please help KA24DE start up problems and coolent leak

[oero_ballin16]

Soooo i just changed my head gasket and machined my head cause it was warped from overheating.its a ka24de, all the timing and everything is fine, the starter is fine and so is the battery. made sure the tank has gas and i cant think of a reason why it wouldnt start. and on top of that, as i filled up my radiator with coolant, it started just completely draining out from under the engine, its not from the radiator or the water pump, it looks like its coming from somewhere around the oil pan maybe? not sure, PLEASE HELP!! this is driving me nuts and i really want to fix this :bash:, money is extremely tight so any advice and help will be appreciated!! also if you need more indept on something ask me so i can explain it the best i can:bigok:

[cotbu]

Before you even start the car, you should pinpoint the coolant leak. You might not want it to start, after that!

[oero_ballin16]

what could happen if it starts like that?

[cotbu]

It depends, where the leak is! IDK, where the leak is but, lets say it's the oil pan! Do i really need to explain that!
In all honesty it's probably a hose, fitting or gasket! Most people start there cars to drive them, don't drive till it's fixed. start it after you find the leak!

[oero_ballin16]

well is it flameable or something, thats what i need to know, or is it some other reason?

[hOngsterr]

this is what you need to do, what side is it on? it can be a number of things, you might not of connected the heater hoses from the firewall, coolant lines where the intake manifold might be broken or ripped. check those. and it might be your waterpump, i've heard of this scenario when the guy said its not his water ump, but ended up being his waterpump

[germgerm]

this happen to me my coolant started leaking, thought it was coming from the bottom it was the thermostat -.- a bolt was missing, hope this helps

[oero_ballin16]

can the leaking coolant cause the engine to not turn over or start too??

[mxexux]

So does the engine crank?

[oero_ballin16]

ya the engine cranks, the starter and battery are fine, it just wont turn over, and 85% sure that all the timing is right, if anything it could be off by a hair. everything was working before i took it apart so idk im stuck right now, it does kinda seem like its not getting gas though so is there a way i can check that? and btw, my car doesnt have a a/c and its egr deleted, but it still ran with all this so idk if that could be any factor

[Lynk444]

First fix your coolant leak. It's likely coming from the timing cover if it looks like the oil pan.

Second check your fuel hoses from the fuel filter and make sure they are hooked up properly. I had an altima that I switch the lines on after doing a cylinder head and it would crank but not start. If the pressure line is hooked to the base of the fuel pressure regulator you have it wrong. This is most likely your problem if you have your timing correct.

If that doesn't fix it check to make sure you have spark, and fuel pressure. Then check timing again.

[joeboo1]

It might be from the bottom timing cover......try to re-tighten the bolts for it and see if the leak slows down and if it slows down then (i know its a lot of work) your going to need to take the cover off and clean it and clean the block and re-seal it with silicone. i would recommend the you get the silicone front Nissan that stuff is intended to last around 100.000 miles don't use that cheap autozone crap. they even use that stuff as a oil pan gasket and the dealership.

[oero_ballin16]

okay ill check that thanks, its just that i never touched anything fuel related, so i just cant figure out how it could be from that but ya ill check all that.

when i first got the car it did look look like there was alil oil coming out of the bottom timing cover but i just figured it was from the oil change and that it was just spilled around cause there was alil more oil in other places too. how can i check if the bottom timing cover is fine? and to remove it do i have to go through removing the head, cams, valve cover, cam chain, and etc...??

[hOngsterr]

jesus christ go to a mechanic shop if you dont know what you're doing.

[ka4life87]

jesus christ go to a mechanic shop if you dont know what you're doing.

Couldnt agree more :rofl:

[oero_ballin16]

well first off im trying to use this as a learning experience, plus money is extremely tight, or else trust me i would have haha

[ka4life87]

I get money is tight, u just have to understand doing a head gasket is not for someone that has very little mechanical knowledge, a lot of things can go wrong, just simply pulling the timing chain idler gear and not being careful with the chain will cause timing to be off or installing dizzy incorrectly, torquing the head wrong, too many factors than can contribute to no start

[oero_ballin16]

well dont get me wrong, i have abit of knowledge in mechanics, ive taken 2yrs of automotive in school and i did the head gasket change using the the video from importD sooo... i may not have done it perfect but i think i did okay for my first time haha but ya ur right and i know what your saying, its just easier said then done. i literally have no money and ive already loaned all the money ive used so far but if i cant get it to start, ill just tow it to a mechanic

[oero_ballin16]

okay so the leak looks like its coming right above the oil pan on the left side of the engine, sound familiar to anyone? i dont think its from the block, and its wet right above the oil pan so its gotta be above that too, is there anything inbetween? gasket or anything? i just hope its not a crack or anything :"(

[ka4life87]

U check the dipstick? Make sure coolant isnt leaking into the oil

[JoshJonezzz]

When I did an engine swap I put the fuel lines on backwards....

[hOngsterr]

dude i gave you tips on what to look for, if you just posting more stupid shit then idk how much more to help.

[joeboo1]

okay ill check that thanks, its just that i never touched anything fuel related, so i just cant figure out how it could be from that but ya ill check all that.

when i first got the car it did look look like there was alil oil coming out of the bottom timing cover but i just figured it was from the oil change and that it was just spilled around cause there was alil more oil in other places too. how can i check if the bottom timing cover is fine? and to remove it do i have to go through removing the head, cams, valve cover, cam chain, and etc...??
Download the FSM (its free) for your car and you can find the answers to your question......its way too much to wright it all down step by step

[shaggy sr]

take it to the machine shop. thats ur last choice.

