July 2010, 20:53

dont go down the second hand route you are buying someonelses problems get a recon one there will be a gurantee with it , no tools needed for timing i do it with a straight edge and tipex the lower pulley , you will need a tourqe wrench and then tipex the head bolts to angle tourque them i do use a angle finder to do this

T-Cut · 27th July 2010, 21:00

This is worth a watch if you've never done one before. Put the three sprockets in the corresponding positions before replacing and bolting down the head. Don't turn the crankshaft without locking down the liners or you'll have serious problems. Get a Haynes manual.

Timing Belt Adjustment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM5oA2X03z8

TC

pab · 27th July 2010, 21:23

great youtube link,the job is made to look simple...not as simple when working inside the wheel arch.

change the water pump while doing this.

paul2cr · 27th July 2010, 21:35

Hi, thanks for the advice. I am getting a workshop manual for the rover 75. Will have a read through that.

Yes it does all look easy when the engine is out of the car. Will be a laugh trying to squeeze round everything while its connected.

He has the timings marked before he removes the belt. I will not be able to do this as the belt came off the car. The garage already removed the head.

If i get a recon cylinder head will it have to be a 1.8 turbo head or can i get a 1.8 normal head and use my camshafts?.

Great video. Cheers for helping me out. No doubt I will be needing more help with this. I am pretty good with my hands and patient. When the cost of the car is at stake then I will try my best to get it going. Its far to good a car to bin. Was working grand till this happened.

sworks · 28th July 2010, 05:51

The turbo heads have different valves due to the heat. The timing marks are very straight forward when you come to do that part - the cam pulleys are the same for inlet and exhaust and have 2 slots for the roll pin depending which cam they are to be fitted to and MUST be fitted correctly when refitting. Plenty of help available

Just watched the youtube link which is very good but.... The top pulleys can line up 180 degrees out - the correct way when viewing the writhing on the pulleys should read exhaust inlet cam locking tool exhaust inlet

Greeners · 28th July 2010, 08:18

What's wrong with your head......?

If it's a couple of bent valves, relatively cheap to get get guides and valves fitted.

paul2cr · 28th July 2010, 10:48

I get the car back today from the garage so will take a picture of the head. The timing belt came off a pulley and some of the valves were bent or destroyed. It hit the piston and left a mark on the top of it.

It looks like there is damage to the head though too. THere was a split on it or a crack. I can take a picture of this and see if it is salvageable.

I would rather get it done as cheap as I can as I already have another car and really just want this repaired.

If it was just needing new valves then would be an easier and cheaper job I would reckon?.

Cheapest 1.8 Turbo head I have seen is about £340 for a recon unit. Where as the normal 1.8 is about £150.

It was my parents car and is in excellent condition. 50k miles non smokers car and interior is immaculate. It is finished in metallic maroon red with all the chrome. Very nice.

27th July 2010, 20:11	#1
paul2cr Newbie Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rover 75 1.8 T 53 reg timing belt failure help needed please Hi folks, newbie here. I am needing some help please if anyone can. I have a Rover 75 1.8 Turbo. Its a 53 plate just covered 50k miles. I was driving it home the other night when I heard strange noises from under the hood. Parked up went shopping came back and car would not start. Had it recovered and taken to garage. They stripped it down and say the timing belt had slipped off or a pulley became loose. It has damaged the cylinder head broke valves etc. I went to the garage today and inspected the engine. It looks like it will need a new cylinder head. However I am concerned as one of the pistons got a knock and there is a small indent on the top of it. The garage were wanting £1000+vat to fix it. However I am getting it taken to my parents house and using it as a project to try up my skills see if I can repair it. I was looking at buying a new gates timing belt kit, a complete head gasket set. New water pump as they are cheap and worth while doing while its all in bits. Also a reconditioned or a cylinder head from the scrapyard. I was wondering if anyone can help at all. I just have basic tools, ratchets, spanners, sockets etc. I can get a torque wrench if need be for tightening the head. Not sure about teh timing belt though. It is already hanging off and there is no cylinder head on the car as the garage removed it. So how would I go about fitting it and getting the timing right?. I would hate to put it all back together and it to happen again. Any advice on where to get a cylinder head and is it true I could use any k series head from the 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8?. So any rover 25, 45 or 75? As long as its 16 valve?. Mine is the turbo engine. I still have the camshafts etc and all the parts from my original engine. There is a crack on the cylinder head and alot of burst valves. Or would I be better just to get a second hand engine?. Thing is getting all the timing belt kits and gaskets etc would put my mind at ease knowing this was all new. Where as if I buy a 2nd hand engine I would need to do all them to be safe anyway. Can get a recon cylinder head for around £175. Timing belt kit for around 30 and gasket for around 30. I heard scrapyards sell cylinder heads for about 20 quid?. Any help or input would be much appreciated. Its far too nice a car to scrap. I read a post here about head gasket changing on a 1.8 auto.

27th July 2010, 21:00	#5
T-Cut This is my second home Rover75 and Mreg Corsa. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sumweer onat mote o'dust (Sagin) Posts: 21,753 Thanks: 341 Thanked 3,660 Times in 2,924 Posts	This is worth a watch if you've never done one before. Put the three sprockets in the corresponding positions before replacing and bolting down the head. Don't turn the crankshaft without locking down the liners or you'll have serious problems. Get a Haynes manual. Timing Belt Adjustment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM5oA2X03z8 TC Last edited by T-Cut; 27th July 2010 at 21:03..

