I'm back, 96 Tracker issues, the whole story

troyintahoe · 07-17-2009, 12:06 AM

Here is the whole picture. 96 Tracker 16v 5 speed. Had a new timing belt and completely rebuilt head at 58,000 miles. Belt and head due to a timing belt being broken. Now has 116,000. Has plently of power and runs really good. Idle is a little rough and I think I hear a bit of lifter or valve noise and low rpm during slight acceleration. No noise at idle or high rpm or full throttle.

Had engine codes for TPS and random engine misfire. Replaced the TPS and reset codes. Now throws cylinder 1 misfire. Replaced #1 fuel injector. Now it runs better than it ever has and sounds great. Valve noise still there. Check engine light for random misfire came back for cylinder #1.

Realized I have never adjusted the valves since the new head was installed. The shop that did the work said they ran it and reset the valves. I am planning to adjust the valves tomorrow and do a compression and possibly a leak down test on #1.

Do you think the lack of valve adjustment could have caused the #1 cylinder misfire with a valve that is too loose? I am looking for thoughts before I tackle this tomorrow. I am a decent garage mechanic who sucks at wiring and diagnosis. My hope is I have a loose valve causing a small compression loss (Hence throwing the dreaded P0301).

I've already ripped everything apart and I am ready to go for tomorrow. P.S. The rotor does not point at 1 when the crank timing mark is placed at 0. I rotated 360 degrees clockwise and the same result with the rotor. I plan on marking it and proceeding anyhow. I have not pulled the plug yet to determine TDC. I will do that tomorrow. Thanks for your help. Troy

jtgh · 07-17-2009, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troyintahoe

Here is the whole picture. 96 Tracker 16v 5 speed. Had a new timing belt and completely rebuilt head at 58,000 miles. Belt and head due to a timing belt being broken. Now has 116,000. Has plently of power and runs really good. Idle is a little rough and I think I hear a bit of lifter or valve noise and low rpm during slight acceleration. No noise at idle or high rpm or full throttle.

Had engine codes for TPS and random engine misfire. tune up at 30 and 60k, do the 30k?

Replaced the TPS and reset codes. Now throws cylinder 1 misfire.
Replaced #1 fuel injector. Now it runs better than it ever has and sounds great. Valve noise still there. Check engine light for random misfire came back for cylinder #1. (new , uses or swap with #1 inj ?)

it dont lie about #1 , if that is the only one. #1 is misfiring.
or crank pulley is loose. mimicing #1 but would be random if true.
301,,302,303,304 or 300.

Realized I have never adjusted the valves since the new head was installed. the very careful retorque all new head gaskes a week later.
The shop that did the work said they ran it and reset the valves. I am planning to adjust the valves tomorrow and do a compression and possibly a leak down test on #1.

Do you think the lack of valve adjustment could have caused the #1 cylinder misfire (SURE) with a valve that is too loose? I am looking for thoughts before I tackle this tomorrow. I am a decent garage mechanic who sucks at wiring and diagnosis. My hope is I have a loose valve causing a small compression loss (Hence throwing the dreaded P0301). what does spark plug look like, did you try a cheap NGK just incase it cracked in side where you cant see? is it black?

I've already ripped everything apart and I am ready to go for tomorrow.

P.S. The rotor does not point at 1 when the crank timing mark is placed at 0.
I rotated 360 degrees clockwise and the same result with the rotor. I plan on marking it and proceeding anyhow. I have not pulled the plug yet to determine TDC. I will do that tomorrow. Thanks for your help. Troy

you dont have a timing light. no? if not how in the world can you set exact timing.

My engine is misfiring

key points:

install dizzy using my dizzy timing page.
now freeze the timing by inserting the time freeze jumper in the DLC.

now look at the timing marks,

it must not jump around or car is sick.

do not attempt to set exact time with strobe if marks jump.
you need help if they jump around.

can be simple or a hard to fix problem. cross that bridge later.

cheers to you and hope for the best.

jtgh · 07-17-2009, 04:26 PM

301 one
what it means , besides #1 cyl bad.

it means this.

the ECU models the crankshaft. it has a virtual crankshaft in software.
it then predicts when the CMP and CKP will next show a hit. (cam and crank sensors)

it also can see the crank acceleration at each cylinder firing. (eg: misfire monitor software never stops looking)
this 301 monitor , is saying this:

1: the crank acceleration was weak ( low power or none produced ( has a threshold of x?)
2: or the Crank sensor is flaky, bad keyway is on crank pulley is common.

2 possibles. many reasons to get 2.

but there is something serious.

id say yours is #1 , and cyl 1 has problems , in some way.

set lash and set head torque !!! (chech lash , set head bolt torque then repeat lash)
see my lash page.

jtgh · 07-17-2009, 04:34 PM

one more thought

rotor wrong.? you said?
possibles

1: timing was set completely wrong.
2: or your eyes can see 2.5 degrees of error (5 on crank) error at rotor, I DOUGHT IT.

you need a timing light , its only 12 bucks at harbor frieght,