Hi,
My wife went to start her 1998 Rover 214 16v the other morning, but it would'nt turn over.
On examination I found the starter would not turn the engine at all........I thought the starter was knackered, but on testing the thing I found it to be OK...........I then thought there was a major mechanical problem with the engine, but the car had gradually been losing coolant, and there were no obvious leaks.
So I took each spark plug out in turn and cranked the engine.........no joy until I took out the spark plug in No 3 Cylinder.........The engine turned over as normal, accompanied by a huge fountian of water from the spark plug hole, The cylinder was full of coolant!!......I let the water blow out, replaced the spark plug and the engine started as normal.
The engine runs perfectly, with no oil in coolant or coolant in oil so I'm wondering could it be the Head Gasket?.....Or is it the inlet manifold gasket?