#2 cyl. dead

[IL4Festiva]

Hey fellas,
i got a dead #2 cylinder, ran a compression test and got over 100 on it so im thinkin its the fuel injector cause i just replaced the plugs and distributor cap. my buddy has a 323 with a 1.6sohc in it, i should be able to use an injector from that wouldnt i? any comments, tips or advice is appreciated
thanks!
sean

[scottxd45]

I don't know anything about compatibility but...

If you don't have an injector tester I would pull out that spark plug put you finger on the hole and have and assistant crank the engine and see if your finger gets fuel on it. If so the injector is probably not bad. Also check for spark because even though you replace the plugs it is always possible to get a bad part.

[scitzz]

Also, with bad spark, it is usually the wires, unless the plug is fouled. I am curious, what did all the cylinders test at. Someone may correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that one cylinder being significantly higher indicates oil in that cylinder. If that is your problem, then you need to check out the valve stem seal, or the ring. Do you see smoke from the exhaust? How did the plug you pulled from that cylinder look? Pull the new plug after running for a while, is it coated with oil? Also, you may want to post up what your car info.....

[skeeters_keeper]

the injectors for a B6 SOHC will work, but they will not plug up to your fesitva harness. you'd have to modify your harness.

There are 3 things you could do to check the injector easily:
1)do as scott suggested, pull the spark plug and crank the engine a few times to see if you can smell gas coming out of that hole.
2)swap the #2 injector w/ another injector and see if the #2 cyl still doesn't fire
3)pull the #2 injector, and get a 9V battery, run some wire from the batt to the injector, it should "click" when you complete the circuit. if it doesn't something is wrong w/ the injector. If it does (or you could try this even if it doesn't), hook the injector up to the battery (i.e. the injector will stay open) and spray carb cleaner through it, if cleaner comes through you should be able to see it and if the injector is partially clogged it will help to clean it up.


good luck!

[festivaWES]

I have an a solution if you going to the trouble to pull one injector from a b6 sohc, why not swap the whole motor. It's only like another 20 bolts to take out, splice the harness, and a couple minor adjustments. On the upside you have a car with a solid 20 more flywheel hp

[scitzz]

But what would a high compression reading have to do with a faulty injector? No moisture in the cylinder would give a lower reading, not higher, wouldn't it?

[scottxd45]

But what would a high compression reading have to do with a faulty injector? No moisture in the cylinder would give a lower reading, not higher, wouldn't it?

I think he was suggesting maybe you had oil or coolant leaking into that cylinder which would cause higher than normal compression and could have fouled the spark plug.

[IL4Festiva]

i've had the plug out since it was running for a while, it did have what could have been a bit of oil on it, but i didn't think twice because it could have just been fuel(this was before the compression test), im no mechanic. and i would just swap the whole b6 motor but i would have to pay for it and i can't do that right away, or pay for the labor for it, i have nowhere to do it myself.
I didn't test the compression on all the cylinders, because i wasn't too worried about what the engine is compressing at because its got 350kms and i really only need this thing on the road for a month or two while i get out of the boonies and then ill be able to replace the engine.
(i'd rather wait cause the mechanic's wife i know has a 323 with 120kms on it and the parts car for it i'd be gettin the engine from has 250 and hes planning on replacing it with a cobalt SS, ill get it for 100$)
and the higher compression rate made us think it was the injector because we were expecting a faulty exhaust valve. (the car used to have a faint smell of fuel in the interior and exterior while running, but that has dissapeared so im not sure) And no the car is combusting properly except it does not smell like gasoline fumes anymore.
Thanks for all the help everyone and i will try some of your recommendations.
Thanks,
Sean

[IL4Festiva]

sorry double posted due to internet..

[scitzz]

I know mine runs about 90 PSI in all cylinders, but for a proper compression test, you need to test all cylinders to diagnose....if one cylinder is running high, oil is getting in. Conversely, if you have a low result, you pour a couple drops of oil in the cylinder, then test that one again. If it raises, it is the ring.....and so on.

Glad to hear you are up and running!

[packrat427]

I had a miss once , it was not a plug , and that 1 plug was dry .

I pulled the injectors out , and 1 was plugged with a very very fine red sediment .

I used a fine brass pick tool and held the injector upside down and broke it loose , until most of it was out .

Then I took carb cleaner and sprayed up into the injector , still holding it upside down , so the sediment would run out the top of the injector , and not go deeper into it .

It fixed it ,and I have never had trouble with it since , been 3 years or more now , and a lot of miles .

I went ahead and done all 4 at the same time , and replace the o-rings on all the injectors also .

Very easy and cheap fix .

[IL4Festiva]

thanks for the advice scitzz/packrat, both very helpful.
scitzz, the piston ring couldn't stop me from combusting in that cylinder if it was still compressing right?
Packrat i will 100% be trying that method out after i see if it is the injector that isnt working.
(i only get to work on my car on the weekends cause its at my buds father's shop, hes bein a real good fella in helpin me out with this too)

[jglutz]

Just some comments....
I haven't read how it was determined that the no. two cylinder is bad....a quick and accurate way to determine this is to run the engine and pull one spark plug wire at a time and then reinstall it...during this proceedure check for drop in RPM (can be listened to)...each cylinder should create a drop in performance equally while the the wire has been removed. If anyone of the wire has been removed and no drop in performance has been observed...the cylinder is not performing well.

Compression check....the most critical data observed...is the similarity in compression readings between the cylinders. Posting one cylinder pressure and not all the readings can be misleading.

Also first thing to do if one cylinder compressionreading is considerably low is to add a couple of squirts of motor oil through the spark plug port and then run the compresison check again...this will either eliminate or identify the rings as the problem.

A bad valve or valve train component should produce an unwanted tapping sound.

Does any one know if the spark plug wire itself is not bad.\?

[scitzz]

sorry, that post was meant to be illustrative of how a compression test works. In your case, if the compression is high, I would think oil was already in there, fouling the plug, thus not allowing ignition in that cylinder. Now, if you or someone b4 you, had the head shaved, 100 psi is not really that high, mine is 90 without shaving, thus another reason to check all the cylinders, a compression test helps if 1 or 2 are out of line......

So if your #2 is not firing, yes, the injector may be bad, look for gas while cranking with the plug pulled. You say there is oil on the plug though, so there is oil in the cylinder, no? That MAY be your problem.

Also, you haven't mentioned replacing the wires, but they are a more common reason for misfires than plugs.......

Sure couldn't hurt to try packs advice though, if nothing else, it is a great maintenance idea!

Also, how have you narrowed down the number 2 cylinder? I had a guy swear the #2 was out in his escort, and "here, I am done with it, here is the title, you can change the engine, and sell it, I am done!" Despite my protests, that is what he did, next day, I checked, and replaced the plug wires, done about 25,000 miles since then, for a free car, pretty good!

[IL4Festiva]

I know it is the #2 because we ripped the wires off one by one and the idle did not change when we pulled the #2, i was told by a mechanic aswell that it was the #2(although i don't know what he did to evaluate it)

The first time i compression tested the #2 cylinder, it was at about 75 (i wasn't reading the gauge somone else was) and the second time it was around 100 (i'm taking his word for the readings too)

No i do not know if the wire itself is bad, i do not have a replacement wire and i don't want to replace the wires just to find out right now, i desperately need a fuel filter and its on my list of things to get after my rear brakes so it can pass MVI

I will do a complete vaccum test on monday, i am all tied up for the weekend.

Thanks for the help guys, it is appreciate alot.
Sean