Quick update on this now the engine has been stripped back. It transpires that the chain didn't snap but the toothed cog (flywheel?) has sheered off.

Presumably the outcome is the same in terms of potential ramifications as a snapped chain but I am off to the garage to take a look tomorrow whilst it is stripped down to discuss next steps.

Ok, so the timing belt pulley on one cylinder bank has snapped (heard of this before) and hence the timing has been lost between the cams and crank, so yes same applies as the earlier deduction. They need to remove the cam cover/inlet manifold to have a look at the internal damage (if they haven't already) to give you some idea of a parts list.

Here's a pic of the pulleys (8610A & 8610B)

So this is the offending item. As to why it sheered, I guess I'll never know.

You're not the first to suffer from a cracked pulley I believe. Not sure what causes it, I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in.

Car back, £2.4k later and it runs. There is now a squeak from the starter motor that wasn't there before. There is a slight over rev (only really noticeable when idle and may have pre-existed) and the mechanics note a slight rattle from the engine. I can't hear the rattle, but they do nothing but LR's so I will defer to them. It also seems that the crank slipped one tooth but that is now back in good order. No warning lights.

They are of the opinion that I might be in a golden period and if I was minded to trade it in, now is a good time. Car 2015 with 77k on the clock so this was always a consideration as I tend to buy 3-5yrs used, sub 50k miles and then repeat every 4-5yrs.

Decision time. I really like RR's but once bitten twice shy. Maybe time to move on.

It's a tough call, you'll never know if you sell it, it could go on for another 100K without a problem, then again, keep it & the crank could snap next week!

I'd drive it for a bit, see how confident you feel in it and then make a decision on which way to proceed.

My (the Mrs's now) SDV6 L494 has 270K+ on it, not worth selling with that mileage, but it just keeps on plodding on with very little outlay in repairs, last years grand total apart from normal servicing was a handbrake motor - I can live with that!

I decided that I wasn't comfortable shifting on a car that may have significant issues. I therefore decided I'd live with it for a while to see if it gets a clean bill of health. Well, one week and 150 mile later, it may be dead.

No warning (or warning lights) but suddenly the car lost power and the drivers side started to make a rhythmic taping sound. Nowhere near as bad as when the flywheel went and the car was shaking itself to death, but enough that I had to pull over when safe to do so. Felt like it was running on half an engine, and maybe it was?

I'll get it recovered to the garage just in case it is an unrelated item and simple fix but I'm not going to throw any more money at a car that won't pay me back.

Anyone know a good scrap yard?

I'd be asking the repairer for a very detailed report of what they did and what the current failure is as no way should it have failed within 150 miles. Sounds to me like they didn't do the job correctly or failed to reassemble it in a workmanship like manner.

I can only imagine how you feel!!

I am not overly mechanically minded so even if I did get a report it would be easy to fob me off.

This is what it now does.

?si=yGeglsvgrHdAKUJb

Sadly it doesn't sound like an easy fix caused by a split hose or some such.

I am taking some comfort from the fact that if it is dead at least I took my own medicine and didn't pass the problem on to an innocent third party. Maybe karma will reward me.

Sounds to me like a injector leaking, the copper washer fails and let's combustion gasses past, hence the rough running. If it is, you have been rewarded as its a cheap and easy fix!

With it running, lift a bit of the sound deadening foam off the top of the inlet manifold and see if you can see/smell and gasses. They'll have had the injectors out and maybe didn't use new copper washers. Google diesel injector copper washers to get an understanding of what they do/where they are located.

Couple of quid each.

When I pulled over to inspect the car I took the engine cover off and there was small but noticeable smoke coming from the vicinity of the oil cap. Engine was hot at that point having been run for an hour so I didn't investigate further.

I've Google the washers and I am now praying for a change of fortune from the engine gods.

Think you're going to be ok, that was blow by gasses you were seeing, take it back to them and ask them to check the injectors on the right hand bank, one will be leaking.

Sloppy workmanship, either they didn't replace the washers or tighten down an injector clamp, either way, it's an easy fix.

RRSJRM wrote:

When I pulled over to inspect the car I took the engine cover off and there was small but noticeable smoke coming from the vicinity of the oil cap. Engine was hot at that point having been run for an hour so I didn't investigate further.

I've Google the washers and I am now praying for a change of fortune from the engine gods.

I had the same noise - was an injector seal - As 2RRS says they've probably not used a new seals/washers or the crush nuts that hold the fuel line - easy fix should be no more that £100 to solve.
Just need to narrow which injector is leaking you can usually do this by taking the engine cover off and checking for any escaping fuel vapour around each injector or feeling each injector with your finger - you will feel the loose one as it will be tapping/vibrating more.