No compression in engine

Tiny
ONYEZ
  • MEMBER
  • 2011 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 2.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 88,000 MILES
My car was driving rough and I pulled the codes and got p0016/p0017 which says that the camshaft and crankshaft were not timed correctly. Bought the sensors and changed them but the car still will not start. Checked the starter and it was okay, checked to see if the was spark and there was, checked the fuel pressure and it was okay and the fuel pump was working. Took it into the shop to get checked out and fixed and was told that there was no compression in any of the cylinders. Is there any fix that does not involve changing the engine? Cannot afford that now.
Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 12:56 AM

8 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
No compression in any cylinders? That is a bit far fetched. I need to know the compression readings done dry and wet, this will give me a better idea as to what is going on. If compression's are well down and this is causing the problem, you will be looking at spending some serious money to get it fixed. There will be no simple fix for low compression's.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 2:05 AM
Tiny
PATENTED_REPAIR_PRO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,853 POSTS
Remove the valve cover and see if the camshafts spin when cranking the engine over.
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Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 AT 7:03 AM
Tiny
KRISSYJ1919
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2009 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 20,000 MILES
If I replace the camshaft sensor will it help with my compression?
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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SCGRANTURISMO
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,897 POSTS
Hello,

Unfortunately, no , it will not. Low compression is from either worn piston ring, worn valves, blown head gasket, or a cracked cylinder head or engine block. Those are the only things that will cause low compression. Basically, low compression means tearing into the engine and doing mechanical parts replacement. I have included a few links below for you to go to below;;
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-low-compression
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/the-reasons-for-low-compression

Please go through these guides and get back to us with what you decide to do. If you want to fix whatever it is causing this condition, we can help you that as well.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros
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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
ROBERT C12-34
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2006 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
I have a2006 chevy malibu with compression on 2 cylinders. Low or none on the other 2 cylinders. My question is this a blown head gasket? Also could burned valves be the cause of low or no compression on 2 cylinders? P.S the car over heated.
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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Could be the headgasket if the cylinders are adjacent to each other-could be a timing belt/chain problem and also be rings, valves and cylinder wear-

You can get a cylinder leakage test to find out actually where its leaking at
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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
YOGIBEAR001
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 94,000 MILES
I have a '99 Malibu that wouldn't start, put in a new battery which worked for a week or so, but then another problem with starting. Jump started it to get it going, but it was running rough (missing). Took it to the dealer thinking new alternator and tune-up, but dealer states there is no compression in one of the cylinders. What could be the likely cause of the compression leak, and can thay contribute to the non-starting issues? Any idea of cost to get things repaired? Is it a better option to look at a replacemetn engine?
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+1
Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Hi yogibear001, Welcome to 2carpros and TY for the donation

One bad engine cylinder requres a major repair and can be expensive-If it was me I'll consider a replacement engine

If it was only a valve problem -all is need is a recondition cylinder head. Depends where the leak is-by doing a cylinder compression and leakage tests

Did they gave you the test results there's somehing fishy here and I don't like it get a second opinion on the leaking cylinder and get back with me asap-
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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 AT 9:45 AM (Merged)

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