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So my Suzuki SCross has a duff engine. Something about cylinders, not getting fuel, needs new engine (I don't speak mechanic or rapid Borders Scots for that matter). AA plug in thing tells me error codes PO303 and PO300 cylinder misfires. He has been running rough for a while now when idling, but driving fine.
I have a few options, the garage is looking to see if they can get an engine and costing price of that and installing.
It is a 2014 with 66k miles on the clock, MoT certified fit until 5 Sept 2024. Newish tires, interior immaculate and exterior perfect. Gearbox clutch and brakes all good. It is a lovely blue colour. Was top of the range when new so has all the bluetooth accessories, cruise control wing-wongs etc.
WBAC suggests £4.3k value if running, Autotrader £4.1 as trade-in.
I reckon I could get £400 at the scrappies which seems a shame for the car.
At what price point for the new engine does it become not worth it?
Would I be better to advertise it "as is, where is" and try and get £1k for it?
It runs, JUST. I was nervous moving it to a better parking spot at the weekend.
How much is a new engine?
When my 56 plate BMW 3 series developed so many issues it was not worth repairing I used https://www.cartakeback.com/ to dispose of it. I got more than I was expecting and it was definitely scrapped as not now showing on the DVLA database.
Thanks for advice so far. I am waiting for a call-back from the garage re price of new engine, they looked at it last week. I called today and the woman who works in the office is following up with the head mechanic chap.
A second opinion won't be that easy I live in a small town, there are not that many garages and the other is a big chain. I do have AA membership I might see what they suggest. They did call me when the engine light pinged an alert!
That cartakeback will be on the list if it comes to that, cheers.
Definitely get a second opinion. Those codes just mean "misfire", there are many things that can cause that. It may be that the real problem is nothing even to do with the engine (for example bad fuel pump).
I had a similar dilemma recently when a garage quoted £2k for a clutch replacement. My van is only worth £3.5k tops. The fact that we had the cam belt done, air con re-gas, new starter motor, brakes in the last year weighed my decision more towards getting the work done. I'm of the opinion of if you've spent money on it and it is good sold vehicle that you know, then it may be worth getting it back on the road. I don't like throwing stuff away. Luckily spoke to another garage who quoted £650 and said it wasn't a dual mass clutch.
All depends though on the replacement engine costs labour etc. Can the garage source a second hand engine from a breakers yard. Anything new from the dealer is going to be crazy money. Also it's not worth the labour stripping the current engine down to for example replace the block. And there's the added cost of putting it back together stretch bolts, head gaskets, belts, etc. will escalate.
On a 66k mile engine I’d be doing a bit more investigation for something minor like a misfire!
Theres a whole industry of 'mechanics' who plug a thingy in, read out a 4 digit code, then shrug. It feels like 'mechanic' needs to become a protected term reserved for people who actually do the work and solve the problems so customers know what it is they're actually paying for.
Firstly, get a second opinion on the fault and it’s root cause.
Then get some guidance on fixing the fault and the consequence.
It might be a case of short engine swap.
+1 for a second opinion
It might be a knackered engine, might not be. Engine codes are sometimes useful, sometimes not. If it's something electric it'll sometimes point you to the exact sensor that's failed. Other times it's nothing you couldn't have figured out with a mechanics stethoscope.
"missfire" and "running rough" could be anything from the crank sensor, to a duff coil pack or plug leads, or indeed a knackered engine, but I'd not replace the engine unless someone could point at the bit of metal that's broken.
Quick Google on the error codes throws this up
Suzuki Sx4 S-cross P0300 Possible Solution : Disconnected, dirty or fouled spark plugs are common causes for engines that won't start. Spark plugs typically
rest of that site is blocked by work
equally if its been running rough for a while as you state in the OP and you have been running it with no fuel getting to cylinders - you may have no compression in the now scored cylinders.
you wont be pointing to that as a damaged metal work but you'd be hoping they did a compression test as part of the diagnosis.
But at the end of the day - given the very limited information its very hard to make any kind of recommendation.
The more expensive error code readers will give more accurate information - e.g. identify the actual sensor and the value. If it's only when idling, sounds like some kind of timing issue which the ECU is correcting when the engine revs. I'd say some kind of worn or dirty part somewhere e.g. camshaft clearance is wrong, timing is out or plugs as suggested.
Please don't tell me a £4k car is a banger these days.
Sounds like worst case scenario is a recon or salvaged engine transplant, hopefully that'd be significantly less than £4k.
If you sell it spares/repair you might get a lot more than £400, because someone else will do the engine swap and sell it on for a profit.
Definitely get a 2nd opinion, even if it is one of the big chains, and a 3rd or 4th if possible.
What you describe used to be routine for any British Leyland car when I were a lad, and the basics ain't changed that much, despite all this electrickery. A new engine, whilst not unheard of, is pretty rare at 60000 miles, even 40 years ago...
What you need is a compression test .or actually 2 compression tests a wet and dry one . This is essential to check if the engine is fubar or it's something else completely.
Then owners club or website or Facebook group to find out if it's a recurring common fault or never happens .
They will be able to get hold of enough parts to check if it's a simple fix like a coil pack or engine sensor.
Have you even taken out the spark plugs , cleaned and gagged them and refitted?
That’s barely run in, even if you spend a couple of grand on it if it’s as tidy as you say it’ll do twice that and more of looked after. Folk treat cars like they’re disposable these days, boggles my mind. Speak to the garage again and try to get a clearer understanding and yes get a second opinion
Tis crazy to condem what is a fairly low mileage engine for something that could be a sensor or electronics fault. Compression test at the least to rule out burnt valves, cylinder damage, head gasket etc.
Ok Google has led me to believe it is a common fault. Po303 is an engine misfire on cylinder number 3. Leading to rough idle, stalling, loss of power and economy.
Causes . From the most to least likely . Spark plug , coil pack , wiring harness failed , crank position sensor , cam position sensor , wonky ECU.
Personally I rather doubt you have killed your motor, shortened it's life span perhaps. If you have driven hundreds of miles like this you may have done something bad internally but nothing that can't be fixed. Burnt valve seat for example
That’s barely run in, even if you spend a couple of grand on it if it’s as tidy as you say it’ll do twice that and more of looked after.
Time kills cars in Scotland thanks to all the salt we distribute on our roads.
SiL has a 2014 Suzuki sx4
Earlier in the summer the front wishbone collapsed through rust and the subframe didn't look too clever leaving her stuck blocking the a93.
It was on 70k or barely run in as you say looked tidy on top sure so I'd get an opinion of someone who has the car Infront of them as to wether you would fit an engine or not. Milage is simply a number.
As above get a compression test.
Fault codes tell you what the ecu sees not the fault.
Where are you btw?
If anybody is on the edge of their seat about this - I decided to sell it.
Local mechanic had zero enthusiasm to fix it, not surprised, they are always super busy and most of their business seems to be servicing and MoT checks they are a testing station.
I put it on Autotrader spares/repairs and got £1200 for it. The extremely dodgy chaps who came to look at it diagnosed cylinders (no, really?) and tried to beat me down on the price but I held firm.
It started first time and they drove away in Glasgow in it, hopefully will fix it up. I will set an alert on Autotrader to find out how they got on!
Thanks for all the advice.