I recently payed a guy to do my clutch install, after getting car back it sounded it there was only 2 pisons going, almost like a tractor or something.

I checked my coolant, its at normal level no oil. checked oil, no water.

popped off the dizzy no problems in side

looked at firing order, its correct

plug wires look good


one other thing is we noticed there was alot of water comming out of the exhaust which is what leans me to thinking its a blown head gasket...

Car is a 88 DX with the stock d15b2. when we turned on the heater the car would almost stall out.

 

there would be coolant in the oil if the head gasket was blown.

 

Did a compression test... decent results..


this is in exact order off the head

170-160-155-160

then with a few squirts of oil it was
180-185-175-175

I then started to think maybe vacuum leak? so i got some carb cleaner out and started to spray around, and on the back part of the DPFI manifold it would make the idle speed regulate but couldnt pin point which hose it was..

 

battery backwards?? lol

 

iavc, ignition module, is at a stop youll drop idle and when your cruising you press on the gas and it feels like its not getting power?

 

No water in the oil, no oil in the coolant, battery is right way, the plugs/wires were in good shape, there was some oil in cylinder 3 (going from firing order). Doesnt sound like a rod knock, sounds more like a tractor, the vacuum leak or whatever is really suspicious but cant seem to find it down there, looked and looked.

Anyone have a answer??

 

Ignition control module was just replaced less then 2 months ago.

 

When im driving it feels somewhat normal, not as throaty and not as powerful. when im sitting at a light or just letting idle it idles rough and sounds like a tractor.

as i increase in the RPMS the tractor feel/ Subaru sound continues. just goes in up in RPMS.

 

Check timing?

 

hate to sound like a noob, but how would i do that? isnt it all computer controlled?

 

Shot in the dark...mayby your CAT fell apart when they reinstalled the header...clogging up the system.....

 

Only one problem.. no cat

 

Would probably need a timing light to check the dizzy timing.

 

TDC your crank and see if the cam gears are lined up as well. Sounds like a timing issue.

 

As long as your crank is TCS like driver4 said, you can adjust the timing by loosening the distributor, and turning it slightly. There is only a slight angle of adjustment anyway. Really, a timing light is useful, but you dont need it. You are standing right over the engine and can easily hear if it's getting smoother or rougher.

 

Figure it out..

Map sensor vacuum line was not connected to the back of the intake manifold.