0 Compression in Cylinders 1+4

Mike · #1 06-02-2012, 06:40 PM

So, my ranger finally had it's first huge problem. She shut down on me while going down the freeway. Got her home, and am starting to run my tests. It cranks over fine, but doesn't have any indication of starting. I can hear the fuel pump going, and have spark out of my plugs. I just did a compression test, and my 1 and 4 cylinders have 0. So, am I looking at a new head gasket? Would those 2 cylinders out cause it to not start at all, or just run really rough?

Any help appreciated guys. Trying to do this before I have to go down to base on monday.

SalRanger2 · #2 06-02-2012, 07:01 PM

im not an expert but my gut would be bad rings. to bad it doesnt start because if you can take the oil cap off and feel pressure coming out its all blowby and not compressing in the cylinder.
just for the sake of checking might as well take a look at the coolant level and if theres coolant in oil or vice versa. (will look milky)

im no expert but thats what id look into

pooleo · #3 06-02-2012, 07:20 PM

If it did it all of a sudden and has zero compression, I would say a stuck valve. Could be bent could have a sludge of crap in there, maybe some carbon chunks....?

Rings.....would not just go out all of a sudden. Youd probably have low compression, but not none.

If your dipstick is not coming un-seated or blowing out when you crank it, I think its safe to say you havn't any holes in your piston.

I bet its something with the upper components. Valves, valve springs, cam lobes, cam, etc

If the valves dont close, there will be no compression. Do a wet compression check. This should make a quick seal around the valve, allowing a compression reading.

Rangerman49 · #4 06-02-2012, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

So, my ranger finally had it's first huge problem. She shut down on me while going down the freeway. Got her home, and am starting to run my tests. It cranks over fine, but doesn't have any indication of starting. I can hear the fuel pump going, and have spark out of my plugs. I just did a compression test, and my 1 and 4 cylinders have 0. So, am I looking at a new head gasket? Would those 2 cylinders out cause it to not start at all, or just run really rough?

Any help appreciated guys. Trying to do this before I have to go dom beltwn to base on monday.

Almost sounds like your cam belt might have skipped a tooth....especially your on the freeway speeds. I would check that first...to lose compression on opposite ends does not sound like a head gasket. If it's the cam belt ,cross your fingers that the piston didn't make contact with the valves..

Mike · #5 06-02-2012, 08:34 PM

After looking farther into it, I noticed my timing belt had an unnecessarily large amount of slack, so that's going to be my first replacement. Hopefully that piston didn't smack the shit out of the valves. Thanks for the responses guys, I'll update when I get the belt replaced.

tomboy · #6 06-03-2012, 05:34 AM

Even if the belt broke while going 100 mph there would be no damage to the the valves or pistons, the 2.3 is a none interferance engine. But with a slack timeing belt, the timing would be slow, and if it caused loss of compression, it would accure on all cyls. Pull the valve cover and look for a problem there.

Mike · #7 06-03-2012, 10:31 AM

So the belt was completely broken. So the 1 cylinder was stuck on intake and the 4 cylinder was stuck on exhaust, at least thats my best guess. Replacing that now.

Rangerman49 · #8 06-03-2012, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike

So the belt was completely broken. So the 1 cylinder was stuck on intake and the 4 cylinder was stuck on exhaust, at least thats my best guess. Replacing that now.

That's what I thought is was by the way you described it!! Your lucky it's an non-interference engine, I thought it wasn't but another poster said non interference