Broken sump - engine failure

[Nabraxas]

Hi,

Looking for a bit of assistance with my Leon Cupra R - driving home from work this evening as I was accelerating up to speed I heard what I can only describe as the same sound as when you drive through a deep puddle.

This sound was shortly followed by the car running extremely lumpy, the engine management light coming on, shortly followed by the oil light coming on and the engine stalling.

Upon inspection I have found that it has dropped all of its coolant and the radiator fan has been destroyed - amongst the destroyed fan I have found the following bits...

I haven't managed to get out to take a good look at it yet, I'm just looking for a few pointers on where these may have come from and how their way into my fan/radiator.

Thanks!

 

[stpete]

outch!!! Those bits look cast in ally? Which side of the engine is the fan its destroyed, battery or washer?

 

[s20ty c]

that looks like a bit of the block, has you engine **** its self, i think it could have!

 

[Nabraxas]

It's washer side.

Been out for another look and the oil is all over the undertray and I've found another extra bit...

Doesn't look good to me!

 

[s20ty c]

well that looks like a bit of ur sump, sorry to tell you i think you have droped a con rod and gone though ur block, if thats the case you need a new engine mate!

 

[Squintstream]

That's BAD luck mate

How many miles had your car done and any previous issues?

 

[Nabraxas]

Done just over 45,000 miles

Only other issues I've had have been common ones such as 2-speed fan issue and water pump failed.

 

[stpete]

Defo looks like sump! When mine lost its rod it punched two holes front and back, front was hidden by alterator and rear by engine, tubo etc. Looking at mine it punched out at join between block and sump so bits of light ally and heavier cast iron from block. Washer side would make me think of cylinder one or two, mine went on one. Really feel for you mate but look on bright side, mine caught fire as well!!

 

[Cupra Ross]

Done just over 45,000 miles

Only other issues I've had have been common ones such as 2-speed fan issue and water pump failed.

If you've got full service history and no mods I'd be pursuing SEAT for a new engine mate. There's no way that should happen at such a low mileage.

 

[SRStdi]

Agree with Cupra Ross id be straight down the dealers and be asking for them to fix it, its not un-common the more you push em the more likely it is that they will budge!!!

45k and then engine blown .... should happen unless it was highly modded.

Cheers

 

[lc_allan]

PM Smart22186. You might be able to make 1 decent engine between you

Sorry . Good luck with sorting it out.

 

[Nabraxas]

I've e-mailed SEAT UK - awaiting their reply... not hopeful of anything short of accusing everything apart from their engine.

Any ideas what could cause such a catastrophic failure such as this? It's been serviced every 10,000 miles, last service was just under 10,000 miles ago and was going to be doing its 50,000 mile service soon (not that it'll need an oil change now as most of its on my driveway).

Currently trying to think where to go from here - looks like I'll have to find a runabout for the meantime

 

[Willie]

If your water pump has failed and caused your entire system to heat up this could have yeilded some small part that has inturn failed and caused what looks like a catastrophic failure.
That is definately a sump bit with the bolt through it.

 

[Nabraxas]

Water pump was fixed a few months ago and the car was never run excessively during that time.

 

[Willie]

The fact that you say excessively means you did drive the car which could have easily been your down fall. Do seat know about the water pump failure?
Perhaps you should delete this post till all is sorted out or it could effect Seats decision.
They are known to view this forum and it has worked against a few claims

 

[Cupra Ross]

The fact that you say excessively means you did drive the car which could have easily been your down fall. Do seat know about the water pump failure?
Perhaps you should delete this post till all is sorted out or it could effect Seats decision.
They are known to view this forum and it has worked against a few claims

As long as there are no engine mods and the car has been serviced according to the SEAT service schedule, they are responsible, period.

There is no way that this should happen on an engine with 3 times the mileage this one has done. Faulty rod or crankshaft from the factory is my guess.

 

[Willie]

As long as there are no engine mods and the car has been serviced according to the SEAT service schedule, they are responsible, period.

There is no way that this should happen on an engine with 3 times the mileage this one has done. Faulty rod or crankshaft from the factory is my guess.

I'm not trying to defend Seat here but they will use the water pump failing as a get out clause if they know about it. 100%

 

[Cupra Ross]

I'm not trying to defend Seat here but they will use the water pump failing as a get out clause if they know about it. 100%

They probably will. They have to prove that heat damage caused by driving with a faulty water pump caused the rods/crank to be damaged. Pretty impossible considering that both rods and crank are cooled by oil and not water. Also, SEAT would have supplied the faulty water pump.

A solicitor would take this on no win no fee and recover costs from SEAT. Give 'em both barrels and accept nothing less than a new engine or a replacement car.

 

[Nabraxas]

By excessively I mean that the vehicle was brought its short journey home where it remained until the short journey to the garage to have the issue repaired - the coolant temperature never raised above normal (as is the case when driven below a certain RPM with the water pump issue) once the issue was spotted.

After investigation of the engine this evening it appears number 1 conrod has completely snapped pushing a hole through the front of the engine block and sump. I have photos if anybody is interested.

 

[traumapat]

is this a 225 or 210?