So I was on my way to work from lunch yesterday, drivin about 45-50. Then outta no where My lil 89 Si hatch sputtered a couple times popped a lil grey smoke, engine and oil lights came on and died. Lucky for me I had enough momentum to coast into a gas station parking lot.
While I was sitting there waiting for the tow truck to take me back to work (I work for a car dealership, lucky me) I tried to start it a couple of times, no luck. Perfect! When I got back, I let one of the techs know what was goin on, and he suggested I might have a snapped the timing belt. I was already planning on replacing the setup with a B series, but I was hoping to wait till had all the cash. Now about $2k away from my goal, with a engine problem, a leaky valve seal, and $600 to my name and no other car. So....what would you do?

1) have some head work done, fix the timing belt, water pump, etc
2) Get another d16 from somewhere
3)??

Thank for any input guys!

p.s. theres about 215k on this engine

 

If the damage isn't bad, fix the problem with what you got and save up again for the B-swap. If you can snach up a used engine for cheap, that's the best way to go. GL

 

hey bro sorry to hear about your car. it is obvious that you need your car as a form of transportation. I dont know here in so cal you can get a d16 for like 300 bux 350 around there. it might be better to get another d16. you should inspect the damge first and make sure to know whats really wrong with it. At the speed you were going and if you did snap the belt you most likely bent some valves as well.

 

SO I went out and double checked the basics, got spark and got fuel flow. Later after work, I'll head out to get some starter fluid and spray some in the TB and see what happens...

 

If you have spark you have a timing belt. Maybe it jumped a tooth?

 

i was thinking the same thing. first I'm just gonna check to see later if it tries to fire up with the starting fluid tomorrow. if it does then it maybe it's a lack of fuel pressure or fuel pump is on it way out. After this I'll check the timing.

 

i think your screen name is too similar to mine.


but good luck with the car!

 

When "everything died" did the lights and emergencies stay on? Cause the same thing happened to me.Turned out it was the rotor inside the dizzy.

 

x2 check th rotor in the distributor, the bolt falls out. Happened to me twice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rd91sib18c5r &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">x2 check th rotor in the distributor, the bolt falls out. Happened to me twice.</TD></TR></TABLE>
x3

 

Thats just what it was. Before I checked the cap and rotor I went back to work and checked a few things. Checked the compression 1-3 was at 170 and 4 was at 150, checked the plugs and wires then checked the cap and rotor. As soon as I took off the cap, the set screw in the rotor fell out. All this drama for a .30 screw. Anyways, went back to AutoZone and got a new cap and rotor (This time i set it in there with the Blue loctite), thought since i was at work i might as well change the oil and filter. Now all is good. Happy day for me.
Oh and Elf, Just a coinicidence about the name. I've been usin it since i was a kid and had an Elf BMX bike.