95 3.2 gradually lost power and now wont start

[alowsho]

I have a 95 3.2 sho. About a month ago I noticed that it was starting to feel a little sluggish and it gradually lost more and more power, untill one day it just barely made it home. It has 140k on it so I thought that I would give it a tune up and it would be back on the road.

recently changed the camposition sensor, and I get a tach reading when cranking.

so I bought some plugs and wires and, it wont start.
checked wire sequence and everything is in the right order.

changed coil pack - still nothing
changed Dis module - still nothing

changed MAF...nothing
I checked spark at the plugs and the plugs are firing a nice bright spark.

fuel pressure! nope 40+ psi, and I jumpered the fuel pump so that it runs continuously to rule out a relay problem, and still no go.

So any suggestions?

*If I floor it when I try to start it the rpm's speed up, and sometimes will just barely start for about a second then quickly die.

clogged cats?
bad injectors??
timing???

THanks, any help is appreciated

 

[93rev2sev]

1, 2, 3

1. Spark
Verified.

2. Fuel
Verified.

3. Spark timing/cam timing(IE compression)
Not verified.


Sounds like you got a timing belt problem.

 

[Racer X]

Or a plugged cat.

I'd start with the timing belt and go from there.

 

[2manyhobbies]

Was the engine making any noise when it started to lose power? Mine did the same thing and it was rod bearings. The number 3 bearing welded itself to the crank, I had to put in a new engine. Drop the exhaust at the engine and try to start it, that will verify or rule out the plugged converters. Check the belt by loosening the top cover, gently hold a screw driver on the belt , and have someone crank it over. That will show if the timing belt broke. Another possibility is you spit out a valve shim. Good luck.

 

[alowsho]

the car had been making a bit of a tick while it was going down, seemed to be coming from the around the water pump or timing belt area.

I dont think it is the rod bearings.

thanks guys, Im going to check the timing belt...I dont think it broke, but ill check to see if everything lines up

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Clogged cats.

Simple to check.

Pull both oxygen sensors and see if it will start. It will run like ass, but since the exhaust restriction is [temporarily] removed, will start and run.

If you continue to try starting the engine like this, you'll begin fouling the new plugs, amoungst other things . . . .

 

[shoshirtsandhat]

Crank Sensor maybe? Have you checked the engine codes, did you notice the cats glowing red?

 

[yzstud]

crank cancer

 

[alowsho]

crank cancer is exactly what it was.

 

[93rev2sev]

That sucks. How bad is the keyway?

 

[Kens1992mtxSHO]

and can you post pics?

 

[alowsho]

she is a cancer survivor!

keyway was about double the size, the woodruff key was snapped in half and flattened out.

I made a couple new bigger keys fron a couple allen wrenches and proceded to weld the crank pulley directly to the crank, grinded/filed off all the rough spots and put it all back together...it started right up1

*I know I know, welding is not recommended* but after having the car sit for a month and replacing just about everything I had lost patience and drastic measures were necessary haha!

 

[yzstud]

keyway was about double the size, the woodruff key was snapped in half and flattened out.

I made a couple new bigger keys fron a couple allen wrenches and proceded to weld the crank pulley directly to the crank, grinded/filed off all the rough spots and put it all back together...it started right up1

*I know I know, welding is not recommended* but after having the car sit for a month and replacing just about everything I had lost patience and drastic measures were necessary haha!

thats what my dad and i did to an old ******, it worked for like 6 years untill he sold the car

 

[93rev2sev]

keyway was about double the size, the woodruff key was snapped in half and flattened out.

I made a couple new bigger keys fron a couple allen wrenches and proceded to weld the crank pulley directly to the crank, grinded/filed off all the rough spots and put it all back together...it started right up1

*I know I know, welding is not recommended* but after having the car sit for a month and replacing just about everything I had lost patience and drastic measures were necessary haha!

Desperate times, call for desperate measures.