Please help- Losing my F'ing mind, my patience, and my money.

[lolcantturn]

That doesn't just happen....

Put in an order for a new timing belt + tensioner, and a waterpump if funds allow and start taking stuff apart. Look the cam and countershaft gears over extra well, and if they are stamped steel get new cast ones.

It looks like your cam is advanced, correct? That scenario is the most likely to cause damage, starting with the exhaust valves. I would definitely go rent a leak down tester too, just to be absolutely sure.

Hmmm.
My waterpump is new.
When I loosened the tensioner bracket bolt it actually seemed too easy to loosen.
Timing belt is new

My cam advanced yes. How much damage could we be talking about? It's only 1 tooth :(
Where can I rent a leak down tester? My town doesn't exactly have the most automobile friendly stores.

In other news, when I tried to move the camshaft gear to advance it forward a tooth, my camshaft gear bolt stripped. Suckage! It isn't exactly easy to find a 10mm bolt like that.

Thanks for all the help, really appreciate it. I'm kind of less worried now that I know what's gone wrong.

[DaveSmed]

That doesn't just happen....

Put in an order for a new timing belt + tensioner, and a waterpump if funds allow and start taking stuff apart. Look the cam and countershaft gears over extra well, and if they are stamped steel get new cast ones.

It looks like your cam is advanced, correct? That scenario is the most likely to cause damage, starting with the exhaust valves. I would definitely go rent a leak down tester too, just to be absolutely sure.

[M-technik-3]

The under manifold ignition loop tend to corode check that harness.

[lolcantturn]

did your engine sounded like a diesel? when I changed my TBelt I misaligned it by one tooth and the engine startet right up and sounded horrible, I had to realign the belt ,
also I have a friend he had the same problem of rotor rubbing against the cap, we found out that the engine bracket was missing behind the distrubator cap and it would let the cap go further in, check see if the bracket is there its between the dist cap and cylinder head.
good luck
Henry

Let me say I'm happy that you used your first post in 4 years in this thread haha :D

And yep, sounded like a straight up diesel.
How'd you reallign it? You just loosened the belt from its tensioner and spun the camshaft gear over right?
And yes I think that's the problem with my distributor, thanks!

[MTechnikII]

did your engine sounded like a diesel? when I changed my TBelt I misaligned it by one tooth and the engine startet right up and sounded horrible, I had to realign the belt ,
also I have a friend he had the same problem of rotor rubbing against the cap, we found out that the engine bracket was missing behind the distrubator cap and it would let the cap go further in, check see if the bracket is there its between the dist cap and cylinder head.
good luck
Henry

[lolcantturn]

Oh yeah, my M20 ticks happily, sounds like it's clapping at me.

Check this out guys.


That's with the camshaft gear aligned perfectly. Guess I found my problem eh? Looks like it skipped a tooth. At least it better be haha.

[DaveSmed]

Hey, everyone has to start somewhere. Don't sweat it too much.

I was thinking, when you did the valves, you didn't reef down the adjustment too tight to quiet the engine, did you? A happy M20 is a ticking M20.

[TimR]

Any chance you got some bad gas or water in the tank ??? guy last week had all kinds of trouble after a few rainy days, added Sty Dri ??? for water in the gas,

[lolcantturn]

I was going to say something smart ass but you kind of already called yourself out. If the assumed problem is what you have done, you are going to get whiplash when you get it right!

Oh yeah, don't worry, I kind of cringe posting some of this stuff because I sound so noobish and clueless.
Hopefully by tomorrow morning I'll have the timing all sorted out...Or else I have to pull the head out AGAIN..:(

[LJ851]

I was going to say something smart ass but you kind of already called yourself out. If the assumed problem is what you have done, you are going to get whiplash when you get it right!

[lolcantturn]

The Bentley manual explains it well. If you dont have one, borrow or better yet buy your bad self one. Its the perfect valentines day gift!

Oh wow, it's called the "Camshaft Drive Belt," I kept searching the manual under "Timing belt!" That's why I couldn't find it, haha.

Though, I'm not excited I have to remove virtually everything to check a timing mark

I'll update you guys tomorrow, as I've wasted a Saturday night complaining about my shitty car :rofl:

[LJ851]

How do I access the crankshaft marks?

The Bentley manual explains it well. If you dont have one, borrow or better yet buy your bad self one. Its the perfect valentines day gift!

[lolcantturn]

I find it funny you've replaced all that stuff and you KNOW about the terrible compression numbers.

I thought it would be the timing because my car had worked flawlessly..However the compression is one of the last things I found out about

[Farbin Kaiber]

I find it funny you've replaced all that stuff and you KNOW about the terrible compression numbers.

[lolcantturn]

Your compression #s are shit. Do a leak down test and if that proves acceptable it is almost certainly cam timing. Yes , all you have to do is align the marks but you may want to double check it next time .

How do I access the crankshaft marks?