Plymouth Reliant 83 Engine timing

Tiny
KILLZODIAK
  • MEMBER
  • 1983 PLYMOUTH RELIANT
I have an 83 plymouth reliant with a 2.2L engine and I just replaced the head gasket and the top end gaskets and when I went to start it it wont fire, the number one piston isnt giving off any compression and every time I put it in TDC and align the camshaft it ends up a half rotation off after trying to start the motor. I am using the indicator near the trans. To get it into TDC. Am I doing something wrong or is there something I forgot to do? Please help me, I really need to get my car running again.

ZodiaK
Thursday, May 25th, 2006 AT 10:22 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
SDALTON19
  • MECHANIC
  • 87 POSTS
Sounds like maybe you have you camshaft timed 180degrees out I always double and triple check my timing marks whenever I do anything with the timing and then I have an assistant check it as well you can never be to safe with timing another problem might be that you have your valves adjusted way too tight and they are staying open this would explain the no compression but there is one other thing i'm not sure if this is an interference motor or not but if it is and the timgin was set 180 degrees out you may have knocked a hole in one of the pistons and that could cause the no compression
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Saturday, May 27th, 2006 AT 9:05 PM
Tiny
KILLZODIAK
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  • 13 POSTS
We started with the pistons in TDC then aligned the cam, put the timing belt on and tryed starting the car. It wouldn't start so we put the piston back in TDC without taking the timing belt off and the cam was turned halfway aroung, 180 degrees out. We fixed the timing two more times and the same thing happened. The way we are getting TDC is from the bellhousing.
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Sunday, May 28th, 2006 AT 12:57 AM
Tiny
SDALTON19
  • MECHANIC
  • 87 POSTS
Ok here whats happening a camshaft spins at half the rotation of the crankshaft in other words for every revolution of the camshaft the crankshaft spins twice so you may find when you turn the crankshaft to tdc that the camshaft is 180 degrees out thats ok turn the crankshaft again to tdc and see if the alignment marks line up also I think you should be checking your marks on the front of the engine not at the bellhousing I dont think thats helping your problem either and to tell you the truth I just found out this is a single overhead cam you couldnt be 180 degrees out becouse that would still be dead on if you were exactly 180 degrees out so disregard that. However your method of timing the engine is sounds wrong start back at the timing belt side of the engine check the timing marks this will insure you have the proper timing also once again you need to check your valve adjustments this could be most of you problem I would also do a verbal check to make sure you have fuel and spark as well [/code]
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Sunday, May 28th, 2006 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
SDALTON19
  • MECHANIC
  • 87 POSTS
Also when you set your timing marks you nneed to check your distributor and make sure that the rotor is pointed at #1 cylinder once you have set valve clearences and adjusted timing properley you should be set if you still do not have any combustion you need to look at the fuel system, ignition wiring, and your intake system for restrictions or idle solenoids not actuating
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Sunday, May 28th, 2006 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
KILLZODIAK
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  • 13 POSTS
Thanks for the tip. We went over the timing again and then checked the wiring. We have a few wires in the wrong place. Thats why it wasing firing. It starts now but doesnt idle right. So we have to go and fix the vacumme hoses and get them all in the right place. Thanks for the help.
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Thursday, June 1st, 2006 AT 1:42 PM

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