28th July 2010, 05:51	#8
sworks Been absent for a while… Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,065 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	The turbo heads have different valves due to the heat. The timing marks are very straight forward when you come to do that part - the cam pulleys are the same for inlet and exhaust and have 2 slots for the roll pin depending which cam they are to be fitted to and MUST be fitted correctly when refitting. Plenty of help available Just watched the youtube link which is very good but.... The top pulleys can line up 180 degrees out - the correct way when viewing the writhing on the pulleys should read exhaust inlet cam locking tool exhaust inlet __________________ ................................................. 'Marmite' Possibly one of the most famous 75 tourers produced! left the production line as the last of only Three Rover 75 tourers produced in Trophy Yellow. 48 hours later Longbridge closed. The last sold ordered 75 Tourer. Paid for by the Phoenix Four and handed over by John Towers to the Warwickshire Northampton Air ambulance service as a Rapid Response vehicle Last edited by sworks; 28th July 2010 at 06:02.. Reason: added to for clarity

28th July 2010, 08:18	#9
Greeners Moderator MG-ZTT Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ware, Herts Posts: 19,798 Thanks: 161 Thanked 1,249 Times in 1,036 Posts	What's wrong with your head......? If it's a couple of bent valves, relatively cheap to get get guides and valves fitted. __________________ *David* Impecunity is the mother of ingenuity Useful how to's for common problems Car Of The Month Jan 2014 [SatNav Power Down] [Coolant Level] [SatNav Repair] [Diesel Non Starting] [Paint Codes] [Rear Light Seals] [Reversing Light Switch] [Bleeding Brakes][Sunroof Drain] [Early ZT's][Instrument Pack Diagnostics][ATC Diagnostics]

27th July 2010, 20:22	#2
andy willi I really should get out more....... PRE LAUNCH 75/ZT 190/XJ 550 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carcroft doncaster Posts: 2,866 Thanks: 101 Thanked 680 Times in 342 Posts	get a recon head the mark in the piston dose no damage most of the time but check it well it should be ok get mls head gasket and new lower oil rail get a haynes manuel and put it backtogether its not a hard job be carfull and you cant realy go wrong i remove the piston liners and reseal them because if the engine has been turned over while the head is off it could have broken the seals , the seals are only a ring of silicone sealant if you need help contact me and i will do all i can to help

27th July 2010, 20:40	#3
paul2cr Newbie Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, thanks for the reply. It was a MLS uprated gasket set I was looking to get. Found one on ebay for £30. Are gates timing belt kits the best to get?. Also would it be worth while getting a cylinder head from the scrappies?. I seen there is one on ebay for £50 but it has bent valves. Some of the valves in mine are ok. Thing is if i get a recon cylinder head they sometimes come with all gaskets etc. Then I would have spare. Could get a much cheaper head from scrapyard and clean it up and fit all gaskets. Really looking to get it all up and working over the next 2 weekends. Will I be able to do it all myself using standard tools?. I do not have any specialist tools for timing belt etc. I know what most parts are in the engine and have messed around with a few cars but I am no mechanic.

27th July 2010, 20:53	#4
andy willi I really should get out more....... PRE LAUNCH 75/ZT 190/XJ 550 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: carcroft doncaster Posts: 2,866 Thanks: 101 Thanked 680 Times in 342 Posts	dont go down the second hand route you are buying someonelses problems get a recon one there will be a gurantee with it , no tools needed for timing i do it with a straight edge and tipex the lower pulley , you will need a tourqe wrench and then tipex the head bolts to angle tourque them i do use a angle finder to do this

27th July 2010, 21:23	#6
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	great youtube link,the job is made to look simple...not as simple when working inside the wheel arch. change the water pump while doing this.

27th July 2010, 21:35	#7
paul2cr Newbie Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Hi, thanks for the advice. I am getting a workshop manual for the rover 75. Will have a read through that. Yes it does all look easy when the engine is out of the car. Will be a laugh trying to squeeze round everything while its connected. He has the timings marked before he removes the belt. I will not be able to do this as the belt came off the car. The garage already removed the head. If i get a recon cylinder head will it have to be a 1.8 turbo head or can i get a 1.8 normal head and use my camshafts?. Great video. Cheers for helping me out. No doubt I will be needing more help with this. I am pretty good with my hands and patient. When the cost of the car is at stake then I will try my best to get it going. Its far to good a car to bin. Was working grand till this happened.

28th July 2010, 10:48	#10
paul2cr Newbie Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Blairgowrie Posts: 10 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I get the car back today from the garage so will take a picture of the head. The timing belt came off a pulley and some of the valves were bent or destroyed. It hit the piston and left a mark on the top of it. It looks like there is damage to the head though too. THere was a split on it or a crack. I can take a picture of this and see if it is salvageable. I would rather get it done as cheap as I can as I already have another car and really just want this repaired. If it was just needing new valves then would be an easier and cheaper job I would reckon?. Cheapest 1.8 Turbo head I have seen is about £340 for a recon unit. Where as the normal 1.8 is about £150. It was my parents car and is in excellent condition. 50k miles non smokers car and interior is immaculate. It is finished in metallic maroon red with all the chrome. Very nice.