Project 100mpg

[TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL]

yep, its timing. timing belt is only 54000 miles old, however, i guess the dealer didnt replace the idler pulley, cause the bearings disintegrated. in the time it took the hydraulic tensioner to retighten the belt, the crank jumped ahead 90 degrees. Dont know if the valves are bent yet. Also dont know if being 90 degrees off would prevent spark, since i still have that problem as well.

oh well vacations coming up, and im not giving up on it.

[Christ]

90* off could definitely kill spark, as the ECU would see that the CKP and CPS aren't lined up and prevent the spark from occurring to prevent further engine damage.

If you want to check for bent/broken valves, get a fitting that screws into the spark plug hole, and blow each cylinder full of air up to 100 PSI. If the cylinder pressurizes (even if it doesn't hold the pressure very long) they're most likely OK.

A better test is to fill the cylinder with a light oil like 5w30 when it's only a few degrees from TDC and the valves are supposed to be closed (line the cams up so the valves are closed on the cylinder you're testing). Manually turn the crank against the pressure of the oil and check the intake and exhaust ports for oil seepage.

If you find any seepage, make sure the valves are closed and repeat the test if necessary. If the valves were closed and you get seepage, you have damaged valves.

The latter test will help you determine whether to just put a new timing kit on, or remove/rebuild the engine.

In either event, replace the WHOLE timing kit. While you're in there, if you've got the money, check out some adjustable cam gears.

If you need to replace the head, don't worry, just bolt on a head from a Caravan or PT Cruiser - they're the same casting, you just use the sensor and cams from your engine. If you wanted to use the 2.4's cams, you have to use the 2.4 sensor, IIRC, and something has to be changed, but I can't recall what it is.

If you flip the 2.0's cam gears over, they say "2.4 Liter Side" or something to that effect on them. They're the same parts. Isn't that nice of Chrysler? LOL.

[Frank Lee]

I've done that, but with air. I don't think there's a need to make a big mess with oil. I used my radiator hose "stethoscope" to listen at the intake then at the exhaust for the sound of moving air while the cyl was pressurized.

[Christ]

I usually do it with air, and listen at the TB/Carb and remove the O2 sensor if it's equipped, or unbolt the down pipe from the header and listen there, with a piece of fuel line.

I suggest oil at times, though, because it's sometimes easier to just dump some oil in there than to go find a fitting that will match up with your spark plug holes, then pump air into the cylinders, etc..

BTW - When I put the engine in my wife's Saturn, it wouldn't start - the compression was less than 60 PSI across all four cylinders. I put about 10 squirts of 0w30 in each cylinder, compression tested it, and it came up with ~240 on all 4 cylinders... put the plugs back in, and it started right up, like it had never sat in the junk yard for almost a year uncovered with rain, condensation, snow, etc... all getting into the oil and cylinders.

[Backtobasics]

That engine is interference based, so I am betting valves are bent.
Wife's Neon, the water pump failed, and ate timing belt.
We pulled a JY head, and pulled valves out.
Head was big bucks, valves were 2.00 each, so we escaped for 32 bucks.

[Christ]

If you come up with a TDI motor, I'll give you the 2.4 in my Caravan. It has less than 100,000 miles on it, but has a slight rod tap when it's cold.

I'm not joking, either. Of course, you'll have to come get it and drop off the TDI... lol.

I'd actually consider a swap for any 3 or 4 cylinder automotive diesel engine, whether it's legal for emissions or not. (We don't have emissions testing here, so if you don't get caught, it's not a problem.)

[TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL]

haha, nice, i wish cali was that good with swaps

im headed out now to pull the vc and look for loose rockers, then im sure i have a fitting somewhere

when it goes back together, the entire timing assembly will be new, just might have to wait till after my wedding in 4 weeks, spend all my and her money getting that and our vacation set up. So i might be riding my dads dual sport to work for a few weeks.

then again, if the cars down that long, i have a whole week of vacation to do things like cleaning out the egr

[Christ]

Start a fuel log for the Dual Sport - I'd love to see mileage figures on it for a commute.

I almost bought a Honda TwinStar 185 a couple weeks ago, but it wasn't older than '73 and the guy can't find a title for it, so I'd have to spend a good bit of money and time on getting one. I passed, even though it was preserved in mint condition, even the OEM paint was untouched.

[TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL]

i believe it gets around 45-50mph, KLR650. Gotta be pretty heavy on the throttle to cruise on the freeway on that thing.

[TOOSTUBBORN2FAIL]

Well, the car started, im going to replace the rest of the timing components, then test the compression, if its good were back on.

good thing too, as i have 1200 miles of driving on my vacation.

Unfortunately, that means my next tank will have a huge jump in mpg, and i wont be able to pinpoint which items helped the most. Oh well, im at 43mpg now, we'll see what 44psi vs 32 in the tires, a little more grillblock, drivers mirror delete, cleaning up the half blocked egr, and the 25% reduction in cruising rpms and 6.25 pound lighter clutch/flywheel do for it