What went wrong

[Blkbomber]

My car had some trouble starting a few days ago while it was really cold out but once it was warmed up it ran fine. So I had been starting it at least once a day and letting it come to operating temperature just to keep it all good. So after driving fine Monday, I let sit all day tuesday till I had to go get my nephew from daycare. I tried to start it and it sputtered. I tried it again and it starts but idles like caca and sounds like hammers in the head. I drove it around the block and it sounded like crap and had no power. I shut it off and left it alone. I came back the next day and tried to start it and it would clatter to 2500 rpm and die. No smoke just clattering. I checked all vacuum lines, sparkplugs, and plug wires. I have no clue what is wrong. I'm out of ideas and now the car wont even start with a jump. It just turns over. I'm going to call around for a shop to look at it now because I am stressing to death. Any Ideas?

 

[rowlex]

If this happened to my car I would:

1st. pull spark plugs
2nd. have a friend turn it over and try to "arc" the spark plug wires (i suppose it might work to just leave the spark plugs in the wires and look for it arc'ing) or touch the spark plug wire against a metal surface.
3rd. smell for gas from each cylinder
4th. run a compression test

 

[bird man]

My car did the same exact thing last month! I got a piece of metal from some welding in my exhaust mani that blew thru my turbo. The blades broke and pieces of them got sucked into my head and stuck in the valve runners. The metal piece jamed the valve and got it stuck so the piston kept smacking the valve and thats what made the "hammer" noise. I doubt it was caused by the same thing as mine, but i bet the end result is the same. You probably have a bent or stuck valve.
Sorry to hear that man, Sounds like the head will be commin off soon.

 

[bane3d]

When was the last time you serviced the timing belt? Bring the engine to top dead center and check the alignment of the cam sprockets and see if your timing belt jumped. Your valves might be kissing the pistons.

I think this is an accurate guess. Pull off the timing belt cover and see if you have skipped timing. Also, do a compression test.

http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/compression.htm

Then we can go from there.

d

 

[Blkbomber]

The timing is right on. Haven't done a leak down test yet. All the belts were replaced a month ago at satans house. I don't have time now so it will get towed to a shop on Monday. I'll post on what comes out.

 

[Blkbomber]

The good news... no bent valves. The bad... oil drenched CRAS and CAS. They said oil is going into the cylinders and causing it not to start. I'm thinking worn rings or worn cam journals. would a catch can fix this if its neither of these? Don't these blow oil though the heads from time to time? I hope to get it back on the road soon. any other suggestions I may look into?

 

[rowlex]

did you run a compression test yet?? Because if you haven't it will save you a lot of time guessing.

 

[Blkbomber]

Compression test came back 190 across the board. My head gasket is toast. The shop wants to check the head for cracks but that will cost too much. If it does it again I will just get a new head. So I should be up in a while.

 

[luvmygst]

Compression test came back 190 across the board. My head gasket is toast. The shop wants to check the head for cracks but that will cost too much. If it does it again I will just get a new head. So I should be up in a while.

If your numbers are 190 across the board, then it is pretty safe to say the headgasket is good as well as the rings , and the head has no leaks. If the shop is telling you that find another shop. Tell them if the oil is making it not start then put in a new set of plugs and try it. IT sounds like a timing problem to me, I would double check all of the marks myself.

 

[Blkbomber]

Okay got the car back and runnin strong again. So here were the issues. The timing belt was installed improperly, 4 teeth off intake and 3 on exaust which also seemed to affect my oil pressure. Valve cover gasket was finished and the head gasket was on its way out. So I got it back, did a tune-up and now I'm happy and waiting on my school so I can get my $4,000 for a parts upgrade. Thanks for all the help guys.