[oero_ballin16]

so it was a ripped chain, my luck right, ran me $900 at the mechanics but now it runs really hot and makes alot of noise so im gonna take it back to the mechanic and see wat he says

[sodel_s13]

okay so the leak looks like its coming right above the oil pan on the left side of the engine, sound familiar to anyone? i dont think its from the block, and its wet right above the oil pan so its gotta be above that too, is there anything inbetween? gasket or anything? i just hope its not a crack or anything :"(

I've had that problem before. my water pump was going out. Most of the time thats the spot where its gonna be leaking. in my case it was and it sounds very similar as you are describing.

your not starting problem could be your distributor could be turned 180*. there is a proper way how to install it. google that.

And please tell me you did not re-use oem head bolts after you removed them!

[oero_ballin16]

lol no i used new head bolts, and i dont think my mechanic even put oil in the engine. yesterday i checked the dipstick and it didnt look like it had any oil at all haha it was late nite and i havent checked since, but ima look into it tomorrow. but other then that it could be distributor cause it backfires like popcorn

[Juantwo3]

^^^theres no oil in it and your driving it???!!?!! FOOL

[oero_ballin16]

lol calm down, i found out it didnt have oil after i drove less then 2miles

[brizanden]

^........................still

[oero_ballin16]

does anyone know if low oil can cause a hard start when engine is cold?

[JasianBlazin]

was your ripped chain from improper install of the tensioners?

[oero_ballin16]

was your ripped chain from improper install of the tensioners?

not sure, my mechanic didnt tell me

[sodel_s13]

low oil is very dangerous. i would not even turn it on. you car scar a lot of parts in less than 10 seconds running dry.

[oero_ballin16]

low oil is very dangerous. i would not even turn it on. you car scar a lot of parts in less than 10 seconds running dry.

i have the worst luck ever, can low oil cause all the problems im having? running hot, alot of noises, hard starts when cold, and the crap load of back firing?

[sodel_s13]

i have the worst luck ever, can low oil cause all the problems im having? running hot, alot of noises, hard starts when cold, and the crap load of back firing?

what the hell are you talking about? do you still keep running it on low? I would worry about oil issue first before the whole motor goes.

It could cause it to run hot in the worst scenario where metal to metal contact is very severe and coolant cannot keep it down, but in that case misfires, hard starts are your least worry.

[oero_ballin16]

what the hell are you talking about? do you still keep running it on low? I would worry about oil issue first before the whole motor goes.

It could cause it to run hot in the worst scenario where metal to metal contact is very severe and coolant cannot keep it down, but in that case misfires, hard starts are your least worry.

no i ran it once, the one time when i checked the oil, chill out. i just wanted to know if the problems could be related.

i just changed the oil and turned it on but didnt drive it. i put about 4.5L 5w30 oil that i read on a forum was the right one. So idk if itll heat up like last time but ima put in some electric fans

[rwtf]

Please drive your car off a cliff..... *facepalm*

[sodel_s13]

no i ran it once, the one time when i checked the oil, chill out. i just wanted to know if the problems could be related.

i just changed the oil and turned it on but didnt drive it. i put about 4.5L 5w30 oil that i read on a forum was the right one. So idk if itll heat up like last time but ima put in some electric fans


Its 4qt of oil, but the .5 should not do harm. Did you properly bleed off the cooling system? it is a pita to do it. I suggest to do it right.

[oero_ballin16]

Please drive your car off a cliff..... *facepalm*

hahaha give me a break man, im trying to learn my shit

[oero_ballin16]

Its 4qt of oil, but the .5 should not do harm. Did you properly bleed off the cooling system? it is a pita to do it. I suggest to do it right.

my mechanic had already filled the cooling system, but heres the wierd part, there was to much coolant in the radiator right so i took some out but i ran the car to make sure the coolant was flowing and it was but then it started to rise up...? ivr never heard or seen this before, is it supposed to do that?

[rwtf]

to much?what?

fill it up with the motor running to get bubbles out, make sure you have the reservoir filled up too.

cant really "overfill" on coolant...

[oero_ballin16]

to much?what?

fill it up with the motor running to get bubbles out, make sure you have the reservoir filled up too.

cant really "overfill" on coolant...

to much coolant, doesnt need a lil room to move around? cause on the fsm it says fill it up to the neck of the radiator, and reservoir is filled and its already full. is it supposed to rise when the engine is running?

[sodel_s13]

my mechanic had already filled the cooling system, but heres the wierd part, there was to much coolant in the radiator right so i took some out but i ran the car to make sure the coolant was flowing and it was but then it started to rise up...? ivr never heard or seen this before, is it supposed to do that?

wait what? you took some out to see if it flowing? yes, it will raise once car warms up. coolant system becomes pressurized.

Im not sure what you are doing with your car and what shop are you taking it to, but you really need to figure it all out and know what you are doing before you are doing it.

If the coolant is not "flowing" and you do have a leak, have you gave it a thought it might be your water pump giving out? try to wiggle the water pump pulley and see if it has any play in it.

[oero_ballin16]

wait what? you took some out to see if it flowing? yes, it will raise once car warms up. coolant system becomes pressurized.

Im not sure what you are doing with your car and what shop are you taking it to, but you really need to figure it all out and know what you are doing before you are doing it.

If the coolant is not "flowing" and you do have a leak, have you gave it a thought it might be your water pump giving out? try to wiggle the water pump pulley and see if it has any play in it.

no i took some coolant out cause it was to much, so now the coolant is up to the point of the filler neck. and then i checked if it was flowing and it was, thats when it started to raise up and i didnt know if it was supposed to do that or
not, my bad im rushing the replies so it probably comes out wrong

[sodel_s13]

how was it more passed the filler neck? where did it go? fill that thing up till if leaks out and then put the cap on.