Rocker cover bolt sheared & fuel filter question

[SammoVWT]

Afternoon all,

Im going to attempt to change my fuel filter this weekend. I just had a quick look at it, and I was wondering if anyone knows if the hoses are push on with a clamp, or some kind of screw?

its a 1.6 AEE.

I just had a look at my rocker cover too, to see if i can ID why it was leaking, eitherway it turns out that the end bolt, near the dizzy (where its seeping) has been sheared - no thanks to the cowboys who rebuilt it.

I think they had stuck it back down with some grease as it was really loose, eitherway i managed to pick it up with my fingers to see the rest of the bolt left in the housing. It looks like they sheared it on reassembly and stuck it in so i wouldnt notice.

Does anyone know roughly how much i should be paying to have this drilled out? Or is it quicker/cheaper to buy a new rocker cover and bolts? Or is a new set of bolts in order anyway?

Cheers chaps & chapettes

Sammo

[DropKickMurphy]

Hi Sammo,

re: the rocker cover bolt - this happened to me too (my fault) what you need to do is very carefully undo the other 2 bolts holding the rocker cover down, whip the cover off and then undo the cam journal (i think thats what they are called) which will have the sheared off bolt end in it. then you should drill it out yourself, or take it to a garage for them to do. its very easy once it has been removed from the car as the journal top is only about 1" by 2" and can be drilled very quickly with a pillar drill.

from my experience as long as you leave the other 2 journals attached the cam wont move and you will be able to re-attach the journal and then bolt the cam cover back down.

i was charged £20 for 1/2 hour labour for my mechanic to drill out sheared ends from 2 journals, so doubt it will cost the earth.

prob worth changing the rocker cover gasket while you are at it too.

DKM

[SammoVWT]

I was hoping you would reply cos i knew this happened to you. Cheers for the heads up mate!

I might just take it to the garage to do as i need my sump to be re-sealed aswell. Got a seep there too, which they ID'd for me. I thought it was originally just the rocker cover. No ramps makes me a sad panda.

I will fix this engine 100% eventually.

Just two seals, new bolt for the rocker, new fuel filter and a new catalytic converter and shes as good as new hopefully.

Im debating on buying a new rad as its full of crap, already flushed it 4 times and still crap inside. So going to do a chem flush with holts this weekend and see how that goes.

[SammoVWT]

Small update:

Was a clogged fuel line or injector along those lines, treated with running the tank down to 1/4, filling with V-Power & Redex. Problem solved, I have a spare filter now just in case anyway. No more filthy momentum 99 for me, a short lived passion.

Did a coolant flush again, first with water, then filled with distilled water & holts. Ran for 20-30 mins. Cooled, flushed with distilled again. Filled up with just distilled water & cap off (opened the heater up during all this btw).

Ran it up to temp, cooled it down. Flushed with distilled again, drain. Fill with distill & antifreeze @ appx 5050 ratio. Took it for a test drive.

Cloked up 30 miles - pulling like a train now, and much more responsive considering the air temperature i was very pleased. Much more consistent, looking forward to the monday morning drive to work

During my spirited drive i managed to get between 4-5 seconds for 0-40 (flat non wheelspinning start from idle revs because i like my clutch) and about 7.5-8.5 seconds 0-60. I have enough torque between 1500-2k to change gear smoothly, and between 2k & 3k is plenty enough to get a move on quickly - I didnt even need to go WOT once to get it to move. So much nicer now, its amazing what you get used to over time. Above 3k and the car becomes a bit monstrous.

So despite the minor oil leaks, it seems like im finally getting there. Im quietly excited about the extra output the hi-flow cat will give when i eventually get it. More chuffed that its running better than it was before the breakdown. Happy days, I'm almost tempted to take it for another drive!

EDIT: Also improved MPG, used less than half of what it would normally use to cover 30 miles of semi-town driving - so guess the fuel pressure was down previously.