Well yesterday I thinked my engine died. I was pulling onto a road in first gear when it made a pop and started shaking, it had no power. I pulled over and it died. I looked under the hood in hopes to find a vacum hose that may have popped off, but no luck. It started right back up, but would not idle and would shake pretty bad. I didn't want to leave it where it was so I drove it about 2 miles back to a place where I could leave it. It had no power and smelled of burning oil when I got back. There was no smoke at all though.
Unfortunatly it is about a hour and half from my home. I caught a ride home and will be going back next weekend with a trailer to get it.

So.. a few questions..
1. does it sound like a blew an apex seal?
2. is it definitly a rebuild job?
3. how much more damage did I do by driving it back?
4. if it is a rebuild job, how much is a rebuild kit?

When I get it home next weekend I will be doing a compression test. Which plug holes do you use?

 

Yes. Did you here alot of popping in the exhaust? Did you have to nearly floor the throttle in order to drive at normal operating speeds?
If 1 applies, yes.
The majority of the damage was done when the seal blew. The rotor and housing will most likely be useless, and if you're a turbo, you might have some chipped turbine blades. http://www.revolutionrotary.com/ has them fairly cheap. Use the trailing holes, disconnect the CAS and plug wires, block the throttle WOT. Crank the engine and make sure the valve on the guage is pressed in so it doesn't just measure peak pressure. You need to be able to see the blips of each rotor face.

Make sure to rule out all other possibilities (compression test will make quick work of this ). Sucks man, good luck.

-Brian

 

Sorry forgot to metion, it is a 87 n/a.
I did hear popping like small backfires and yes I had to floor it to go anywhere. It had no power. A couple of hills it barely made it up.
Guess I have to wait for compression check.

Does this mean I have to get new rotors and housings? not just a kit where I replace the seals?

 

You'd have to open pull the engine apart to determine this. As a guestimate I think your chances are 75% or 35% for rebuildable vs new engine.

 

So let's say the apex blew. the engine is shot. If I went to sell this car, what could I get for it?
Any offers?

 

for those who don't know which model/year you have can you post that

 

It's a 87 n/a, umm... model.... the base... the lowest.... put it this way, it has air and a sunroof, that's it.