Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable

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Wed 7 May 2014 18:53
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - Robin28

My Mazda 5 packed up last Friday. Big shuddering, smoke coming out of the Engine, sounded bad, came to big stop.

Got towed by AA (guy said it sounded like the Head Gasket gone). Garage says its "Cooked" and by the sound of it, the likely damage to the engine would make it unviable to repair.

Says I would need new or second hand/recondition engine. but says costs of this plus the labor could be greater than the car is worth. His opinion is to cut loses and scrap it. Also offered to scrap it on my behalf for nothing.

Car is a 55 (9 years old with about 80K). Never had a problem before, but have experienced some engine noises in last few months

Questions -

Should I take his word for it or get second opinion - Its obviously going to cost me to do this

If engine is knackered, should I consider getting a new/recondition one ? or is this money down the drain

If I get it scraped, would I not get some money for it ? and how would I find a reasonable scrap merchant

Tough questions, but that's where we are! Any help appreciated.

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Wed 7 May 2014 19:05
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - RobJP

A second opinion is going to cost, as you say. The AA man reckoned it sounded knackered, and the garage have said that too. So really, you already have a second opinion.

Regarding the future course of action, only you can decide what to do, based on the costs of getting a replacement engine and the fitting costs. Also, what the car is REALLY worth. Looking on Autotrader, petrol Mazda5's are starting about £3k ... but there's always wiggle room on prices, and a lot of it. It's probably worth not much over £2k. So, do you put £££ into it (bearing in mind it will put the value up by £2-300 at best) or do you get shut.

Regarding scrap prices, Yellow pages, and phone around. BUT do bear in mind that the garage may want a price for looking at/diagnosing the problem if you do that, whereas if you let them do it, they may waive any fee.

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Wed 7 May 2014 20:30
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - bathtub tom

Bung it on ebay, with an honest description.

The garage would offer to scrap it for nothing. There's money to be made!

Someone might end up doing something like this with it: scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10...g

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Wed 7 May 2014 20:37
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - gordonbennet

Only you know how good the rest of the car is.

Neglected heap?, might as well get rid.

Cared for and otherwise good?, if it were mine i'd find a suitable engine and bung it in.

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Wed 7 May 2014 20:57
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - mdenman
Hi, I have a very similar problem. My car is a ford mondeo zetec auto, RAC man and a garage said it was the head gasket and at least one cylinder damaged, car overheated boiling like a kettle. Can anyone tell me roughly how much am I looking at to repair?
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Wed 7 May 2014 21:09
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - RobJP
Hi, I have a very similar problem. My car is a ford mondeo zetec auto, RAC man and a garage said it was the head gasket and at least one cylinder damaged, car overheated boiling like a kettle. Can anyone tell me roughly how much am I looking at to repair?

Nobody can even start to guess what the cost will be on that basis. There could just be that damage on it, or there could be valves that have gone, problems on the crank, the head and/or block warped, rad wrecked ... the list is almost endless.

Reallistically, it's a garage job, and there will be a price just for dismantling and seeing what needs to be done. Ask for a quote to examine and cost up repairs, and take it from there.

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Thu 8 May 2014 11:35
Mazda 5 Petrol - Engine Blown / Irreparable - skidpan

Also offered to scrap it on my behalf for nothing

This type of kind offer has been taken up by 2 people I know, one a work colleague and one a club member.

The first was a Subaru Justy that was bought new and always serviced at the Subaru dealer in town, at about 8 years old the rear diff failed. Subaru dealer said the parts were no longer available thus car scrap. Sold her another second hand Subaru, this time an Impreza. One week later the old car was on the forcourt for sale with a nice price tag, when they asked the worshop manager how it could have been fixed he said they had bought a diff from a write off and fitted it. To say they were fuming is an understatement.

Second was a Vauxhall Signum 2.2 petrol bought nearly new from a car supermarket. Only very low mileage but at about 6 years old the timing chain broke wrecking the engine. Vauxhall delaer said car was scarp and again kindly offered to dispose of the car. He then sold the chap a brand new Vectra diesel which is ideal for someone doing about 2000 miles a year. The old car reapeared weeks alter on another local car lot with a replacement engine fitted and a nice price tag. Again, another fuming ex owner.

What I am saying is someone, somewhere will get your old car back on the road if you don't want to. It is better for you to get the cash for the non-runner than simply letting the garage rob you.

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