We rebuild engines. If yours has failed, or is on its way out, NRH Autoworks carries out full engine rebuilds on petrol and diesel vehicles at our garage on Windsor Road in Bray, for drivers from Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough and further afield. Where a rebuild isn't the sensible route, we fit replacement and reconditioned engines instead.
If you are thinking "can someone rebuild my engine, or is the car finished?", start by telling us what happened. Enter your registration on the enquiry form, describe what the engine did before it stopped or what it is doing now, and we'll get back to you by phone or email. The car doesn't need to be running: we can have it recovered to us.
What we can help with
- Full engine rebuilds, petrol and diesel
- Head gasket replacement
- Valves, camshafts, rocker arms and lifters
- Timing belt and chain, tensioners and guides
- Injectors
- Replacement and reconditioned engines supplied and fitted
- Non-running vehicles taken in, with recovery arranged
Signs an engine may need rebuilding
- A deep knocking from the bottom of the engine that gets faster with the revs
- The engine has seized, or turns over but will not start
- It was driven after the oil light came on, or after it overheated badly
- A timing belt or chain has snapped or jumped while the engine was running
- Thick smoke and heavy oil use that an earlier repair has not cured
- You have been told the engine needs replacing and want a second opinion
What an engine rebuild involves
An engine rebuild means taking the engine apart, finding what has worn or failed, replacing those parts and putting it back together properly, instead of patching the one fault that finally stopped the car. Our rebuilds cover the head gasket, the valves, the timing chain and the injectors, on both petrol and diesel engines.
We start with an inspection, because the first question is always how far the damage goes. An engine that has overheated, run short of oil or suffered a timing chain failure can look similar from the outside and be very different inside. Once we know, we'll explain what we've found in plain terms and what the rebuild would involve before any work is agreed.
What we check during an engine rebuild
A rebuild is only as good as the inspection behind it. With the engine apart, every part of the valve train and the timing gear is checked, not only the part that failed, because a worn component left in place is what brings a rebuilt engine back to the garage. Not every engine has every part on this list: it depends on the design.
- Rocker arms and roller followers
- Checked for wear, cracks, damaged contact faces and rollers that are worn or seized, and replaced where needed.
- Rocker shafts
- Checked for scoring and wear, and that the oil passages are clear.
- Hydraulic lifters and tappets
- Checked for wear, sticking or collapse. Faulty ones are replaced.
- Camshafts
- The lobes, journals and bearing surfaces are inspected for wear and scoring, and measured against the manufacturer's specification.
- Camshaft bearings and supports
- Wear and clearances are checked. How they are put right depends on the design of the engine.
- Valves
- Checked for bending, burning, wear and a proper seal, then reconditioned or replaced as needed.
- Valve guides and stem seals
- Guide wear is measured, and the stem seals are renewed while the cylinder head is apart.
- Valve seats
- Inspected and restored where necessary so the valves seal correctly.
- Valve springs, retainers and collets
- Condition and spring strength are checked. Anything damaged or out of specification is replaced.
- Pushrods, where fitted
- Checked for bending, wear and blocked oil passages.
- Timing belt or chain, tensioners and guides
- Inspected and renewed as appropriate, with the timing set correctly when the engine goes back together.
- Variable valve timing, where fitted
- The camshaft adjusters, control solenoids and oil passages are checked.
Rebuild, reconditioned engine or replacement engine?
A rebuild isn't always the best answer, and we'll say so when it isn't. Sometimes the damage is too widespread for a rebuild to make sense, or the parts are hard to come by. In those cases we can supply and fit a replacement engine or a reconditioned engine as the alternative.
Which route is right depends on the extent of the damage, what is available for your engine, and the age and condition of the rest of the vehicle. We'll set out the realistic options side by side, including when we think the car isn't worth the spend, so the decision is yours to make with the facts in front of you.
How long an engine rebuild takes
As a rough guide an engine rebuild takes from two to four days. The engine itself, what we find once it's apart and how quickly the parts arrive all affect that, so we'll give you a clearer idea for your vehicle once we've inspected it, and keep you informed if anything changes along the way.
If the car won't run
Most engines that need rebuilding can't be driven, and one that still runs shouldn't be pushed any further: carrying on with a knocking or overheating engine usually adds to the damage and to the bill. We take in vehicles that don't run and can arrange for yours to be recovered to our garage in Bray, at an appropriate cost that we'll tell you beforehand.
People often search for an engine rebuild near me and then find the nearest garage won't take the job on. We're on the A308 between Maidenhead and Windsor, so bringing a vehicle in on a recovery truck is straightforward.
Engine Rebuilds: common questions
Can you rebuild my engine if the car doesn't start?
Yes. We take in vehicles that don't run, and we can arrange for yours to be recovered to our garage in Bray at an appropriate cost, which we'll tell you before it is booked. Send us your registration and a description of what happened and we'll go from there.
How long does an engine rebuild take?
Roughly two to four days. It depends on the engine, what we find once it is apart and how quickly parts arrive. We'll give you a clearer idea for your vehicle after we've inspected it.
Do you rebuild diesel engines as well as petrol?
Yes, we rebuild both petrol and diesel engines, including work on the injectors, head gasket, valves and timing chain.
How much does an engine rebuild cost?
It varies too much from one engine to the next to give a figure without seeing it: the type of engine, the extent of the damage and the parts needed all change the cost. We inspect the engine first, then give you a written quote so you can decide before any work starts.
Is it better to rebuild my engine or fit a replacement?
It depends on how far the damage goes and what is available for your engine. A rebuild keeps the engine the car was built with, while a replacement or reconditioned engine can be the better choice when the damage is widespread. We do both, and we'll explain which we'd recommend for your vehicle and why.
What's the difference between an engine repair and an engine rebuild?
A repair puts right one fault, such as a failed head gasket or a stretched timing chain. A rebuild goes further: the engine is taken apart, inspected and the worn or damaged parts are replaced together. If your engine has a single fault, our engine repairs page covers that work.