1989 Ford Probe 1989 Probe cold compression check readings

Tiny
MB700000
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 FORD PROBE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 103,418 MILES
I bought an 89 Probe for a parts car. The previous owner new that the engine "just stopped running" and didn't want to mess with it. It gets a little fire to the plugs, but it has no gas tank to make things easy for me. I checked the compression (obviusly on a cold engine) and got these readings:

cylinder 1 45psi
cylinder 2 30 psi
cylinder 3 30 psi
cylinder 4 50 psi

The two 30 readings are on the center plugs.

Is there a chance that this engine might be good? This parts car looks better than the one that I CAN fix.

Thanks for your help! Mike
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 AT 12:23 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
There's something very wrong with the engine.
With "it just stopped running" I'm guessing the timing belt broke.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 AT 3:07 PM
Tiny
MB700000
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The timing belt is still intact. Thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 AT 3:13 PM
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
Are any of the teeth missing from the belt?

It may have simply jumped time.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
MB700000
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Timing belt teeth are all good. Cam timing lines up.

I used Sea Foam in the cylinders and have managed to get the compression up to these levels:

1 90psi
2 53psi
3 60psi
4 68psi

Fire is going to all the plugs. I'm assuming there's nothing more that I can do, so my sharper looking car will have to be my parts car. Is this your opinion, too? Or am I missing something?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
BUDDYCRAIGG
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,262 POSTS
The lowest compression reading i've ever done on a running engine was +/- 95 across the cylinders.

You know you could have a blown head gasket. And the compression is leaking over into the other cylinder when you are doing your test.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 AT 10:53 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Air Conditioner Compressor Content

VIEW MORE