Recently had some problems with my car and its currently in garage. Any help needed by people who know the cause of my problem. My car has been in a garage for repair for about 12 weeks now. When it went in i thought the specialist knew what they were doing but now im very doubtful they do. I've been reading up on the archives on here and im beinging to think my car was misdiagnosed. The car is a Mondial t (mechanically same as a 348). Here is what happened: The problem While driving the car without warning the car started to drive really rough. Slow down light (Banks 1-4) came on, and lack of accelaration through the gears. This was about July this year. The problem was there as soon as the engine started, even from cold, and didnt go away at any point. I had my O2 sensors changed in April this year. The diagnosis The car went into a specialist garage and they said that they did a compression test on the car. Bank 3 was playing up. They said they also did a cylinder leak test (not sure if they did) and they said it was showing an exhaust leak. They said that it was an issue witht the exhaust valve on bank three and the only option was engine out and heads off. I said whilst at it do a major service and cambelt (not due yet). When they took the exhaust off only one cat was present. The other was missing. They then took both heads off and said the valve is fine and the exhaust valve guides are worn. Although cylinder 3 was the problem they then said that its best to change all 16 guides. Normally they are £70 each, but I was able to source them for £30 from Eurospares. I assumed that this was the problem and the only solution so just went ahead with the work. I did ask them if there was any problems with the HT Leads and they said no they seem fine. However to be sure they took a brand new set of HT leads test it. The problem was still there aparantely. I doubt they had a set of £800 leads readily available though, so assume that was BS. However when they put the engine back together they said that they "repaired" 3 cables because they were damaged. I've been told by someone that these cannot be repaired, so possibly they done a poor repair job or replaced. The current situation Last week the engine was put back in and I drove the car on Tuesday and the car drive very well. Much faster and smoother than before the problem (of course the top end is like new!). I didnt take the car away because the car had a hot start problem they were supposed to have fixed earlier in the year. On wednesday received a call that the airflow meter was causing the problem. They had changed one earlier in the year and I still had the old one. On thursday I took it down and with an ohm meter checked the two in the car and the spare. All worked and I set them all to 383 ohms. However the car was not starting, with no lights on the dash, and they blamed the immobilisor which I doubt as the immobilisor has never caused a problem. They then said that there is a power cable the alarm guy used under the steering which has shorted and has damaged the regulator on the alternator (their words not mine). They have now ordered a new regulator for Tuesday which will aparantely get my car started again. I've told them Im sending a flat bed lorry to pick up my car on tuesday eve, regardless of if my car is running or not. My guess is that its a loose connection from when they put the engine back in. The two questions I have 1. I was told that the first sign of a exhaust valve problem is a smoky exhaust. My car never had that problem. Also the fact that they changed/repaired 3 HT Leads, which is usually the cause of the problem I had. Do you think they mis-diagnosed my problem and all it was was an electrical problem (probably the HT Leads). 2. When you turn the key the engine cranks but doesnt start. No lights on the dash. IS it possible that its a regulator problem or is this more BS? Reasons for #1 would be great so that I can put points to them on Tuesday. Sorry its so long but I think you need the detail. Adnaan
Not an expert but usually the cats will hide a smoky exhaust from bad valve guides, you said one cat was missing if it was the bank with the so called bad valves it should have smoked. What you will find with bad valve guides is high oil consumption >quart every 200 miles, plug fouling and more than likely higher running temps, rough idle. IMO some unscrupulous mechanics could use the occasional real valve issue with 355s as a way to take advantage of non mechanical type owners, personally I would not have used OEM guides but aftermarket ones for <$10 a pop and they are as good or better in some cases, I would ask to see and keep all old parts as well.
Hey Adnnan, sorry to hear of more troubles, did they replace the missing cat? if not did they remove the one that was left? Just for the record your symptons sound very like the same ones your friend with the 348 had earlier this year
Viresh with a LHD 348, I may have got my memory mixed up again! he had a problem with a loss of power to one bank almost identical to your problems, after lots of time spent on the phone suggesting things to try he finaly managed to get the car working well enough to get it to a specialist with the correct diag box........in 2 mins they detected a bad MAF, 20 mins later MAF replaced and car back to working order. Would suggest if you havent already try to sort the exhaust out so at least it's equal on both banks then take the car to somebody else for a 3rd opinion (KV's place would be a good bet)
