tysn Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 i just agreed to purchase a 1986 gl wagon with dr4wd and the owner says it needs a new engine. now being on this forum a while i can guess its one of 4 things, timing belts, head gaskets, screw on disty, or the dude may have actually killed the motor. Now im not one with experience on carbs but where would be a good place to start checking if the engine is good? taking off the cap to see if the rotor moves or not? what tools are needed to do a timing belt and waterpump change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opus Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 What makes him say it needs a new engine...is a good place to start. Rod coming through the side? Bearing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralDisorder Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Run a compression test. A gauge is about $10 at harbor frieght and that will tell you right away if something is wrong beyond the bolt-on stuff at the top layer. If you have bad/weird compression, pull the outer belt covers and look for limp belts. Turn the engine over with a socket and breaker bar and make sure the belts actually rotate (the teeth can shear away without them breaking). If everything looks good on the compression in all 4 cylinders move to fuel and ignitions systems. Check for spark - if you have it move on to fuel - if you don't stop and find out why. Timing belts and water pumps require no special tools. Just regular hand tools and the willingness to read a manual. GD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subarule Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 He ran it w/out oil and it seized up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDave Posted August 17, 2008 Share Posted August 17, 2008 He ran it w/out oil and it seized up? That would do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tysn Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 LOL its not ceased, the rotor and belts are fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Definatly start with a compression check. The $10 harbor frieght gauge is cheap, and it will work, however I recommend a decent $40 or $50 job... ive gotten faulty readings with the $10 harbor freight tool. A good engine will be in the 130 to 160psi range. However this will not reveal a rod bearing, you'll know that when you start the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomRhere Posted August 27, 2008 Share Posted August 27, 2008 Check T-belt timing. Could've been done wrong and someone deemed it to have bent valves do to no-start/poor running. MilesFox and I bought an XT6 that way a few years back. Was told bent valves, but T-belts weren't right. Re-timed belts and she purred like a kitten. Alas, no title, so she was just a parts car.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tysn Posted August 27, 2008 Author Share Posted August 27, 2008 i need to get the motor running before i can check the rod knock correct? now this car was running and all the sudden died at a stop light when the Previous owner had it, what would now be somethings to check? belts and rotor all spin. ill check for fuel and spark in a few minutes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooziewhatsit Posted August 28, 2008 Share Posted August 28, 2008 Find the green test connectors under the hood, and connect them. Turn the key to on (not start). You should hear the fuel pump pulsing on/off. If not, that's (at least one) problem. You can try smacking it to make it work. -Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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