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Car won't stay on after head rebuild. HELP

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sherwinz28

15+ Year Contributor
219
3
Aug 25, 2004
Hayward, California
I received my cylinder head back, installed it on the block, tapped a new hole for spark plug #1, placed the insert with the plug in there and put all new belts/pulleys. I then plugged all the spark plugs wires on to their respective plugs and went to start the car. The car, after a few tries, started up but it will not idle properly and if I don't press the gas it dies. What could be the problem? Also note, I do not know the history of the car previous to me buying it for $250 non running. The car had a shredded timing belt and so it needed all new valves. Could it be bad gasoline, not timed properly, need some adjustment, Crank angle sensor on wrong? I've done some searching already but I think I need my own thread for this.
Thanks in advance.

Also I don't know where the hose for the valve cover goes so I left if unplugged (not the one going to intake manifold). I'm hoping I got all the vacuum lines/hoses in the correct places...I tried to go by the book but its a jungle in there.
 
Ummm wow this'll be fun :)

How old is the gas :) IF the car's been sitting for 6 months and it's got 8 month old gas in it, s'prolly not so good. There are numerous things it could be though. It's it dumping fuel in? Could be flooding it with fuel. Could be quite a few different sensors. Take pics of what you have questions about if you can and we'll be able to help pretty quickly.
 
I would say drain the gas for sure, but sounds like a vacuum leak to me. If you put the CAS about midway it sould be good enough for the car to atleast idle.
 
sherwinz28 said:
. Could it be bad gasoline, not timed properly, need some adjustment, Crank angle sensor on wrong? I've done some searching already but I think I need my own thread for this..
Could be bad gas but I would think that bad gas is bad gas. Adding more of it shouldn't keep it running(see your below quote)

sherwinz28 said:
. The car, after a few tries, started up but it will not idle properly and if I don't press the gas it dies. .

sherwinz28 said:
. Also I don't know where the hose for the valve cover goes so I left if unplugged (not the one going to intake manifold). I'm hoping I got all the vacuum lines/hoses in the correct places...I tried to go by the book but its a jungle in there.
Sounds like you're letting in unmetered air to me. Probably from your intake(pre turbo) pipe. That would be where the vacuum hose from the valve cover goes. Without the vacuum hose connected, unmetered air will be sucked in. That alone could cause your symptoms. Get that taken care of first.
If you're still having problems after you fix the above, we'll go from there.

good luck
 
Ok well I just put the CAS so that its kind of on and the bolts are like in the middle of the guides.

As far as the hoses for the pre-turbo intake...I guessed on those. I found a hose laying underneath and connected that one to the intake pipe not sure where it goes but it fit. Anyone have a diagram or something so I know where the hose for the intake pipe goes and the one left over on the valve cover. I know one goes to intake manifold from the valve cover which I've got plugged. Also the car does not sound good at all when I'm giving it gas...sounds like a dry heave sort of. Maybe I can take a small video from my camera. I will do that after work and post up.
Thanks guys
 
Sorry about the bad video but its being hosted here. I can email to anyone that wants to see it.

http://www.savefile.com/filehost/files2.php?fid=8392823

I took all the plugs out and checked them and they were really dirty after I've tried to start the car a few times, oil black and gunky. One time it idled for a few seconds before it shut off and it was sounding somewhat decent. The belt also squeeks very loudly and I have a feeling its the alternator belt...will try to adjust it tomorrow. Should I just tug on it and then tighten the adjustment bolt? I also loosened the screw on top of the throttle body so it could try to idle but it didnt help. I'm thinking I should try to turn the CAS and see if that helps any. I'm also hearing a hissing noise coming from the intake manifold area not sure where its coming from. I also figured out that the hose from the valve cover goes to the intake pipe (preturbo) and then the evap canister hose goes to the intake pipe as well(preturbo). I still have one hose that is not connected and that hose is from the little nipple on the BOV...where does it connect to? I know its a long hose...where does it go?
 
The nipple on the BOV goes to the intake manifold. Couldn't here the hissing because the belt squeel damn near cracked my beer bottle, but a hissing would indicate some sort of leak. Check you UICP or the gaskets for your TB.
 
I'm not too worried about leaving the BOV unplugged for now. I just want this car to start idling and then I can work out the little bugs. I looked all over the intake manifold and there are only 2 other small nipples. One goes to the valve cover(PCV) and the other goes to somewhere on the drivers side. Are there more then 2 nipples on the intake manifold? Will leaving this unplugged cause an inability to idle? Also whats the easiest way to check compression without having to manually turn the motor over by the hub? I have a feeling the rings my be bad as the plugs were nasty looking when I took them out and they were new freshly put in before I tried to force it to idle.
 
just got done with my rebuild yesterday and my car was doing the same thing. it would only stay on if i held the gas until it warmed up. it would then idle but it sounded like it was lugging along on 2 to 3 cylinders. As it turns out it was. I had #2 and #3 plug wires backwards. check that. hope it helps you.
 
I'm not sure if that is the problem because I made sure the plug wires are in order.
passenger side drivers side

4 3 2 1

If that is wrong please let me know. But does anyone have advice on the intake manifold missing that nipple?!
 
are they right on the other end? to the ignition/ignitor thing(can't remember what that damn thing is called) they go 4_1_2_3 from left to right if i'm not mistaken. it is also numbered right above where the plugs go in. best to check there. let us know
 
sherwinz28 said:
I'm not sure if that is the problem because I made sure the plug wires are in order.
passenger side drivers side

4 3 2 1

If that is wrong please let me know. But does anyone have advice on the intake manifold missing that nipple?!
that is the number of your cylinders,as you look at your coil pack(from left to right)4123-that is your firing order

cylinder 4 is 1st
1 is 2nd
2 is 3rd
3 is 4th
 
Well I just checked again and on the cylinders its 4321 and on the ignition it is 4123. Everything looks correct so I'm pretty sure its not that. I also double checked the vacuum lines and they are all in the correct order on the throttle body but I still don't know where the last vacuum line from the BOV goes. Well actually I do know where it goes but the intake manifold I have doesn't have that nipple?! Would that cause it not to be able to idle?
 
