lots of engine problems. let's play the troubleshooting game!

[Andrew Bohan]

dohc with sohc pistons, 2 exhaust cams, no egr, and no aiv. octane is sufficient.

problem #1: can't get timing down.
the best i could only get was 15º btdc, so i pulled the distributor out and rotated it one tooth, and then the best i could get was 30º advanced. coldn't get to 22-18º btdc, so now i'm just running at 15º.

problem #2: won't idle.
sometimes idled around 1000rpm when my timing was 80º retarded, but now it won't idle at all. it bounces between 300 and 400 rpm, then dies. i have to heel-toe when coming to a stoplight to keep the motor alive. adjusting timing didn't help this too much. last night when i came home it stalled, smoked, and wouldn't start again.

problem #3: ticking.
varies with rpm, and it's not the timing chain. i took both guides off and the chain is in good condition.
closed throttle: no ticking
partially open, but not enough to accellerate: ticking
accellerating: no ticking.

checked my compression last night and it's 185-240-85-245. plug #4 had wet oil on it.

i'm also leaking oil, so i'll have to see where that's coming from.

so, who wants to take a crack at it? :sadwavey:

[TokyoNights]

Well for #2 did you try to just raise the idle? You can adjust it by turning a screw under the back of the intake mani.

[autobahNESSA]

Whoa whats up with your compression #'s, last time werent u closer to 225 all the way across?
Did you try adjusting idle thorugh the adjustment screw like mentioned above? Disconect tps, turn idle screw until desired rpm then plug tps back in.

For prob #3 could that just be the injectors ticking?, you removed the chain guids? What keeps the tension on the chain then?

[Andrew Bohan]

a guy on nico said to reset the ecu before i adjust timing, or it'll be all screwed up from trying to adjust to how it was before, so i'm gonna try that and the idle screw too.

i removed both timing chain guides. each chain has a tensioner to keep the tension on. that's not the guides' job.

last time we checked compression we did it slightly wrong, so that could explain it.

i'm sad.

[autobahNESSA]

Dont be sad be happy

Reseting the ecu may help, or actually ya it may do it since you first started it up with the distributor off by 180deg.

[Andrew Bohan]

reset the ecu, didn't help.

so i pulled the valve cover off and cranked the motor til the cams were in tdc position. then i looked at the crank, and whoa!
http://guernsey.globat.com/~mountainracer.com/pics/driftaholic/timingsucks.jpg

the most advanced mark is about an inch left of the pin.... so it's like 40º advanced or something. i have no idea how that happened.

so, if i turn the crank to tdc, and then rotate the cams to the right positions, it should be cool, no? cuz after all, the dots and silver marks don't matter. just as long as crank vs cams is aligned right

[mrmephistopheles]

I think you need one of these:
http://www.oru.edu/university/library/bible.jpg
One of these:
http://www.calvarycathedral.net/images/niobrara%20cross.jpg
and some of this:
http://www.angelicslayer.com/tbcs/images/holywater.jpg

Hopefully it won't projectile vomit gear oil and have the distributor turn 360 degrees backwards.

[HaLo]

Wow.. talk about problems... you scared me off the N/A idea...

[Andrew Bohan]

technically the bible on dvd should be called "the holy dvd" since bible means book.

[OverBoost]

have you checked to see if theres any blow-by in that cylinder? did you try changing the intake cam back to the stock intake cam instead of the exhaust one you have on it now? are your injectors dirty? maybe take them to a shop and have them professionally cleaned