2G Car died while driving, won't restart. I need serious help!!!

[stugotsv10]

So I picked up a 99 GST yesterday, Fully rebuilt engine, Forged everything, AEM whole 9 yards, other then running a little rich, it ran flawless the whole way home (200 miles or so) about 25 miles from my house, rolling up to a light (now since this is a new build with like 400 miles on it now I'm not hammering this thing AT ALL) press the clutch to down shift and BOOM she drops STONE dead, I coast to the side of the road, she won't fire and has a fast cranking, fast to the point where it doesnt sound like its catching just "Free spinning"

After a WAR to get her home because its lowered, I have it towed home, pull the plugs, they look a bit fouled so I clean em (at this time no where is open to get new ones) pistons look good, crank it with no plugs, feel big gusts of air so there is movement, pop em back in, try some starting fluid NO change.

Now I checked spark on all 4 BUT to be honest to ME it looked weak but I know NOTHING about these cars so IDK what is an acceptable spark, I know coming from Mustangs and Vettes that spark looked weak as all hell.

Timing belt look fine, gotta love those see through brackets

Any ideas here? I'm LOST LOST

 

[ShadyDoins]

I will bet you right now $200 you have no compression. If you show us proof you have compression and tell me your venmo or paypal or whatever I will send you $200. No BS, prove me wrong

 

[DSMPT]

1. Can a crack position sensor cause this?

No, it can't cause the fast crank.

2. Can the AEM software do this? I know the car was running rich and the tune was well.. not right

No, it can't cause the fast crank.

3. I can NOT find the proper AEM software for this car, how do I know which one it should be?

You have to tell us what AEM ECU you have. Then we will let you know what software you will need.

At least upload some pics or a video, we may be able to find something visually.

Sudden no start + Sudden fast crank ≒ No compression for some reason. Most likely bent valves as everyone mentioned.

 

[stugotsv10]

Still having a really hard time getting someone willing to actually work on this car!!!! its so annoying.

With that said my new Serial to USB cable arrived today and allowed me to get into the AEM, couple things I noticed, when cranking the car over NO cam Values, NONE and also no timing values NONE.... that make sense to any of you?

Also any of you guys live close to NY / CT? I need someone to work on this thing

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Still having a really hard time getting someone willing to actually work on this car!!!! its so annoying.

With that said my new Serial to USB cable arrived today and allowed me to get into the AEM, couple things I noticed, when cranking the car over NO cam Values, NONE and also no timing values NONE.... that make sense to any of you?

Also any of you guys live close to NY / CT? I need someone to work on this thing

Take the top timing cover off. See if the timing belt is intact and that the cams/gears spin when you crank it over

 

[Mello]

It's not your AEM if you have spark.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Do you have any mechanical ability at all? Why are we still waiting for you to do a compression test to tell us what most of us already suspect or know?

 

[Justin DuBois]

Yeah - you may even see some rockers fallen loose. You should totally do this yourself. Really, you can pick up a loaner tool at most auto parts stores. Go grab yourself a compression tester and get that info.

I bet you at the end of this your going to find a loose TB tensioner, and you skipped some teeth - after 200mi - Dang - It's a True DSM rite of passage.

 

[stugotsv10]

At his point I may as well just go buy a tool and check... I kept holding off because I had shops that seemed willing to do it and I do know once I do the test the next step im likely not gonna be able to do.. so I thought I'd wait but at this point I see no one really wants to even touch this car

 

[Justin DuBois]

Lifting the valve cover is easy off, easy on. Get yourself a tube of permatex grey, for the re-assembly. Lift that thing and look. Mind the bolt assembly order when you put the cover back on. Try to snug them down at the same time evenly - You are looking for a gentle even pressure on the gasket, you should not bottom out the bolts, and they don't need more than finger torque with your smallest socket wrench. If the gaskets are relatively new, you can use them again. As you remove the cover, look which side of the cover the gasket stuck to, (head or cover) and gently take it off without tearing the rubber.

The "hardest" part is removing the vacuume hose clamp and sliding the hose off the nipple on the back left corner of the cover.

 

[ShadyDoins]

I am going to be straight with you. I hope you don't take it the wrong way, we are all trying to help you. As much as I love this platform I will tell you 200% this is not the platform you want if you are going to take it to a shop for anything that goes wrong.

If you take this to a shop they are going to charge you an astronomical fee to change valves if that is the problem. Then you will drive it home and 3 days later something else will go wrong. Listen, I know when you first get into learning a new platform it is overwhelming. We all went through it at the beginning but all you need to do is focus on 1 problem at a time and how to fix it, and before you know it you will know that car inside and out.

To be honest driving the car is only half the fun, learning how everything works and knowing you did the work and you can fix anything you need to is really where you will get the sense of pride in your car.

What is the worst case scenario if you try to do the job yourself? Even if you get halfway through and don't know what to do and you take it to a shop. You still learned alot and you saved yourself half of the bill a shop will charge.

 

[stugotsv10]

I agree, I just wanted to get my feet wet with something a LITTLE easier then a valve job for my first run

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

For the love of God, go to an auto parts store and rent a compression tester. Do the first step in diagnosing the problem. If the next post I see on this thread isn’t you telling us the results of a compression test, I’m going to ask a moderator to lock the thread.

 

[stugotsv10]

Feel free to have whoever lock whatever you choose, This thread was never about ME doing this myself, this thread was about me trying to see what I was in for. So 1. I know roughly how much it will cost me at a shop and 2. So I don't get ripped off by the shop claiming its a more expensive job then it is (we all know how that goes) Never once in this thread have you seen me say "I'm gonna rip this thing apart and do these valves on my own" that was never my intention

 

[19Eclipse90]

Best case, you are in for a freshly rebuilt head and all upper end gaskets + timing belt install.

Worst case, you need another engine.

I personally wouldn't bother with a compression test as it certainly does sound like bent valves. Pull off the valve cover and inspect as suggested - the likelihood that some of the rockers have been knocked off is high and indicative of bent valves. Pull the upper timing belt cover off and inspect the belt. I'd be surprised if it wasn't broken.

Good luck!

 

[Justin DuBois]

Well, I can't do a valve job myself, but I know I can take the head off and bring it to a shop that does.

Its a lot easier to carry a head in your trunk , than a flatbed to move your car.

 

[stugotsv10]

Now thats actually a very good point!!!!!

 

[stugotsv10]

Wellll found a shop / Tuner for our cars semi local, this way I can get it repaired AND finally tuned (because it needed that even if this DIDNT happen) its being picked up Tues by the shop

 

[92AWDHX40]

Good to hear after all that.

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Wellll found a shop / Tuner for our cars semi local, this way I can get it repaired AND finally tuned (because it needed that even if this DIDNT happen) its being picked up Tues by the shop

Which shop?

 

[stugotsv10]

Pruven Performance in CT

 

[stugotsv10]

$15k complete rebuild... apparently the car was built and they forgot the oil regulator.... so it's shot shot and it's about 15k for a full rebuild

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

Oil regulator? $15k to rebuild what? You can build a pretty nice CAR for $15k

 

[stugotsv10]

Apparently whoever built it literally FORGOT to put it in... starved the engine and boom.. Pistons and all are shot

 

[NOSLO2PT0]

The only regulator I can think of is the HLA regulator in the head. Find a new shop. For $15k, you can damn near buy a Demon Spec long block

 

[stugotsv10]

Like this one

**Boostin Performance 1,500+WHP Red Demon Spec Short Block** (DSM/Evo)

shop.boostinperformance.com