2002 H6 - no compression!

[FFR5445]

Hey guys. I'm hoping you can help me out. I have a 2002 LL Bean with the H6 engine. Went to start it this morning and it just cranked over fast, no start. If you've ever heard an engine trying to start with a broken timing belt, that is what it sounds like. I verified fuel, then spark and both are good. Plugged in my compression tester to the RH middle cylinder and I get zero compression. I don't even want to bother checking the other cylinders because they are such a PITA to get to and I'm fairly certain they all have zero compression also. So what the heck happened here?!? It has about 160k on it and car was running great last night.

My next thought is to pull the timing cover and start checking it out. I'm guessing I have a broken timing chain or stripped timing cog.

Does anyone know where I can find a guide on pulling the cover? I assume I just need to pull the radiator and then I can get at everything?

[OldStyle]

It's my understanding this is for a newer H-6 but is great reference to see what you are looking at. I saved it from a reply posting from member Cardoc.

http://phantomotaku.com/SVX/011822-MSA5P0631C.pdf

best of luck to you!

.

[1 Lucky Texan]

do you have a check engine light on? I'd expect some kinda crank angle/cam angle code at least.

there are 4 different length bolts I think holding the cover on. I've heard some people start by drawing the cover's outline on a piece of cardboard so they can push the bolts through at the representative locations.

some people say the valves need adjusting around 200K so, may as well investigate that too before putting it all back together.

tough news

[FFR5445]

I did verify zero compression on the LH middle cylinder also. And just for the heck of it I checked my compression gauge is working correctly on another car.

I drove it the night before without any problems. The check engine light was not on at the time but it doesn't hurt to check. I'll hook up the scanner tonight before I tear into the cover. Thanks for the tip!

This is an interference engine so if it is a broken timing chain, my valves are most likely bent and I'll be shopping for a used engine. The car is just too nice to scrap at this point.

[grossgary]

a good inexpensive solution is a used set of heads bolted to your block. known good block with new headgaskets is a nice hit.

[1 Lucky Texan]

Originally Posted by FFR5445

I did verify zero compression on the LH middle cylinder also. And just for the heck of it I checked my compression gauge is working correctly on another car.

I drove it the night before without any problems. The check engine light was not on at the time but it doesn't hurt to check. I'll hook up the scanner tonight before I tear into the cover. Thanks for the tip!

This is an interference engine so if it is a broken timing chain, my valves are most likely bent and I'll be shopping for a used engine. The car is just too nice to scrap at this point.

duh, yeah, I forgot the valves might be trashed.

bad luck, doesn't seem to be a common failure , though not impossible, for the H6es in general. I have seen pics of broken plastic chain guides and places where chains have chewed through aluminum bosses etc.

be interesting to see where the problem was. With zero psi on both sides, seems like a crank sprocket issue but certainly one chain could have created enough debris or interference to knock the other one off I guess.

[CNY_Dave]

As an H6 driver, I'm going to be very interested in what this turns out to be...

[tdelker]

I wonder if the starter is engaging?

[1 Lucky Texan]

Originally Posted by tdelker

I wonder if the starter is engaging?

he should see the serpentine belt moving - and maybe hear valve-crunch noises but, yeah - worth mentioning.

[FFR5445]

Originally Posted by 1 Lucky Texan

he should see the serpentine belt moving - and maybe hear valve-crunch noises but, yeah - worth mentioning.

Yup I see the belt moving. And it has spark which must be triggered from the crank sensor. Anybody know of an easy way to check if the cams are turning without taking the timing cover off? Maybe my scanner can read the cam sensor, but I doubt it, I only have a basic one.