Delica compression test done, advice needed

[PandaSelecta]

This morning I managed to do the compression test on the Delica, and here are the results (bearing in mind I need at least 300psi on each)

Starting at the glowplug nearest the fan....

Cylinder 1: 20psi (but drops as its cranking)
Cylinder 2: 0psi.
Cylinder 3: 0psi.
Cylinder 4: 120psi

Any ideas what this could be?

Bit of history about the delica........
before I bought the delica the previous owner had been driving along when there was a bang and some smoke out of the back. She stopped the delica straight away and got a mobile mechanic out who said it was the timing belt had snapped.

Upon stripping it down, I found that the timing belt was okay but the balance belt had snapped (due to oil from crankshaft seal). Also I checked over the rocker arms and none were broken.

I got a Mitsu mechanic to check everything out and put the new balance belt, timing belt and both tensioners on. All of this was timed up and the engine cranks over.

Am I looking at a new engine?

[dude]

Are you 100% sure you did it correctly? Try taking the rocker cover off and turn it over by hand, is everything working as it should?

[turkeywelder]

I'm no expert, but it sounds like the timing is out or there's a problem with pistons.

0psi on two cylinders makes me think that the valves are open when you're expecting them to be closed. But my experience with these things is near enough null.

[scaryoldcortina]

Does it sound "normal" when cranking or does it turn over fast with very little noise? If it sounds OK, you probably did the compression readings wrong.

Assuming that the readings are right, you pretty much certainly have some bent valves/broken pistons to contend with. Has the head been off, or did your mechanic just change the belts? When the belts were fitted, did he lock the cam/pump/crank or just mark the old belt's position and replace to the same point?

[PandaSelecta]

the mechanic said that when i had put the timing belt on, i had the crankshaft (think thats the one) 180 degrees out, so i would have ruined the engine if i had tried to start it.

He didnt take the head off he just put the new timing belt on and timed it up.

The rocker cover has been off, and we turned the engine by hand and everything goes up and down like it should.

When turning over, it does sound a little fast, but not too fast, also there is definitely noise (can tell your trying to start a diesel ;D)

[tonka12]

have you got tight valve clearances.does it sound like its blowing back up the inlet

[dave21478]

Wait, what?
If the timing belt didnt snap, how did the crank get to be 180deg out? If this is really the case, either crank or cam must have turned half a revolution while the belt was off - thats pretty hard to do by accident and will not have done the engine any good.

Is the mechanic really good and has he maybe got this wrong - ie it WAS right but he has turned it 180 himself, thinking he was correcting it?

Doesnt add up. If it were me, I would set the timing by hand - get no 1 to TDC on the compression stroke and check the valves are shut. If they are not - at the very best the timing needs re-set then start again with the compression test but expet bent valves, or find a new motor. If the valves ARE shut, I would look to re-do the comp test, making sure the connections are totally sealed.

[PandaSelecta]

The crank being out of sync threw me too, as I had set up the timing belt before he 'fixed' it, and I had the timing marks set up correctly (there are marks on engine and on pulleys).

Will have to ring him up and get him out again, hopefully not the strip the engine down

[froggy]

also its worth checking the keyway on the cam sprocket too

[PandaSelecta]

Well i will get the guy out and see what he says, but if he cant fix it i will just get rid of the thing, as i don't want to have to get another engine

Forced clearout i suppose

[rwdrules]

alarm bells ringing!! look carefully at the front pulley, mitsi used a two piece pulley(harmonic balancer) metal rubber metal sandwich, these are known for the outer part to "turn" when old
so when you check the timing by the marks it looks wrong but is oin fact correct(engine was running you say) if your mechanic reset the timing it could now be wrong!! and damage may have occured, as said best way is to look at valves and time it up on no 1 compression then see if the timing is correct or not, hope I'm wrong for your sake bud

[petetong]

bent valves on 2 and 3 maybe?? giveing no compression?
can't see how else you would get compression on 1 and 4 and not on 2 and 3.
other than if the inlet and/or exhaust on either 2 or 3 are open on the compression stock?? and if thats the case.. then the cam timing must be out!
EDIT: hold on.. just reread you first post.. looks like you got fook all compression on 1 as well.. humm can't see cam timin out being the corse for the lack of compression on 3 cylinders?
think you need to take rocker cover of.. and turn it over by hand.. see how much lift and drop your getting on the valves that at the very lest.. if it were me.. it would be head off. see whats going on. somthings not right!

[xbo11ox]

I'll be impressed if this gets anywhere near being sorted out.

regardless of the timing, if you've got one pot showing 120psi and two pots showing zero, something is seriously fooked!! I think you, or someone else perhaps, should take the head off and see whats inside.

[PandaSelecta]

Rang the mechanic up, and over the weekend he is going to come out, and take the head off, then we can decide what to do. If its kaput, then i can decide if its worth repairing.

Going to look at cheap engines on ebay though

[datman]

does crank balance shaft hit anything if the belt breaks (like the crank for example?)

on a normal car by the way, if the cam is '180° out' it will work exactly the same, or in other words, its not possible to get it 180° out , because turning the crank one revolution will reset it to the correct way as the are still in sync.

Anyways, a test you can do is put compressed air in the cylinders and see where it comes out. sump (piston broke!) intake (valve broke or bent) and same with exhaust, and check none is going into coolant.

[pauldaf44]

Hmm unless your head is badly warped. Then valves aren't closing when they should. Reset up the timing as others have said.

[Steve]

Sounds like the results you would get when a cambelt breaks or slips, would expect valves bent so not sealing against their seats.

[composimmonite]

Two friends had head problems with Pajero's. Cost of repairs made a good secondhand engine the cheapest option by far.
Secondhand heads in GOOD condition are rare (they warp) so be wary of any for sale as few people will break a GWO engine just to sell the head so you could easilly be buying a duff one.
These are one of the cheapest places for parts -
www.milneroffroad.com

Paul H

[PandaSelecta]

Well i have put it in the for sale section in case anybody wants it

If i get no takers i will get the Mitsu mechanic back out. I would prefer it went though, as i only managed an extension on 1 month on the garage lease, and if its not sorted/sold i will be forced to sell cheap/scrap it

[grumpybadger]

So what you're saying is "don't buy it now wait and give me scrap value at the end of the month"?.
If you have to have the timing set you may as well whip the head off and have a look inside first, that'll tell you if it's even worth getting him out again.
How come he didn't start the engine when he was there?, I mean with out doing this how do you know what he did?.