uh-oh

[mojoe]

my '97 XLT SOHC has been acting a little strange at cold start. It seemed like it was "tight" like the oil was too thick even though I use the 5/30. It has been really cold lately though 0 - 10 below in the morning. It still would start right up with just a flick of the key, it didn't need to crank. This morning it fired and then stalled while making a brief but pretty loud clicking noise. I tried it a couple more times with similar results but it's clear it doesn't want to start at all, like it always has. That noise sounds like something you don't want to hear coming from a motor like metal on metal or something similar. I know it's not much to go on but if anyone has any ideas I'd really appreciate it. It only has 102,000 miles and is otherwise in good shape. Thanks.

 

[swetrid]

Sounds like it maybe the dreaded timing chain problem.

 

[waskly]

does it start with part throttle? the other noise i would say is a chain noise. if it does start with part throttle, you need a new iac.

 

[windsors03cobra]

That noise sounds like something you don't want to hear coming from a motor like metal on metal or something similar. It only has 102,000 miles and is otherwise in good shape.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune with this pile of junk. You might as well have a good mechanic or your mechanic look at it.

 

[imp]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune with this pile of junk. You might as well have a good mechanic or your mechanic look at it.

Just what type of other "piece of junk" could you recommend to REPLACE it?

Mechanics are like DOCTORS; there are GREAT ones (rare), fair ones (common), and POOR ones (majority). The latter spout bullsh!t to cover inadequacies, just like the poor doctors I have known.......imp

 

[windsors03cobra]

I hate to say it but something cam in block ?

Well seeing as I have a good customer who bought a bad car with another mickey mouse chain drive like the Exploders except this is a Caddy SRX 3.6 V6 which also seem to be plagued with the same timing chain related problems these early ohc 4 litres had.
It just seems to be such a common occurrence on these vehicles and I'm sure it sours quite a few owners among other things it does.
Anyway I have a DOHC V8 from Ford and interestingly enough there are virtually no failures. Same for the SOHC 4.6 tho there are some failures there, tho there are so many in service.

The timing cover gasket had failed on my 5.0 so I replaced that a couple weeks back and with 205k on it the chain had a small amount of slop, nothing to worry about, steel gears in good shape no doubt good for another 100k. 1960's technology V8, where are we going ?
I hate to say it but from what I see with OHC & DOHC and timing chains=mostly fail. The Japs got it right with belt drives.
Chevy says cam in block is the way to go, hard to argue....

I heart Reliability, longevity and serviceability.

 

[waskly]

show me one jap 6 seconds car thats belt driven... LOL

that one 350k supra that went 7 seconds and broke heads, cams and belt per run.......

 

[mojoe]

It started after I let it sit for a while not at part throttle but I kept it at part throttle after it started. It doesn't seem damaged but with that noise, I was sure it was a tear-down. I went down and got some synthetic 5/30 thinking it would flow better at low temp. IAC huh? Couldnl't hurt and probably the easiest thing to replace on the whole truck, right? Thanks.

 

[my98nnj]

show me one jap 6 seconds car thats belt driven... LOL

I think every one of the 6 second american car's blowers are BELT DRIVEN.