HELP! Car running like total crap!

[superman0234]

Ok guys, I need some serious assistance here. I heard the timing chain rattling under my valve cover today, so I popped it off to check it out. The chain is loose so I know I need to get it replaced. The valve cover gasket was soft still, so I just reused it and reattached the valve cover. I tighten it down and start up the car and now it is running absolutely horribly! The engine is shaking like crazy at idle and im getting a puhh puhh puhh sound coming from the exhaust. Sounds like total shit when I rev it too. Please guys, I need help! This is my daily driver and I read that removing the valve cover was no big deal. Well it really fucked me over! Please respond! This is an 89 sohc btw.

[MELLO*SOS]

Check all your sensor connection (MAF, etc) and spark plug wires.

[g2ic02]

removing your valve cover had nothing to do with your problem, just coincidental, unless your chain is so loose you skipped a link on your chain while playing with it...but to me it sounds like you didn't have all of your spark plug wires on the spark plugs..

[AZiaNDriftRaceRX]

yea...chek yur plugs...
i had a similar problem..all i had 2 do was tighten up my plugs..

[superman0234]

could a loose valve cover be the cause? 4 of my bolts are stripped, the ones on either sides. Could this be a possible cause? I'll check my wires again, but I'm pretty worried that it's more than something that simple. Any other ideas would be great.

[s13gonwild]

no valve cover would not cause this. you left something loose/unpluged, like some people said check to see that you put all plags back in...did you unplug any injectors from the harness?

[superman0234]

I didn't mess with anything except the valve cover which I took on and off. I'm gonna go try and tighten my plugs, but I checked the wires last night and they were all secure.