Suzuki Club UK

Hi guys,

I have a big problem with my GV in that the engine is only running on 3 out of 4 cylinders! Mechanic says the valves are bent - at least one of them, maybe more. He hasn't opened the engine head up to see but he has replaced the timing chain. The tensioner failed and the chain broke, I'm £800 deep just for that replacement along with compression diagnostics etc.

He says that to open up the engine head and fix the bent valves will cost an extra £2500, bringing the cost up to £3200!! I think the car is worth £2-3k on a good day so I feel like I could just pay the £800 and cut my losses. Maybe try to sell it as a project for someone who is more of a piston head than me!

It had to be towed in to the garage over a month ago because there was no compression in the engine. He found the problem was the chain and said I might get lucky if the valves were not bent when the new chain started the engine. They are, hence the big price. It's done 90,000 miles and I've had it for 18 months, bought for 4k. It came with a warranty but they sent an inspector to the garage who said the fault is from wear and tear on the chain (because the tensioner failed). I said how could I account for that? There were no signs. They still won't cover any costs and the warranty maxes out at £1k anyway! Not worth the paper its written on really.

Anyway, sorry for the long read... anyone got experience of these fixes or sales in this condition?

Thanks

Welcome to the forums.

Personally I'd ring a few garages and ask how much they'd ask for the same job. Pretty sure you could have a whole new engine fitted for less than £1k including the cost of the engine, certainly shouldn't be asking £2500 to pull the head and change valves!!!

thanks buddy i will be asking that now i see things clearer !

isn't a 'new' engine also a big gamble though? because i guess it's second hand also and there could be other issues with it

also i see you are based in london... do you know any garages that deal with second hand suzuki parts

No, I'm afraid I don't - at least, I don't know anyone who deals with modern parts (parts for old zuks, I can help you with, modern ones - no, sorry).

What part of London are you in? I know a mobile mechanic who might be able to help if you're not too far...

hi mate I'm in hackney if that's any good for him/her?

Just spoke to the garage - it's £1600 to replace pull the head and replace the two valves - plus the £800 for the compression tests and new chain kit with labour - so £2400 total. He gives a one year warranty on that. Might have to stick it on a credit card because I'm not very attracted to second hand motors from brokers!

Get a few quotes first, even if you don't get a new engine, £1600 is a lot to pull a head and replace 2 valves. And £800 is a lot to do a compression test and change a timing chain.

I got my ford compression tested and the timing belt changed for less than £200. And a transverse diesel is harder to work on than a longitudinal one.

Head off job to pull a bad glowplug tip cost me another £300, because it was a lot of work (and gaskets).

Thanks mate I will do

One Suzuki garage told me today that it would be £1345 to take the head apart and rebuild it - plus parts if there’s more things wrong. All the quotes on fixing the engine I have so far are high!

I’ll keep trying though - it does seem a lot but maybe that is the going rate now