a_magoo

I have major troubles with my car. I had originally thought the cap blew apart but come to find out the timing chain broke. I ordered a new set and put it on and put it all back together. Cranked it up and it is awful. Just barely runs, like it's out of time or something. I pretty positive it's not out of time.

I have a question about the crankshaft position sensor(CKP) though. If that were bad would the car crank? If so what would it run like? It took a lick from the chain when it broke and was wondering if that might have screwed it up.

What else could have gone wrong from my timing chain install? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Aron

a_magoo

Forgot to add the important information. It's a 96 formula.

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Aron

Injuneer

The crank position sensor is not used for the ignition, only for OBD-II misfire detection. The engine should run fine without it.

Sounds like you may have indexed the cam dowel pin to the incorrect hole in the Opti. YES, it is possible, and YES it happens all the time.

a_magoo

I'm not sure on that. I know it's possible but if I recall it's only got 3 or 4 holes on it and that would make it at least 90* off. I'm pretty sure I didn't do that. I may end up having to look into it if I can't find anything else wrong.

My dad thinks it's just a bad miss. Like a spark plug wire off or something but I can't find any loose or anything. I was hoping you'd just say that the sensor was what was causing it, but my luck didn't happen that way.
Thanks for the idea. Keep them coming.

Thanks,
Aron

1racerdude

If you broke a timing chain,you have a BUNCH of BENT valves.

a_magoo

What makes you say bent valves?

Thanks,
Aron

1racerdude

40 years experience.

a_magoo

How does it cause bent valves? How would a car with bent valves run? When I ask that I don't mean like, how would it start, I mean like what kinda symptoms would it have?

Thanks,
Aron

1racerdude

Feature an engine in your mind.The pistons are always chasing the valves and you have .100 clearance when everything is "timed" together.When the cam stops and the crank don't-- see if you can visulize what happens.Valves hung open and piston finally catches valve..
Do a compression test and find out.
The engine will be missing like a plug wire's are off,or bad plug's.It will be more than one cyl.Pull the plug wires off one at a time and isolate which cyls are missing.Them do a compression test to see.Do it on all cyls and if there is more than 50# difference in each cyl then there is something wrong with the low reading cyl's.
If everything is OK with the compression test consider yourself very lucky,but I can't see the test being normal.

a_magoo

Thanks for the help. I'm guessing I'm probably screwed. I don't have the money to fix anything else on it, and it's my daily driver. I'll do some more testing and see what comes up. Thanks again.

Thanks,
Aron

1racerdude

Go to Auto Zone and get a compression tester on their loan-a-tool program and do the test.