[Diy_efi] Reality check - no efi content - long winded

[Bill - Comcast]

Hi Leo,

L&A in Glenville, NY did the work.  They're just north of Schenectady. 
Air in the spark plug hole showed bad exhaust valve,  air leaking out 
the tail pipe.  "L" of L&A fame says it's a chunk of carbon holding the 
valve open,  swears the valves are OK because they did a compression test.

Bill

Leo Schneggenburger wrote:
> Hi Bill,
> I am not sure but I think this is an interference engine. It sure 
> sounds like a bad valve at the least. Head gaskets are also a common 
> issue on these engines and the fact that you are low on the adjacent 
> cylinder makes me wonder about that too. Can you put air into the 
> cylinder as a test? It should of course seal which it won't. Then see 
> if air is coming out the intake manifold or the exhaust or look for 
> bubbles in the radiator. You will know what to do after that. BTW, I 
> am in "Upstate, NY" but I know that in NYC, /*anything */above the 
> city is considered upstate and since you are from the tri-state area 
> you probably think the same way, so where and who worked on your car 
> if you don't mind answering? Privately if you wish.
> Leo
>
> Bill - Comcast wrote:
>> Sorry for the off topic post but I know there's a lot of mechanical 
>> knowledge here and thought I'd solicit some opinions on this situation.
>> We just returned from the vacation-from-hell.  Amy's wagon ate the 
>> timing chain in upstate NY.  We got towed into a garage where they 
>> quoted 4-5 hours labor,  $450 to $500 to fix it.  They stumbled and 
>> bumbled around with it for 3 days (each time I asked they were almost 
>> done,  only a couple more hours) while we waited and finally at about 
>> 5:30 on the third day they started it,  but it ran like garbage and 
>> was leaking antifreeze from around the water pump and had a major oil 
>> leak from the valve cover.  They fiddled with the plug wires for 2 
>> more hours before they finally gave up and pushed it out of the bay 
>> and into the yard.  They went home to supper and left me, Amy,  and 
>> the 2 kids (7 & 4) sitting in the car for 5 hours waiting for my car 
>> hauler to be brought up from CT.
>> Oh yes,  before they went home they handed me a bill for $1050.