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3556

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Electric probe

« on: 09 February 2015, 20:17:19 »

For years I have tested the voltage in a cable by shoving a needle through it and measuring the voltage between it and earth. I once saw an AA man use a purpose built probe, needle with a handle attached. Where can I buy one?

3557

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 06 February 2015, 09:59:21 »

Thanks again, henryd. I tossed your suggestion on the small Rover Streetwise Forum.  Kayleigh, a company that changes K series head gaskets for a living, discouraged following the head saver route. It seems important that the cylinders remains 0.003" proud of the block; if less the Elastomer gasket should be used, not the newer laminated stainless steel one. If the liners sink below block level the engine should be replaced. Now I wonder how the liners sink? There is talk of a new inproved oil rail. I gather the oil rail resides in the sump, and contains the threads for the head bolts.  I wonder if the oil rail supports the cylinders, and it slowly deforms, allowing them to sink. Any thoughts?

3558

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 04 February 2015, 19:33:16 »

Thanks again. I have just rung the man who did the previous head gasket job, and he did have the head skimmed. He was surprised at my question, seemed a bit shirty, said of course he did, that's what they were taught in college. He used the most up to date gasket too, the stainless steel multilayer one. He enquired whether I was a mechanic, no, I said, I am a printer, last did a head gasket in 1975 on a Ford Escort. He said things had changed a lot since then.
  Head still looks dead flat, you say it may have gone soft where the fire rings sit and would benefit from the applied 0.5mm shim. It says apply to the block except on K class Rovers, where it should be applied to the head. Have you experience of these shims?

3559

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 04 February 2015, 17:30:42 »

Thanks Henryd. I can detect no deformation of the head where the fire rings were, using a straight edge. In fact, the head seems impressively level.

3560

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 04 February 2015, 14:58:48 »

Thanks for the advice and encouragement.
This engine is not so primitive as I expected. I used to run BMC A series cast iron lumps. This Rover has an alloy head and block, 16 valves and a plastic inlet manifold. It also has an oil rail, which resides in the sump above the oil, and I think contains the threads for the head bolts. This has been updated for a stiffer item. The exhaust manifold is a tubes and plate affair, not the cast lump on Omegas that eventually cracks. Pics follow.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/bsud94yfw7a7asc/block50%25.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hvadq6u1jpe2i4w/manifolds50%25.jpg?dl=0

3561

Omega General Help / Re: Advice please --Best place / price for .............

« on: 04 February 2015, 12:26:11 »

My money is on dodgy front wishbone bushes. Four years ago I put Jonny's Omega through its MOT, found it twitchy on braking, didn't like it. Changed discs and pads, just the same. In desperation I had wife drive car over the pit and brake with me in the pit. Then it was obvious - front bushes. Yet the MOT man had found nothing wrong.

3562

Omega General Help / Re: vibration under high speed braking.

« on: 03 February 2015, 22:36:11 »

At 1.32 euros to the pound that is £68. What a bargain!

3563

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 03 February 2015, 19:26:25 »

Thank you gentlemen. I have ordered a BW750 gasket, blue, and a set of 10 new head bolts.

3564

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 01 February 2015, 21:08:45 »

Gentlemen, I know it's asking a lot of Omega men, but have you by any chance any idea which head gasket I should fit to a 2004 Streetwise 1.4? It seems that originally it was fitted with a steel elastomer gasket. I read the K engine fitted to the Freelander was fitted with a stainless steel laminated gasket after 2006. The gasket which came off was a laminated stainless steel gasket. The Rover Forum is unclear on this matter, they say use the elastomer gasket unless the cylinders are more than 003" proud of the block.
Haynes says I must measure the length of the head bolts. Screwed hand tight into the block their heads should be no more than 97mm above the block; if longer, they should be replaced.
Please advise!

3565

General Car Chat / Re: Law on towing a car

« on: 01 February 2015, 16:48:42 »

Thank you gentlemen. That clears that up. So what I need to do is hire a recovery vehicle and collect the car, unless it has MOT, when I can arrange insurance and tax when I buy.

3566

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 01 February 2015, 12:59:46 »

Head is off, thanks to all for help. There appears to be a clean track from water channel to cylinder no. 1, which fits the sympton. Pic follows.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3yhk6ou1gat494s/gasketTRACK.jpg?dl=0

3567

Omega General Help / Re: Knocking noise offsde front

« on: 31 January 2015, 21:05:12 »

Found it. There was a cable hanging in the space ahead of the RH wheel arch. It had a clip on it, and should have been clipped out of harm's way. Its function is a mystery, propably some sort of diagnostic. Any ideas? Picture follows.https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fnk3vfampanlmp/RH%20wheel%20arch%20cable50%25.jpg?dl=0

3568

Omega General Help / Re: price enquiry

« on: 31 January 2015, 15:40:31 »

Did we not agree that on a V6 changing the water pump is not essential, anyway the quality of some is suspect. I certainly had one fail on a 2.0, wrecking the engine; wish I had never changed it.

3569

General Car Chat / Re: Rover Streetwise (25) engine solid - help!

« on: 31 January 2015, 15:34:40 »

Brilliant, Al. Fitting a 1" spanner on the reluctor, shimmed with a 3 point (I am a printer) shim held it firmly, then I easily loosened the nut holding on the camshaft sprocket.

3570

General Car Chat / Are old Astras and Corsas as tough as old Omegas?

« on: 31 January 2015, 12:31:57 »

My daughter in law owns a Rover Streetwise which is unwell. Should it die I have offered her an Omega, she says she would like something smaller. Are 12 year old Astras and Corsas worth considering?