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All Weather Car Mats > 98 Pontiac Sunfire SE – 2.2 Liter Won’t Start!! Help!!

98 Pontiac Sunfire SE – 2.2 Liter Won’t Start!! Help!!

From: ima_bliever:
My son’s car started over-heating, found a minor leak and s’posedly repaired (thru mechanic), it over heated again on his way to college, died and hasn’t restarted since…

list of things that have been replaced already:

  • spark plugs
  • crank position sensor

list of things tested and believed to be working properly:

  • Timing, timing chain & timing chain tensioner
  • spark modules
  • spark control module
  • fuel pump
  • starter

So we have rotation, fuel & spark…no oil in the water and no water in the oil, only has occassional backfire, but engine sounds as tho its lacking compression (seems to spin too freely) ANY ideas???
Any help on this appreciated!!

THANKS!!

From: Michelle Donnelly:
Sounds like bad valves, that is what happened to my van.

From: Elizabeth Carroll:
I have worked on a car that did the same thing. It would over heat. The last time the gentleman drove it has pushed it too hard. The pistens and rings fused together. The best way to find out is to perform a compression test.

From: Chris&Marc:
did anyone check the oxygen sensor i had a mechanic who couldn’t figure out what was wrong until i said check that sounds like the same symptoms my car had-marc

From: cycleguy4:
maybe the catalytic converter is plugged up solid, ive seen it happen.

From: drtice555:
Have your mechanic check the compression and recheck the timing, the valves could be opening at the wrong time. the timing being off could cause the overheating as well. Check out some of the links that have been posted, there is help there as well.

From: Cherie L. Hobbs:
Thank you for your response, we have done all that you have mentioned except for checking the compression.
The timing is dead on. So wouldn’t it be the valves or the head gasket? We just don’t know anymore…we keep going in circles! There have been 3 mechanics who have looked at it and tested everything. It hasn’t been put on a scope yet, but to do so would cost a bit to have towed. And THEN we still aren’t sure if we can get it fixed or not…thus the reason for the posting. We are hoping that someone might come up with something we haven’t thought of and checked already. So far ..compression is the only thing. But we DO appreciate your answers! I am new to this group so I will try to search up the links to which you speak of! :) Thank you for your answer…does a compression test cost alot to have done?

From: Elizabeth Carroll:
You might be able to borrow a tester from Auto Zone. The best thing to do is disconnect the coil pack then pull all the spark plugs out. Put the compression tester in the number 1 cylinder. One person keeps the tester away from moving objects and watches the needle, and one person needs to be inside to crank the engine over 3-4 revaluations. You should get between 120-160 depending on the compression ratio. You have to do it in every cylinder so it would be best to write it down as you go. If you are not getting atleast 120 compression you can take 1/2 cap of oil and put it in the cylinder and see if it changes. If that does not help the rings could be fused to the piston. By performing a compression test it will tell you if you have a bad valve or a bad set of rings.

From: Cherie L. Hobbs:
ok..Thank you!! We will try this tomorrow! :)