Car ran fine until it died when I turned the heat on. Any suggestions?

[adammethner05]

Well, yesterday my dad decided to have the talon taken to a shop because of my family's recent vehicle troubles. Hopefully they don't take forever finding out what's wrong with it, because having only 1 vehicle instead of 4 is horrible. I swear there's something wrong with every one of our vehicles...ugh. But I'll still keep everyone posted about what's going on with it. A huge thanks to anybody who replied to this thread and provided information to try and help me figure out my car's problems.

 

[1PhatACR]

Did you check to see if you were getting fuel and spark??

I had a '95 Neon and if you bumped the cam and/or crank sensors they were done. This equals no fuel/no spark.

To check spark, pull a plug wire off of the spark plug and use a piece of wire to ground it while someone is cranking the car over. If it sparks, you have spark.

To check for Fuel. This is not a great method, but always worked for me. Pull your injectors and fuel rail. Stick them in a bucket and have someone crank the engine over for just a second.

Then you can narrow it down from there.

I read that you took it to a garage, but I hope that helps next time.

- Jason

 

[Locke]

To check for Fuel. This is not a great method, but always worked for me. Pull your injectors and fuel rail. Stick them in a bucket and have someone crank the engine over for just a second.

A much cleaner way, and the preferred, is to use a Fuel Pressure gauge to check for fuel (and pressure). If you dont have one of those, and for some reason won't purchase one, you can always stick a key or something into the schrader valve.

 

[1PhatACR]

A much cleaner way, and the preferred, is to use a Fuel Pressure gauge to check for fuel (and pressure). If you dont have one of those, and for some reason won't purchase one, you can always stick a key or something into the schrader valve.

That only works if there is something wrong with the fuel pump. If it's the cam or crank sensor it will allow the fuel pump to work. You will see normal fuel pressure at the rail, but the injectors will not spray.

 

[Locke]

That only works if there is something wrong with the fuel pump. If it's the cam or crank sensor it will allow the fuel pump to work. You will see normal fuel pressure at the rail, but the injectors will not spray.

Your are very correct, and the fact that you were even talking about cam and crank sensors somehow eluded me. Sorry about that.

So, I retract my previous post and replace with this:

A much cleaner way, and the preferred, is to use a noid light.

 

[adammethner05]

I can't stand when I drive by the shop 6 days after taking my car there, and it's STILL SITTING IN THE SAME SPOT OUTSIDE! I mean damn, they're not THAT busy . Must take big lunch breaks or somethin...

 

[oneyedfatguy]

Be patient man, a couple buddies of mine own shops and relying on employees is a challenge. Some are there on time every day and others at their leisure. Maybe you should have one of your parents call and ask if they found ahything out yet? Good luck on it.

 

[adammethner05]

They ended up getting it into the shop earlier today . Strange timing huh? Anyways, I guess my car jumped time enough to make it not run. They did a compression test, and it came out 0, 75, 75, 0....so I'm looking at a fun repair bill. Hopefully the timing is just off and it can just be reset and work without having to tear everything apart again, but with my car I highly doubt it.

 

[oneyedfatguy]

They ended up getting it into the shop earlier today . Strange timing huh? Anyways, I guess my car jumped time enough to make it not run. They did a compression test, and it came out 0, 75, 75, 0....so I'm looking at a fun repair bill. Hopefully the timing is just off and it can just be reset and work without having to tear everything apart again, but with my car I highly doubt it.

Pretty much the opposite of my son's,. It had good compression in 1 & 4 , 15 and 30 in 2& 3. Hope you didn't bend anything when it jumped time.

 

[adammethner05]

If I bent valves I'd be so unhappy. I'd be right back to where I started when I had to tear my head off to fix my headgasket. Nothing like doing a CRAPLOAD of work, just to have to turn around and do the same amount of work 3 weeks later. Fun fun...

 

[adammethner05]

Jumped time and bent a valve...Everything I did was useless. Man I feel like a winner...

 

[Locke]

Yeah, but now you'll be getting quick at it.

 

[oneyedfatguy]

Jumped time and bent a valve...Everything I did was useless. Man I feel like a winner...

It wasn't useless. You are learning this stuff. CJ's car has had the timing belt replaced very recently and I am rather certain the mechanic didn't follow the instructions for tensioning it. We will hopefully get it put back together tonight so we can at least check compression.

 

[4UH8ERS]

Jumped time and bent a valve...Everything I did was useless. Man I feel like a winner...

Hey no biggie man, we work on our own cars because its fun remember.

 

[adammethner05]

I bet after all of that I could tear the head back off my car in no time, but my parents decided that they're just gonna pay somebody to do it. They were gonna do that at first anyways, so I thought I'd try my luck with it and obviously it didn't work out. It was fun working on it, and I'd definitely enjoy being able to work on my car again, but the 600bux I dropped on parts/valve job etc. ended up being a waste. That was really the only bummer to me, because I don't have a lot of money and I payed for everything myself.