Another sore head

[Dobbslc]

Take the top hose off the rad and then crank it over.
If you and the engine are covered in water then pump is ok.

[Jonthefish]

Take the top hose off the rad and then crank it over.
If you and the engine are covered in water then pump is ok.

Hmmm. Tried that after charging up batteries this afternoon. A wee dribble from disconnected top hose then no water emerging. Radiator level dropped a bit though so topped it up and tried again.

Cranked it. No water emerging. I then turned key to off but it kept cranking on its own (with glow plugs out). Pulled key out of ignition. It kept cranking on its own. Nipped inside to grab spanner to disconnect battery and before i got back out it had stopped cranking. Phew.

Battery still has reasonable charge but decided to top it up. It now won't take charge - lights on charger go out as soon as charger is earthed.

Original plan of shoving the effin' thing in a deep hole is becoming increasingly attractive.



on

[charvell]

So, pulled the glow plugs and cranked it over. Not a bubble in sight. Got to be the head then. Number 3 glow plug looked corroded and had crusty grey deposits.

Has just occurred to me that there was no obvious movement in coolant either. Mind you, was on my own observing from side of car while cranking. Wonder if water pump is working.....

Assuming head needs replaced - has anyone tried Milners' heads recently? Made by Tocema. Local garage swears by them for Mitsubishi's. I know the AMC Roughtrax ones are best - but the extra £350 will be hard to find, especially if i end up replacing cooling parts too.

got a milner head fitted on mine been on for the last three years been to italy, up the alps all seems good.

[Jonthefish]

Cheers Charvell. Good to hear.

Now what about that starter - cranking away with key out? Stuck solenoid?? I'm getting a fair drain at the battery +ve, so have disconnected both batteries for now.

Anyone got any further ideas re the water pump? With radiator top hose disconnected and engine cranking (all on it own!) no water expelled. Pump not working? Blockage? Thermostat is out by the way.

Was a bit irritable last night but genuinely wondering if thing will be worth fixing....

[MadScott]

FFS stop faffing about and pull the head and see what it is.

With all due respect starting to sound like you don't wanna get yer hands dirty...

[Jonthefish]

FFS stop faffing about and pull the head and see what it is.

With all due respect starting to sound like you don't wanna get yer hands dirty...

Ha ha. I've no problems getting my hands dirty. "Faffing" was just to try and confirm that head is leaking. I know you've been convinced all along and looks like you were right (sadly!).

Reasonable to try and see what else might be wrong with it before starting. Particularly in relation to things that might cause overheating. No great rush here.
cheers

[Dobbslc]

If the stat is out and still no water then I would say the pump is fubar,
Maybe that's what took out the head!

[MadScott]

cheers

Cheers too, I should have added a to that post... was having a bad night and it showed.

Sorry.

[Jonthefish]

Cheers too, I should have added a to that post... was having a bad night and it showed.

Sorry.

No need for apology - it's just an internet forum and i thought it was quite funny. Have appreciated your advice even if I haven't followed it. Yet. Hope you're having a better one today.

Will let you know how that head looks once its off. Won't be soon as working away for couple of weeks. Going to have to view this Surf as an ongoing project.

[MadScott]

Yeah, I know... and they're just old trucks too...

But I try never to forget that on the other end of the line there's a real person, and to speak/post as if that line were only a meter or so long. Easy to lose the meaning so easily when typing and looking back on that I thought it sounded a bit nasty...

Makes it kind of like not 'just an internet forum'.

Glad you thought it funny anyhow; better day yes, much better, thanks.

[BUSHWHACKER]

Group hug everyone?

Well, one or two of you can feck off but the rest of you.................come on, join in.

[MadScott]

OK but I 'aven't showered for about a week, bath is tore up for renovations.

[Dobbslc]

[Jonthefish]

Back at last.
Busy summer and autumn and finally had to put the Surf up to the local garage to pull the head. Just no time myself as business is good : ) and weather is terrible (no shed).
As expected head well cracked so Roughtrax head on the way. Took old head home and I'm stripping it of manifolds etc.

What a lot of sticky nasty carbon/oil crap in the inlet manifold! EGR valve closed (not stuck open) so presumably this is normal? About 2 or 3mm deep. Now cleaned out (grim job).

Pondering:
EGR valve - block off the wee pipe? Read lots of threads on this and opinions seem split on keeping or getting rid.
Stud set - do the Roughtrax heads come with manifold and other studs? Pics suggest not. Must call them and check in the morning.

Anyway, cheers for help guys and no doubts and I'll be requesting more soon...

[RebelV8]

You'll need to order a head stud kit along with the head, the head doesn't come with new studs.
Get rid of the EGR valve altogether, it's easier to do while the engine is apart.