92 Geo tracker maintenence and valves!>.>

[GeoZilla]

Ok so my friend and i bought a 92 16v Geo tracker 4x4 for fun\project for the summer.

specs and problems.

101k

check engine light is on.

has a slight chatter from behind the left tire while idling.

engine is not noisy at all but idles around 2200 but we didn't let it run long
(cracked radiator)

seemingly well maintained until most recent owner who bought it as a field vehicle.

upon starting it blew out gray smoke, from my own research i have found
it could either be 3 things, burning oil, water or valves need adjusted.

the guy said it stopped smoking after it warmed up ?

in any case how would i go about advancing the timing? i have been on other forums with no response and alot of them seem to be running with 8degrees of advancement for power they say.

its an old engine and the frame is sound as the day it was produced (still has undercoat on it!! )

so any ideas?

[jtgh]

do not set timing over spec, this car has timing set at max power point.
gray smoke,
do you mean black unburned fuel that smells like bad lawnwower.
or
white smoke, which is oil.

101k is low mileage.

id say do this .
1 tune it up
2 replace the TBelt if it dont look like it is brand new. Interference engine you have.

by time you get caught up, that smoke will be identified.

well, did it go away hot. (did it get to full hot engine temperature)?

welcome aboard. !!!


or steam. steam goes way fast , but smoke lingers.
smoke is like BBQ smoke off the meat

the steam is like when cooking it is gone in an instant and is not filling room with smoke.

99% of all car fires are in fact steam, cuz reporters are clueless.

[GeoZilla]

Originally Posted by jtgh

do not set timing over spec, this car has timing set at max power point.
gray smoke,
do you mean black unburned fuel that smells like bad lawnwower.
or
white smoke, which is oil.

101k is low mileage.

id say do this .
1 tune it up
2 replace the TBelt if it dont look like it is brand new. Interference engine you have.

by time you get caught up, that smoke will be identified.

well, did it go away hot. (did it get to full hot engine temperature)?

welcome aboard. !!!


or steam. steam goes way fast , but smoke lingers.
smoke is like BBQ smoke off the meat

the steam is like when cooking it is gone in an instant and is not filling room with smoke.

99% of all car fires are in fact steam, cuz reporters are clueless.

hah ok timing belt? by your estimate how much? this is a budget thing, most of the parts are going to be self made, (i have a big of mid experience and can run a stron beade)

thanks for the welcome! im glad i found this place, i been scouring everywhere!

its the kind that went about 16feet from the tale pipe, but i didnt get to smell it unfortunatly.

I know the difference between oil smoke and coolant but it was cold so im not sure how far water vapor would have traveld, I'm leaning to oil burnage.

So as far as engine mileage goes it should be ok? i plan on changing all fluids after we obtain it. or by milage you mean its rather just being broken in?

he beat the hell out of it, like that neglected thing you don't want anyone to know about that trys to creap its way into your living room beat the hell out of it.

he jumped it 0.0...... =D

thank you for your reply!

[jtgh]

yah, dah tbelt is the only touchy part of car really, that take a beatn and kick hard.

[ranger88den]

Didn't know they put 16v engines in Trackers in 92. If they didn't, maybe engine/wiring/sensors/ECM compatibility is an issue.

[ranger88den]

Never mind, went to Zuwharrie and found this.
89-98 Trackick gear ratios...by year, body style, engine and tranny combo

Just to be sure, you could verify that the 8th VIN digit is a 6.

[CodyJ]

"has a slight chatter from behind the left tire while idling. "

Is it from the driver left near the CAT? I suspect bad 5-speed(bearings -- I got same problem) if it goes away when clutch engaged if it is a manual!

Check engine light -- flip the reset switch and see if it goes away! Only flip it once and then pull codes and possibly take a look at what the codes say and fix + reset and see if more appear.

If it smokes after being ran for 30 minutes and you rev it and it smokes something more serious is causing the problem like a headgasket or worse, cracked block!

[GeoZilla]

It's a 5 speed manual,

It's coming from the driver side but it doesn't sound unusual in anyway like
Bad wise it's a sound and I'm attentive when it comes to new things!
It drives fine, started in 3rd by accident on an incline and took it np, shifts swiftly and
Doesn't seem to slip in or out of gear. Fwd works cherry.
Smoke didn't seem existent while driving 300ft down the road n back.
I think it's the valves not seating the whole way but idk that's why I'm here!

So the timing belt goes around 100k? Were using it for a mudder so engine
Is going to be under higher rpms, I assume a belt breaking at 3000+ wouldn't be good!

So can I post the codes here or rather how do I get the codes?

[GeoZilla]

Sorry using my iPhone in class so it may not be exctly greatly formatted

[jtgh]

Pennslyvania.
most likely a Fed48 with SES nag light attached to CEL lamp.

he didnt say whether it smokes at end of tail pipe or up forward.
most of these PO cars, leak at the Valve cover and dizzy mount r-rings
dripping onto the main header. (very common for either)
so where does smoke come from.

chatter , is exhaust pipe cracked, (guess)

it blew out gray smoke, (exh tip?) is running rich as a pig ( hot or cold or both?)

tbelt is $50 you do , in Pennslyvania. is $xx /hr labor? $250 total.
the owners manual ,(want one?) says do it at 60k,
if last guy didnt do it or did it with cheap junk china belt .

101k , i think, gee, 101k ,so that is tops for any 60k good belt
so i look under hood , i look at the front cover, and say to my self, gee
why does the cover seem to have 100k dirt on it. and its bolts.
hummmmm.

we know its not steam. (a very good sign)
so the gray probably is gray and is rich and may be jest a weak ECT sensor.

16v fast tbelt swap

see hall of shame.

the belt goes, so does engine.
its not almost interference, it IS totally radical Interference.
the valves must never be down and pistion up.
i you do that, see the photos, they are real.

cheers

pretty much number 1 after safe good brakes.