buickapollo Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Hi all, I've searched a number a forums with this problem I have with my mother in law's car and haven't been able to find a similar situation to mine. And I've copied and pasted my question in a couple of forums including 60degreev6 and grandprixforums.net....just looking for some help, I don't want to look like a spammer or something...It's a 93 with a 3.1, 175K, was running fine. She drove to our house - everything was running good - She went to start it up to leave and it sounded like the engine kicked back from the starter..but started. The lifters - sounds like all of them - sounded like they had collapsed like there was no oil pressure. It was like there was a powerstroke diesel under the hood! It ran although rough. Oil pressure good, no coolant in the oil. She attempted to drive it home about three miles (against my advice), barely making it before it died...it didn't seize up though. I'm thinking the knock sensor told the ecu to retard the timing so much it wouldn't run. Can a slipped timing chain cause this? That's what has been suggested to me. And from what I've read these 3.1's are interference engines..but I'm wondering how far the cam/crank timing can be off before the valves kiss the pistons. Like I mentioned it still runs..but poorly. Any help would be appreciated! I've already got a motor lined up in case it needs it...but I'd rather just to a chain kit. Also is the oil pressure sender hole located before or after the oil goes through the filter? Thanks Colin p.s. My grandma had a 81 Grand Prix with the 3.8L Buick engine...not sure if it was the W body in 81, but I loved that car..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted November 8, 2012 Report Share Posted November 8, 2012 Sounds like something or other decided its time was up, don't really think the timing chain can slip, but maybe if the tensioner failed it could provide enough slack to smash some valves. If you are wanting to try and save the engine, you could do a compression check first and see if any cylinders come up with no compression. also, drain the oil and see how much metal comes out with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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