Car has left me stranded in Sierra Vista.

[nickvisel]

I was driving my friend home in my 93 MTX and about ten, fifteen miles out, the motor killed itself. After pulling over and checking for car noises, we've come to the conclusion that there is a REALLY loud knocking noise coming from what seems to be the top of the motor. Car is running on all six cylinders, and the exhaust note seems to be the same. Sounds like the engine is wheezing when starting it up though.

I've been looking on the forums and deduced that my two likely candidate problems are either a dead tensioner or a spit shim. I'd like to think that a spit shim is not the issue because I just did an upper 60k job and checked everything (which was in spec) about six months ago. Murphy's law still applies though. Just my luck.

other info: seems my timing belt tensioner noise was increasing as of late, but this was unexpected. The car seemed to be losing power on the way down from Prescott, but I didn't care too much and chalked it up to having three 200 lb+ guys in the car.

I'm looking for more expert opinions here. My mechanically-inclined genius father thinks it could be a spit shim, but better to get a second opinion, yes?

Also anybody in Sierra Vista or near who'd like to help, message me back. Thanks a lot.

 

[luigisho]

Wheezing could be from a shim or maybe the timing belt jumped a tooth or two?

 

[jayro]

My timing belt tensioner is messed up (have to load it by hand). The first 60k i did I wasnt aware of it and ended up with what almost sounded like a knock, but it was the loose timing belt slapping. Pulling the valve covers to check on the shims is pretty easy. Good luck

 

[nickvisel]

Alrighty, I'll be checking these things out first. Thanks.

 

[rbruso]

PM Sent.

I'm in SV and have parts, space and time!

 

[rbruso]

Update:

By the time I arrived they had the car torn down quite a bit. The timing belt tension was way low, but seemed to be because of an old, stretched belt. The tensioner and spring were in good shape (better than the spare I brought, in fact) and are holding tension nicely on a replacement (used, but quite good shape) belt.

Crank pulley came off with good resistance to the puller and the woodruff key is in great shape.

One of the intake shims for cylinder #1 had chucked. It didn't get far, but was enough to keep the valve from closing all the way. I went over each valve to ensure the shims were fully seated and they all moved smoothly.

We checked out the front tensioner. There was some grooving, but it was in good shape, so we really didn't look too closely at the rear tensioner. Mistake. Big mistake.

With the new-ish timing belt in place, we reassembled. Upon startup, the top end knock was there still. Using a metal rod, we narrowed it down to the rear chain tensioner area. Grr.

Tomorrow we're going to loosen the intake bolts a bit to see if it's this problem: http://www.shoforum.com/showpost.php?p=1138298&postcount=8

If not, we're pulling the cam cover and attempting to clean/degunk the adjusters, assuming that one isn't completely shot. If it is, I have a spare on an engine in the shed that still has tensioners on it.

Hoping for a good update tomorrow afternoon.

 

[nickvisel]

What he said.

 

[TYSHO]

It's nice to see another member help one out.

I've never had a tensioner fail, they've just always been gummed up. I clean them every chance I get now just to stay on top of things.

 

[rbruso]

So, we pulled the rear cam cover again and pulled the tensioner. The pad had come loose at one end, so there was one set of long-term grooves and a newer, fainter set of diagonal grooves. Problem solved, right?

Wrong. We swapped in a spare from my shed, reassembled, fired up and began wondering if the engine was cursed, as the tapping was still there. And I'd still swear it was STILL from the top of the motor.

Long story short: Rod bearings. Bad. I've never heard a rod knock quite like this one, but in the attempt to drive the car (slowly) from where it sat to Nick's friends apartment it went completely kaput. Didn't throw a rod, but didn't start either.

A tow strap, the in-law's F-150 and an interesting hour or so later and the car is now at the apartment complex.

So, in summary pretty much everything that could knock on this engine did. Total parts cost was a tube of RTV, so it could have been worse.

Can we declare October to be "Rod Bearing Awareness Month"? Maybe get a nice ribbon done up?

 

[nickvisel]

I'm looking at pink ribbons now.

 

[nickvisel]

Well, does anybody want an okay-looking SHO parts car? I'm willing to sell it for a low price, and I really need to get back home. I'd love 400 for it, the tires are worth that much.

 

[Bob Gervais]

Sorry to hear about your problems with the car, and I don't have an interest in the car (too far away), but I wanted to chime in and comment on how great it is to be part of a community like this, where people help each other.

Good luck getting back home, and with the sale of the car.

 

[nickvisel]

Yeah, some prayers would be appreciated.

 

[sperold]

After all the diagnostic work and repairs, it seems a shame to let it go now. How far from your home are you? If you got it home, you could buy a parts car and transfer a motor into this one.
But, it is hard to say since we don't know the whole story.
Too bad, after everything that could go wrong, did, it still almost made it!

 

[nickvisel]

About 300 miles from home, it's not getting there any time soon.