Yeah tightening down the alternator belt was one of the first things I did. Whats the easiest way to set up the vacuum lines to make the car idle properly? I have them set up correctly as far as I can tell according to the haynes manual. I am just missing that nipple for the intake manifold to BOV.
 
http://www.savefile.com/filehost/files2.php?fid=8168756

Just an update for today. I figured out that if I remove one of the hoses from the throttle body (on topmost vacuum hose) and replace it with the BOV hose that the car idles much better(BOV hose doesn't fit well onto the throttle body nipple). I also found a leak in my throttle body gasket between the throttle body and the intake manifold. I sprayed carb cleaner around that area and the idle started surging so I knew I had a leak there. Also if I stick my fingers and try to seal it the car idles better as well. The video shows the car idlling much better but the valvetrain is pretty loud not sure why. I also found an oil leak around what seems to be the oil filter area but above it. Can anyone tell me if I can just tee off of one of the vacuum lines off the throttle body or intake and connect the BOV hose to it since my manifold doesn't have the nipple for it? Any other comments/hints welcome.

Thanks for all the help, very appreciated.

P.S. Video is 18.1 megabytes. If you guys need any pictures or more videos to help diagnose let me know.
 
1.) Did you prime the engine before starting it? Because that ticking sounds like your lifters. Did you clean and reinsert the old ones, or did you install revised lifters, did you lube the cams?

2.) TB Gasket is leaking obviously, replace it. I think you found a new form of "nos" LOL. WTF

3.) Is your Oil Filter on tight enough, and all lines surrounding the area are connected?

4.) Edit: Why don't you have a nipple on the intake manifold for the BOV?
 
1. I recieved the head back from BJ and it had assembly lube all over it. I am using the revised lifters...at least thats what I ordered. Not sure what else I was suppose to do before I started the car?

2. Yep going to dealer to buy new gaskets for throttle body...strange thing is these are new gaskets...I will use gasket sealant this time!

3. I tightened the oil filter fairly tight. I will check the lines around it. Actually I was going to put the car back on jack stands and just run the motor and try to see exactly where its coming from.

4. This intake manifold just doesn't have it...I will take a pic after work and post it. That's how I know for sure its not the manifold I sent out. Did mitsubishi make any intake manifolds without this nipple?

Also can anyone answer my question about tee'ing off one of the other lines for the BOV hose?

Thanks
 
I'm pretty sure the lifters will clatter for awhile. Maybe one of the wisemen will answer your question about the bov line to intake mani. generally you remove the mpi fuse *i think thats the one* its the fuse that cuts power to the injectors that way you can crank over the engine and prime it with oil
 
Sounds like you're letting in unmetered air to me. Probably from your intake(pre turbo) pipe. That would be where the vacuum hose from the valve cover goes. Without the vacuum hose connected, unmetered air will be sucked in. That alone could cause your symptoms. Get that taken care of first.
If you're still having problems after you fix the above, we'll go from there.

good luck[/QUOTE]

Agreed on the vacuum hose........Big arse Hole to be just sucking straight air.Get the valve cover hose attached and as stated if it dont fix it drop another line. :cool:
Mike
 
The leak i cant help you with, the tb seems like its the only problem. The lifter tick should cease or dull down eventually.

Sounds like you're letting in unmetered air to me. Probably from your intake(pre turbo) pipe. That would be where the vacuum hose from the valve cover goes. Without the vacuum hose connected, unmetered air will be sucked in. That alone could cause your symptoms. Get that taken care of first.
If you're still having problems after you fix the above, we'll go from there.

good luck

Agreed on the vacuum hose........Big arse Hole to be just sucking straight air.Get the valve cover hose attached and as stated if it dont fix it drop another line.
Mike

Honestly sir, his pcv valve and valve vent are connected... and after looking at the video.. I'm not seeing what you're suggesting.

I would leave the bov hose to where you have it now, and get another intake manifold from a parts guy/junkyard. *If you need help with this, IM me @ EisBrecherII on AIM*

Tb gasket - should stop all the leaking and help your idle a lot, remember to torque it down properly and remove the old gasket COMPLETELY. No remenants should be left on either mating surface. Make sure to not gouge the surfaces either. Now... To concentrate on that leak of yours.. you might want to check the gaskets as thats more than likely your leaking issue, that and check the hoses.. let me know!
 
sherwinz28 said:
Ok well I figured out why I don't know where one of the hoses goes. I luckily took a picture of everything before I sent it to BJ. The intake manifold he sent me doesn't have this nipple on it!!! I am so pissed right now I just don't what to do. Someone please help me!

If it doesn't have the nipple for the BOV, you were sent an intake manifold from a N/A 4G63.
 
huafist said:
If it doesn't have the nipple for the BOV, you were sent an intake manifold from a N/A 4G63.
Yes but you can still make it work.
All you need is a vacuum line from the manifold.
T the BOV line into one of the vacuum hoses on the Intake mani and you should be fine.
If you go to any auto parts store, you can find a T with different ends(one may be large, another end small and the last large. I hope you understand what I'm trying to get at). That way you can T the larger BOV into any size line.
Good luck

***edit***
I do not suggest T'ing it into the PCV vacuum line that goes to the Intake mani.
If you're routing your PCV line to a catchcan, you can then use the nipple on the intake mani for your BOV line.
 
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