I have a mystery...and I cannot figure it out...and don't have a lot of time nor money to throw at it. So...here we go:
I got into my Festiva ('88 carb car)...fired it up...choke kicked in, I kicked it down, reached over to take out a CD from my radio, and <POOF> the engine wound down, stopped and will not re-start. It turns over fine, but had ZERO compression.
Now...I know...first thing everyone thinks of is timing belt. Not that. Belt has no more than 5-6k on it...and is intact.
Today I took the belt off, inspected the teeth one at a time, and it is still in like-new condition. I re-set the timing, and re-installed the belt. Nothing changed. Not even a back-fire.
I tried each cylinder for a compression check...needle just sat there and slept. (to be sure that my compression gauge works, I took a reading on a buddy's pick-up. It works just fine)
NOW...the only thing we found that was weird, (other than the way it just died and won't make compression) is that I have air coming OUT of the PCV valve hose from the carb base. If memory serves...THAT should be sucking IN to the base...not pushing it out. Correct?
So...the odds of ALL 4 pistons having a hole in them at the SAME time is less than my odds of winning the LOTTO. My buddy and I began to wonder, if MAYBE the head gasket blew out...without passing fluids into the oil, and is passing air back and forth between cylinders. BUT...wouldn't I still get SOME needle movement on the compression gauge?
The oil is NOT milkshake color, and we don't feel any air coming from between the block and the head.
I am out of ideas here. NOT fixing it, or finding the answer to the issue means the car will be going down the road...and while I have other uses for the money, I really like the car, and would prefer to find the problem and fix it. But time is an issue here...as is money...and I will part with it if I have to. (and there is already a buyer...so...don't ask. LOL!!!)
The engine was just beginning to show a little smoke now and then, but only on early stage of running after sitting all night. It has 265k miles on this motor. I am the 2nd owner of the motor. (it came out of the car I was second owner of, which was wrecked 2 1/2 years ago) I figured the smoke it was showing to be valve-stem seals. Car (engine) has never been "hot-rodded"...and has had oil changes every 3-4500 miles like religion since it was new.
Any ideas?
I got into my Festiva ('88 carb car)...fired it up...choke kicked in, I kicked it down, reached over to take out a CD from my radio, and <POOF> the engine wound down, stopped and will not re-start. It turns over fine, but had ZERO compression.
Now...I know...first thing everyone thinks of is timing belt. Not that. Belt has no more than 5-6k on it...and is intact.
Today I took the belt off, inspected the teeth one at a time, and it is still in like-new condition. I re-set the timing, and re-installed the belt. Nothing changed. Not even a back-fire.
I tried each cylinder for a compression check...needle just sat there and slept. (to be sure that my compression gauge works, I took a reading on a buddy's pick-up. It works just fine)
NOW...the only thing we found that was weird, (other than the way it just died and won't make compression) is that I have air coming OUT of the PCV valve hose from the carb base. If memory serves...THAT should be sucking IN to the base...not pushing it out. Correct?
So...the odds of ALL 4 pistons having a hole in them at the SAME time is less than my odds of winning the LOTTO. My buddy and I began to wonder, if MAYBE the head gasket blew out...without passing fluids into the oil, and is passing air back and forth between cylinders. BUT...wouldn't I still get SOME needle movement on the compression gauge?
The oil is NOT milkshake color, and we don't feel any air coming from between the block and the head.
I am out of ideas here. NOT fixing it, or finding the answer to the issue means the car will be going down the road...and while I have other uses for the money, I really like the car, and would prefer to find the problem and fix it. But time is an issue here...as is money...and I will part with it if I have to. (and there is already a buyer...so...don't ask. LOL!!!)
The engine was just beginning to show a little smoke now and then, but only on early stage of running after sitting all night. It has 265k miles on this motor. I am the 2nd owner of the motor. (it came out of the car I was second owner of, which was wrecked 2 1/2 years ago) I figured the smoke it was showing to be valve-stem seals. Car (engine) has never been "hot-rodded"...and has had oil changes every 3-4500 miles like religion since it was new.
Any ideas?
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