I have the following problems

1. The engine makes a "ding ding" sound when it idles.
2. Idling is unstable - from 400 - 800 rpm.. after it warmed up
3. Before it warms up (even in a hot weather), the rpm is over 2000.. doesnt seem normal to me.. non of my previous cars were like that.
4. I can smell the "exhaust" from the engine bay of the car, but not from behind (the exhaust)

On a side note, the engine has high mileage... one of my suspect is the time belt...
please give me some direction.. thanks.. since there is no one to look at my car on sunday, and I have to drive long distance on monday

 

help help help help help

 

the ding dong sound i don't know about the exhaust smell could be the header is loose or cracked and causing exhaust leakage which also you lose gas mileage and HP and thats not good, also check your plugs, plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor pin those might be bad also, and your idle speed could be turned up too check all those out hope that helps

 

I have recently changed the spark plug, distributor caps and rotor....

 

can the timing belt cause the "ding ding" sound?

 

Sounds like the cam timing is off. Maybe from a slipped belt.

Run a compression check first, and then follow up by removing the valve cover and checking that the cam and crank timing are aligned.

 

so is it ok to drive around with a slip timing belt?

and could the exhaust smell from engine be a cause of slipping timing belt?


[Modified by chusai, 11:17 AM 9/22/2002]

 

help help

 

no, it's not ok to drive. Run a compression test.

 

can you tell me how to run a compression test?

 

with a compression tester. (i can tell this is going to be one of those threads...)

or take it to a shop for a good thorough check up...

t..

 

or do a search?

here is something that was prepared earlier...

http://www.c-speedracing.com/howto/c.../comptest.html

thanks C-SPEEDRACING!!! (again!)

t..

 

PPS shake your exhaust manifold and listen for a ding ding sound...

Jokr112 might be onto the smell & the sound source?

t..

 

thank you