I was driving on the freeway in my 78 rabbit and started losing
power slowly at first, then more and more quickly over the course of about
a mile. The temprature light came on right before the exit and I did the
turn on the heater…etc. type stuff, then the engine died completely at
the end of the exit. At this point, theres a bunch of burning oil smoke
slowly comming up from the hood. After it cooled down, I started poking
around and found one of the hoses to the water pump had ruptured, which
explained the over-heating. I tried turning the car on again and it tried
to turn over (but didn’t), so I know the engine isn’t seized.
Any suggestions on what I need to check for and/or fix to get it
running again? It’s a 78 with automatic and a 1.6L.
Thanks in advance!
-Jason
+————————+
| ja…@gonzo.cc.wwu.edu |
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On Sat, 15 Jun 1996, Jason McKee wrote:
> to turn over (but didn’t), so I know the engine isn’t seized.
> Any suggestions on what I need to check for and/or fix to get it
> running again? It’s a 78 with automatic and a 1.6L.
It’s toast. Just replace the motor with one from another car or
replace the whole car. You’ll save money in the long run.
Jim
Jason McKee <ja…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> wrote:
>around and found one of the hoses to the water pump had ruptured, which
>explained the over-heating. I tried turning the car on again and it tried
>to turn over (but didn’t), so I know the engine isn’t seized.
> Any suggestions on what I need to check for and/or fix to get it
>running again? It’s a 78 with automatic and a 1.6L.
> Thanks in advance!
RETIGHTEN THE HEAD ASAP!
This happen on my 78 once.
When it is cold again:
Loosen each bolt and tighten it to spec.
Follow the pattern in the Bentley.
My car ran for years after that.
Walt….
PS You may have warped your head.
You may have cracked your head
You may have cracked your block
Block cracking near the head bolts
around cylinder 4 is VERY common.
Atleast if you retighten the head you may
get lucky! If you do not you will most likely
have a blown head gasket later, if not already.
> "James P. Meyer" <jim…@acpub.duke.edu> writes:
> On Sat, 15 Jun 1996, Jason McKee wrote:
> > to turn over (but didn’t), so I know the engine isn’t seized.
> > Any suggestions on what I need to check for and/or fix to get it
> > running again? It’s a 78 with automatic and a 1.6L.
> It’s toast. Just replace the motor with one from another car or
> replace the whole car. You’ll save money in the long run.
> Jim
make shure the fuel pump is working .check the fuse and relay wiring[is it burned up?]
you can hear the fuel pump if its working by looking by the right rear wheel as someone clicks the starter over
then I would check the ignition system
and then if nogo check the timing belt it may have broken .good luck let me know if any of the above.
77rabbit 93 fox 94 jettalll
In <Pine.ULT.3.91.960615230930.4640A-100…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> Jason
McKee <ja…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> writes:
My my. The engine may not be toast! Work from simple to complex, just
as you would troubleshoot any non-start problem! Who knows what is
wrong at this point. It could be as simple as a melted or damaged
wire, or as serious as a trashed piston.
Do a little more re-search, fill us in, do not go and re-tighten heads
or buy a new engine, until you are sure that they are the problem. I
have seriously overheated my Jetta on two occasions, and neither time
did I have to tighten heads or replace motors! I did have to wait a
while before re-start tho.
Good Luck-
-Dan C.
dc…@ix.netcom.com(Daniel E. Collins) wrote:
>In <Pine.ULT.3.91.960615230930.4640A-100…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> Jason
>McKee <ja…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> writes:
[snip]
>did I have to tighten heads or replace motors! I did have to wait a
>while before re-start tho.
It is prudent, especially on those early engines that are supposed
have their heads retightened every now and then, to retightenen
the head after overheating. When I did that on my 78 once I never
had a problem. I FORGOT to do it to my 82 when a fan malfunctioned
( I didn’t think it was too bad but it did go in the red)
and a few months later there was a leaking gasket. During disassembly
I noticed one bolt was loose. Ditto with my 78 and that one the
radiator blew up. Later cars are more forgiving because of the
strech head bolts, 78s do not have those, normally. Besides the
whole job does not even take a half hour to do.
I am sure glad things have be engineered with more robustness
by now.
Walt…..
In article <4q9mq8$…@sjx-ixn5.ix.netcom.com> dc…@ix.netcom.com(Daniel E. Collins) writes:
>From: dc…@ix.netcom.com(Daniel E. Collins)
>Subject: Re: Dead Rabbit. Help!
>Date: 19 Jun 1996 20:09:44 GMT
>In <Pine.ULT.3.91.960615230930.4640A-100…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> Jason
>McKee <ja…@scooter.cc.wwu.edu> writes:
>My my. The engine may not be toast! Work from simple to complex, just
>as you would troubleshoot any non-start problem! Who knows what is
>wrong at this point. It could be as simple as a melted or damaged
>wire, or as serious as a trashed piston.
>Do a little more re-search, fill us in, do not go and re-tighten heads
>or buy a new engine, until you are sure that they are the problem. I
>have seriously overheated my Jetta on two occasions, and neither time
BTW, have you seriously overheated whats her name yet? Enquiring minds . .
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -
>did I have to tighten heads or replace motors! I did have to wait a
>while before re-start tho.
>Good Luck-
>-Dan C.
In <picot.1346.01276…@cpcug.org> pi…@cpcug.org (Chris Picot)
writes:
>BTW, have you seriously overheated whats her name yet? Enquiring
>minds . .
Let me put is this way: A big fat broken nose and a little sympathy
goes a LONG way!
-Dan C.