Sure sounds like your clutch pedal, under the steering wheel, has wore out. Specifically, a steel rod runs from the top of the clutch pedal to an arm that then connects to a small pushrod that goes directly into the master cylinder located on the firewall. The steel rod, where it connects to...

New spark plugs and spark plug wires is where I'd start. Very common problem.

I've had the same problem twice. It is your spark plug wires. Wires deteriorate over time with the demand we put on our cars. I change my plug wires every six months. I use Bosch from AutoZone. I just return my old ones and get a new set under warranty. The white smoke, however, is usually...

My turbo used to leak oil constantly. Look up at the turbo from underneath where the return line hooks to the turbo and see if there is oil there. Good luck.

Did you change the valve stem seals? What is the compression on each cylinder? If you have low compression, I would say piston rings are the problem. It also sounds like it is running very rich. Do you have an air/fuel gauge to see if you're running rich?

Depending on the amount of oil passing the seals, it can foul spark plugs.

Sounds like a spark problem to me, also. Usually, its the spark plug wires. They break down inside very quickly. I change mine once a year. Autozone carries the NGK spark plugs. I bet if you change the plugs and wires your problem will go away. Good luck.

There are two types of "knocking" people talk about here. One is pre-detonation knock which the knock sensor picks up when you are running too lean. The other is rod knock. Clearly, you are talking about rod knock. You usually cannot hear rod knock while idling because the engine isn't under...

Put a straight edge across the cam gears and see if the two timing marks (the two in the middle) and the outer marks (you have marks that look like timing marks on the opposite sides of the cam gears) line up when the crankshaft gear is dead on. If they all do not line up, then timing is off.

Some transmissions- transfer case combinations don't work. If you have a 23 spline transmission and a 22 spline transfer case, you have a problem. Count the splines on the input shaft of the transmission where the transfer case hooks up and then count the splines on the transfer case. The...

When you put the engine back in the car, did you burp the coolant system? I had the same problems until I burped the system. To burp the system, take your radiator cap off (top of thermostat housing) and let car heat up to operating temperature. Use a tall funnel and keep the funnel half full...

A lot of us use PartsDinosaur, Phoenix, Arizona, wholesale engine parts and kits. They have excellent customer service and fast delivery. They even sell the MLS gasket. I'm using one now.

I can't remember if ARP makes 2 sets of head studs, one for 6-bolt and one for 7-bolt. If they do and you use the 6 bolt studs, you'll need to bore out the head bolt holes in your 7-bolt head because the 6-bolt head bolts are larger in diameter. When you get the ARP studs delivered, push them...

Get a complete head job done since you'll have it off. Resurface the head, valve job, new valve stem seals, valve guides if needed, and don't forget those 3mm hydraulic lifters. They eliminate the ticking if you have it. Good luck.

The car looks nice on the outside. But what about under the hood? If you don't know when the last time a timing belt was replaced and a complete tune up (plugs, plug wires, PCV valve, oil change, air filter, etc.), then its time to do it now! As we all know, that timing belt and all timing...

Is the car in gear and at least 3 tires on the ground? Maybe your trying to move the whole car by turning the crankshaft pulley.

It only take a few minutes to check clearances for yourself. No harm in checking twice. Better than finding out after a blown engine that the clearances were wrong.

I am currently assembling a 6-bolt engine. It will take one day to assemble the engine and another day day to install it in the car. I find it much easier to install the block first, then put the head on after the block is in the car. Also, I always install the head, intake manifold and...

Power steering is added weight in your car. The fluid, the rack itself, the power steering pump, etc. all contribute to extra weight that slows you down on the track. You also have the added potential leaking issues. So, what do you mean "what's the problem with power steering?" There are many.

The spline count is the number of teeth on the shaft from the transmission to the transfer case. I also have a 1993 and it has 23 teeth on the shaft that goes into the T-case. Hope this explains what "23 spline" means.

Parts Dinosaur 3g lifters are great. No problems after 50K miles.

A misfire is most commonly caused by a spark issue such as a bad spark plug or plug wires. Change your plugs and wires if you haven't done so lately. I change mine once per year.

Get yourself a Chilton's manual or Hayne's manual. Biggest tip you can get is to take the head, intake manifold and exhaust manifold off as ONE unit. Trying to get to those intake manifold bolts on the underside is a pain in the a** while the head is still in the car. I just pulled my head...

My car was doing the same thing 3 weeks ago. I did a compression test and all seemed fine. But, I pulled the head last weekend and the head gasket had a small passage way from cylinder 4 to a coolant jacket. I was definitely pushing coolant, but a compression test didn't reveal it. Even...

You may also find that you stripped the timing belt teeth around the crankshaft pulley and not the key in the pulley. Either way, you need to put it all back together and check compression to see if valves are bent. Been there, done that more than once. It sucks.

When you turn on AC, your car needs to compensate for the added load. It does so by increasing your idle via the IAC (Idle air control or Idle speed control). Sounds like your IAC isn't working.

