Rover engine problem...?

Question

ive got a 1997 rover 214, its not picking up the power when you first start the engine in the morning, you have to drive it for about 10 to 15 mins once the engine is warm it runs ok, ive just had a service and that didnt help, does anyone know what the problem is thanks?

Answer 1

if its not losing water and the water is normal colour then possibly the coolant temperature sensor, the engine relies on this to tell it how much fuel it wants depending if its hot or cold.
back to the garage and get some live data of the car running and the problem will be found.

Answer 2

HallamBlue seems to me to be on the right track. And I suggest you follow Chunky's advice - get some live data from the garage - a decent mechanic should be able to tell you what the problem is.
Just a word about Rovers - I owned a 1994 Rover 418 (ok thats a diesel) and would put it as probably the most reliable car ever. I put 160,000 miles on it with no bother at all - despite me sinking it in a river once! About the saddest day of my life was the day it got pinched..... :o( My brother has a '94 Rover 218 (diesel) - again, for what the car has been through (he bumped it AGAIN yesterday!), its a credit to Rover. Shame the company was sold out by its owners - there's a lot of money in land nowadays........ more than can be made making cars!
In fairness though - petrol engined Rovers can be prone to electrical problems, though not as bad as your average Vauxhall...... Take my advice - GO DIESEL!!!
American W & Maryam obviously didn't know what they were buying....!! Also - ALL cars trickle water from the exhaust (tailpipe) - its part of the combustion process! ;o)

Answer 3

More than likely its a sensor fault or possibly head gasket, just so everyone knows all the 1.4 rovers from the early '90s were fuel injected it was after all the "K" Series engine so a 1997 definetly will be fuel injected.

I own a 1995 416SLi i havent had a single major problem with it lots off silly lil things (sun roof cables, One of the connectors for the heated rear window and oddly enuff the Horn!!!)in the mid 90's the 200/400 series were the most powerful and most comfortable cars in thier class

Answer 4

hey,
american is right!
i had a rover and a month ago engine blew up aswell. I am never buying a rover again... i know u probably thinking i might aswell repair it but my advice too u is buy another car because rovers eat too much money! the amount of money i spent on a rover was just unbelievable. Also over 90.000 miles the car doesn`t work which i have heard from alot of people. So i would check your mileage and think too urself is it worth it because u really can buy a decent car for say 2 grand. Rovers are too unreliable. You need a car u can rely on i got a vauxhall astra now.

Answer 5

ROVER!!! where do u start, coils go, head garkets leak, bumpers fall down on 1 side, fuel injection system packs in, the 214 hatch leaks through the back window, the 45 also leaks in the back window, the immobiliser only works with 1 of the keys so ur spare doesnt work, u need me to continue?

Answer 6

I wonder if it is a fuel injection model? If so, your fuel lines might be blocked. You might get a garage to check this, and then use an additive to you petrol to keep them clear. Wurth do one (see link), but most petrol stations will sell something similar.

If that doesn't work, then the air-flow meter might be knackered - and brace yourself for a big bill if it is. My car (a Renault) had a similar problem, and it took the garage (very good, well trusted) a long time to diagnose, and cost me the best part of £600. The problem was a lack of acceleration that got progressively worse, eventually meant it just wouldn't drive anywhere without stalling.

Hope its the fuel lines, myself!

Answer 7

Sounds like an issue with the automatic choke (if the engine is not fuel injected).

The choke could be working and restricting the airflow too much. This can proably be recified with an adjustment screw.

Or the choke may be stuck and not be working at all.

Answer 8

Its probably the engine temperature sensor that's faulty this tells the engine ECU how much fuel to inject and for how long .This gives an enriched mixture on start up.Thats why it performs ok when warm.Regards Mick.

Answer 9

lol Rover there's no point me tell you to sort your Rover Problem out coz is a ROVER..... Head Gasket Faulty on every single Rover

Answer 10

THERES A DESIGN FAULT WITH THE HEAD GASKET MINE USED TO LEAK WATER WELL A TRICKLE FROM THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE BLEW UP ONE DAY .I WAS TOLD LATER IF I HADNT DRIVEN IT ,IT WOULD HAVE BEEN OK.ILL NEVER BUY A ROVER AGAIN.