[matt_g]

Hi,

Sorry if it's bad form to ask a tech question straight off the bat, but this looked like the best source...

My daily drive, a 98 Jimny (G13BB engine I think) has what a mechanic is calling a fatal issue, and I was wondering if anyone could let me know if I'm being given good information.

From what he has said (and shown me), the flywheel on the front of the crank that both the belts run over came loose, and has been spinning unevenly / wobbling, which I did notice when looking in the engine bay after losing significant power (could barely go up a hill in first). He said the locating tooth / pin thing inside that flywheel has worn the socket it locates into on the crank out to around double the size it should be. There's shiny rub marks on the back of the flywheel, and on the front of the engine block, and a small pile of metal filings on a little shelf bit right under where that rubbing was happening.

He said that's not necessarily the cause of the loss of power, and the catalytic converter may be an issue (he said the fuel pump was good), but that it's fatal nevertheless and the only solution is a new engine. The car only has around 98000km on it, but on a student budget the prices I seem to be seeing for an engine and installation are going to be probably more than half to two thirds the value of the car. With the tyres in need of replacement soon, and squeaks from the suspension, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to do.

Has anyone experienced anything like this, and is there a solution that's not in the realm of "junk the car cause it's not worth the repair"?

I'm in the inner west in Sydney, so if there's someone in towing range who perhaps knows something this mechanic doesn't, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks,
Matt.

[joeblow]

that is a very common problem with the g13bb's, they also break cranks in that area also. new crank or new motor. don't try bodge it with metal mend etc....it won't last.

[lump_a_charcoal]

Your best bet is to find a second hand motor that has been pressure tested and swap it in i would say - PM Bluesuzy, he knows someone at Pick'n'paymore at Blacktown.

[matt_g]

Thanks for the tips and confirmation

cheers
mattg.