Are you getting electricity to the IAC? The valve may not move just by turning the key on. The IAC is triggered by engine temperature and it closes as the engine warms up to operating temperature.

Buy new plugs and wires, then get back to us. Plugs and wires can be deceiving.

The sensor in the photo is for your air conditioning. Also, to burp the system, use a tall funnel that fits tightly in the thermostat housing (where the radiator cap is). Make sure to keep the funnel full as you are burping the system. You do not have to raise the vehicle. Just park on a...

So, your accessory belts (Power steering, alternator, etc.) are not spinning when you turn the key to turn the car over? Take the starter out and look in the hole and try spinning the flywheel by hand. If it moves easily, the flywheel ring separated from the flywheel.

If you don't know how many miles are on the timing belt and components, definitely change them. Especially if your already under the timing cover changing the water pump. I agree with RBehne2, it may just be the inlet tube into the back of the water pump leaking. Mine did a while back and I...

Bobster has it right. Instead of pumping the peddle and then holding it down before opening the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder, you can also try opening the bleeder valve first, then pushing the peddle down quickly, then closing the bleeder valve before letting up on the peddle...

You can easily check the turbo shaft play and whether it spins freely by removing your air filter and cold air intake so that you can see the fins on the compression side of the turbo. Stick your fingers in there and spin the fins and see if you can move the shaft back and forth for shaft play.

You don't need the harmonic balancer on to check compression. You also adked if it could be a bad starter. Well, when you turn the key, does the engine crank over? If so, you starter is fine. To check compression, take all 4 spark plugs out. Next, screw the compression tester into a spark...

When is the last time you did a complete tune-up (spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel filter, air filter, 02 sensor, PCV valve, etc.)? If its been a while, its a good idea to do a complete tune-up anyway even if this isn't the problem. I doubt its a boost leak. Even with your intercooling...

A boost leak usually doesn't make the car feel like its hitting a brick wall. Fuel cut under full throttle feels similar to a misfire. I'm betting its old plug wires or spark plugs. Been there, done that. Let us know if new plugs (gapped correctly) and plug wires make a difference.

Your question was never answered. You asked why people use a timing light to set timing. You actually have 2 different timing components like any other vehicle. First, you have valve timing which is set by the timing belt and marks. This ensures pistons and valves don't hit. Second, you...

Tensioners fail like all other timing components. Change it now or pay later.

I am having the same issue. Car over heats. While it cools down, it sucks all the coolant from the reservoir. I'm giong to check my spark plugs this weekend to see if its my head gasket. I've changed the radiator cap, burped the system with a funnel, new 180 thermostat, coolant passes...

Been there, done that. You first need to take the entire timing belt cover off and ensure the belt in fact slipped by checking timing marks. If you bent some valves, the cheapest fix is to find another head at a salvage yard for like $75 and clean up the top of the pistons. The valves may...

One missing bolt on the turbo to manifold and another on your exhaust manifold will not cause the symptoms you are describing. Unless, you are sucking too much outside air into your exhaust and the o2 sensor is picking up that outside air and sending incorrect signals to the ECU. I would find...

Something dawned on me when I read that both of you have no compression, but your timing is correct and no bent valves. This is very strange that all 4 cylinders have zero compression and no bent valves. Are you sure your doing the compression test properly and your compression gauge kit is...

Are the injectors getting fuel now? Are you sure the injectors are installed square in the holes so that you don't have an intake leak? This is where I'd start.

Good luck. If you haven't pulled a transmission from a salvage yard, keep in mind it will take a while if its still fully installed. And, take with you some long cheater bars as those mount bolts can be difficult to remove. Also, ensure the number of splines are the same from the donor car as...

A rod doesn't always knock all the time. When under acceleration, the knock is usually quieter since the bearing is under pressure to turn the crankshaft. When you let off the gas, the bearing is no longer under the load and is allowed to slop between the crankshaft and rods. That's why rod...

Sounds like an isc problem. Also, have you done a tune-up lately, like plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, etc.? Try that, also. If you haven't done a tune-up in a while, its well worth it even if it turns out to not be the problem.

Doesn't sound like an engine problem. Sounds more like what you suggest: a clutch problem. It seems, however, that it should be slipping in 1st if its slipping in 2nd. It may not slip in 3rd or higher gears because they are too high. But, it should definitely slip in 1st if its slipping in...

Does the car go into all gears while the engine is running vs. not running? If it goes into all gears while the engine is not running, but won't go into 2nd 4th and reverse while running, its not a linkage problem. It is a clutch problem. If its a clutch problem, then most likely you need to...

You can pull one at a cheap salvage yard for about $125 with an additional $50 core charge.

I've been running my stock BOV uncrushed on 18psi for about a year and a half without leaking. 20+ psi is pushing the limits of an uncrushed stock BOV, though. I will be increasing my boost to around 26psi in about a month or so and plan on crushing the stock BOV to hold the additional psi...