Engine died on me .... help please!!!

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:57 am

Have you tried turning the engine by hand and checking all TDC marks? Check the dizzy/cam and block etc are in the right place after turning it. Will also help to see how easy it turns/if anything is screwed/funny noises etc.
Can also check that the pistons are going up and down and that the valves are opening and shutting correctly while there.
Did you have a spark in the end? Does it stink of fuel when its not starting, at least then you'd know you have fuel. If you check all this, at least you'll know you have spark/fuel, that the timing is ok and all the engine internals are basically doing what they should. I think you're right to not want to keep on turning it on the starter. Also the backfire pop thing you described does sound like position sensor or dizzy out.
Think it would be a good idea to have the head off, have it checked for straightness/cracks etc, put a new gasket/bolts and new belt on, then you can check the teeth etc too.

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:23 am

thanks for that .... cam belt looks fine ...no missing teeth .While pushing the car back and forth should there be a click and a bit of resistance while pushing it in gear. Was trying to see if it was the valves near where the bolt broke but didn't seem like it. It would move slightly forward , hit resistance and then with a shove would click as the resistance was overcome ...that normal ??

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:24 am

wow . head bolts sheared

this happend to my boss on his skyline
and the head of the bolt fell down the oil gallery into the sump ..not good!

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:25 am

Can icheck the TDC marks with just the rocker cover off or do I have to remove anything else ???

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:26 am

thats good means you have compression . now if you can get four of them in a row !!

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:32 am

there's also a small piece missing from the bolt under where the head of it broke ... that will be looking for a needle in a haystack. Bloody useless bolts they used back then ...

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:33 am

Or u dould just put a socket on the crank and turn it over by hand. lot less hassle and strain

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 10:35 am

No that will still be in there as it is bout 10" long (not boastin or nothin :lol:

)

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:16 pm

Got a new head bolt coming this pm .... can you guys tell me what size torx bit I need to fit it ... ????

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:38 pm

a broken head bolt doesnt stop an engine untill it get caught up in the valvetrain
iam betting that the things got caught and made the cambelt jump and knocked all the timing out . and at worst bent a few valves.

you can still see the engine turn as the belt not broke just in a different place

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 1:54 pm

psychochild187 wrote:a broken head bolt doesnt stop an engine untill it get caught up in the valvetrain
iam betting that the things got caught and made the cambelt jump and knocked all the timing out . and at worst bent a few valves.

you can still see the engine turn as the belt not broke just in a different place

I agree that this is looking more and more likely.

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:05 pm

So what will it take to get it repaired, guys ?
And will it take a garage ling to find out all the faults ? Looking at Ãƒ”šÃ‚£50 quid an hour labour on this !!

Post Tue Jun 07, 2005 9:31 pm

Next thing to do is identify the timing marks on both the crankshaft pulley and camshaft sprocket and see if they both line up at the same time, to confirm if it is the timing belt that has jumped.
You could also measure all the tappet clearances. Same procedure as setting the tappets, but just measure the gap with feeler gauges rather than adjust them.
A bent valve head will probably have excessive clearance.