I installed pt cruiser rockers and lifters and the car got no vacuum at all, the timing was good. I pulled the head thinking i bent some valves, and found out that i put the head gasket on wrong (accident). The head gasket had a whole where it was half on the block matching the hole and the other half was off the block. I got pic on my cel phone and i will try to post them tomorrow. Could that be the reason, i am lost. I got pics of the valves also and didnt see any bent ones. I checked comression and it was 200 across the board with 8.8 je pistons. I also noticed it was harder to turn the crankshaft the it has ever been whe everything was installed. I would turn it and then when i let go, it would slightly go back the other way. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Originally posted by freddy_00_69
I also noticed it was harder to turn the crankshaft the it has ever been whe everything was installed. I would turn it and then when i let go, it would slightly go back the other way. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Sounds like it makes compression.

Let me understand this, you replaced the Lifters? Did you pull the cams or just sneak them out?

After that you start the car, there is Zero, 0, NO vacuum what-so-ever? You also have 200 Across the board on compression? The car will start and run how long before it shuts off?

How are you measuring vacuum?

Terry

I installed a head i bought from a 2gnt member and then installed the lifters and rockers with the cams out. The car turns on for about a minuted with my boost gauge reading 0 and the car sounding like crap. I also took one of my vacuum hoses out while the car was running to see if it would change the idle and it doesnt do nothing. I did timing 5 times with the same outcome so that is why i know it is not timing.

Well you are wrong there. Removing vac lines tells you nothing about timing. I think the cams are 180 degrees out and overlapping by a couple teeth.

Sorry, I didnt mean the both correlated, i was just checking vacuum to see if the motor would do anything. I will check the cam gears again, both the holes on the cam are facing up and i still have to check the dowels which should be one up and one down. I am thinking it is also, but i timed it many times with the same outcome and i see all the marks lining up. The cam gears are on right, the front side is facing outward so i know they are on right. Thanks for suggestions, i appreciate it and will double check everything posted here.

Well if your going by the holes in the cams with the covers off then you are prolly ok in that aspect. The zero vacuum bust be a bad gauge then. With timing close, if you have compression, you have vacuum. If the timing is off a few teeth it might shut down. When ou view the holes in the cams, insert a 1/4 extension into them to make sure they a perpendicular to the head. Remeber our motor sits at an angle, its not straight up and down. Make sure you have the crank at TDC as wel with the timing marks.

Terry

I have the next 3 days off so i will be spending it trying to get the car running.Thanks, i will try it again and see what its doing. What could make it hard to rotate when rotating it 2 times to check the timing or anytime i rotate.

Compression will do that. Your number are real good so expect resistance due to compression.

Still nothing, I started it up without the exhaust manifold and a little it of black smoke came out like normal out of cylinder 1 and 2, but nothing on 3 and 4. I think something is going on on those cylinders. I feel pressure coming out of 3 and 4, but it is not normal blowing pressure like 1 and 2 and no smoke at all. I am thinking maybe, no fuel is getting in or something. I may not be getting spark on those cyliners either, so i still have a few things to check.I am eliminating timing since i know it is perfect now and lined up well. I will continue my journey of getting my crap to run again tomorrow.

OMG, sounds more like your not even starting. Shutting down is the car starting and running for a few seconds then it turns off on its own.

Check for injector pulse and spark on all 4 plugs. Chekc for fuel pressure as well and get back to us.


Terry

Huh, i am lost at what your saying. The car just start then it shuts down after a few seconds an sometimes more than a few seconds. I will check some other things today when i get out to the car. I will check spark on 3and 4 cylinders. I pulled my fuel rail to see if maybe fuel wasnt squirting out, but it injector worked fine, so i will keep checking. How do you check injector pulse. Thanks.

It was my cam position sensor that was bad. So after timing it 7 times and pulling the head to check everything, all i had to do was pull the cps connector off and start the car. The car ran great with the connector off, but like shit with it connected, so i bought a new on and it runs good now. Thanks star turbo talon, i appreciate the help and suggestions.

Freddy Chili's Savannah Saturday night. Look for the NA guys I'll be there.

-Kevin

What time, I hang out with some cars down here at 8pm in Hinesville and i get off at 7pm from Candler Hospital in Savannah. Maybe i could meet you guys there and then i got to come down here since i work the next day and need some sleep. Let me know. I am still waiting on my bumper so it wont be hard to miss me.

Worked and idled perfect one day and then the next started idling bad and 0 vacuum again. I have replaced the camshaft position sensor, IAT, TPS, IAC, and am getting the map sensor tomorrow. Looks like i need to get rid of this car soon. Couyld my ecu be bad again, it is getting spark and fuel. It backfires and when i try to go wot, it will only go up to 4000rpm and that is it. Anyone know whats up with my car.

does disconnecting the cam sensor make it run better?

Check the dowels in your exhaust cam. make sure you didnt sheer it liek Mike Homan did. HE had the same issues. None of my cars will run without the Cam sensor plugged in so i cant explain why some will and some wont.

Check the voltages at the cam sensor. you are lookign for ground, 5v, and 9v. I am just looking to make sure the ECU isnt putting out high voltage that could be damaging the sensor.

Terry

I will check that out, thanks for the help. I am so close to getting it running, so it has to be something electrical. I will update probably tomorrow or tuesday when i ca actually work on it.