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View Full Version : SR20 Blacktop overheated, barely starts, then dies


jscherf92
04-15-2012, 05:51 PM
Alright guys, as the title says I have a serious issue with my motor. I was driving it fine for about two weeks, keeping an eye on fluid levels and everything else. One night after work I locked myself out of my car with the motor idling and the electric fans off. It was overheating for probably five minutes with smoke spilling out before I could break into the car and shut it off. That next day I did some work to align the alternator pulley to fix a very worn belt, refilled because it was low on oil, and it ran fine in the air, bled the brakes, still ran fine, drove about a mile lap around my neighborhood with no issues. Last night I was driving with a friend and we got on it a little in second, it couldn't have been higher than 6k rpms though I hadn't gone that high since the swap. We towed it home and so far ive done a compression test.

Here's what i've got currently:
-fuel pump primes, spark plugs smell like gas (getting fuel)
-spark plugs dirty but still arc to ground when tested (getting spark)
-motor barely turns over and you have to keep feeding it air to keep it alive
-very loud "knocking" likely coming from the block
-heavy engine shaking/vibration when barely running
-if left alone, will idle around 500 for about a minute before dying
-Compression Test:
Cylinder 1 ~ 106 psi
Cylinder 2 ~ 110 psi
Cylinder 3 ~ 94 psi
Cylinder 4 ~ 112 psi

Any ideas? What other tests or checks can I do to help isolate the problem? I dont have time to drain the oil and pull the pan right now, but I will after wednesday. I know something sounds seriously wrong but if I can learn from anyone else's past experience or expertise I would very much appreciate it.

pacotaco345
04-15-2012, 07:42 PM
Blown headgasket

jscherf92
04-22-2012, 07:28 PM
Thanks, I have a metal replacement now and when turning the harmonic balancer/crank pulley by hand there is a low soft knock when cylinder 1 and 4 are at the top of their stroke. I cant remember if this is normal or if i should be taking the bottom end apart to look for something broken. Any input on this? Id appreciate it.

napz510
04-22-2012, 09:55 PM
Do a pressure or leak down test..

essthirteeeen42
04-22-2012, 11:31 PM
Hope you find out what's wrong man.