Low on power, cut out

sparkey · Post by **sparkey** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:12 pm

I'm new to this forum but I am in need of assistance. I have a 1995 BB4 import, 2.2 vtec with manual trans.
2 weeks ago I set off on a regular trip back home, 250 miles in total, just like any normal trip.
I checked oil and water, and set off.
On the way home, my lude was suffering with knocking at idle, no vtec, really sluggish pickup and eventually it cut out and refuses to start.

I've not long had my cambelt and clutch done, and I had changed the plugs about 2 weeks prior.
I'm getting no fault codes on the cel test, does anyone have any ideas that could help me solve this mystery

It's much appreciated

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 1:33 pm

Did you get the tensioner changed at the same time as the belt and was the timing set correctly?
VTEC solenoid cleaned and gasket changed?
EGR cleaned?

h10ndr · Post by **h10ndr** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:34 pm

here is a clue...."knocking at idle". Is your oil light flickering or staying in more than normal from a cold start?

sparkey · Post by **sparkey** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:47 pm

I believe they changed everything that needed doing, including the tensioner, and the car has run without fault since October, completing 8x250 mile drive to the west of the uk.

The car had no signs of oil trouble, it burns a little oil but it was being monitored,it had no oil pressure problems or water temp problems.

Could it have been pre-ignition leading to a dead coil pack?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:56 pm

what do you mean by knocking at idle?

h10ndr · Post by **h10ndr** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 2:59 pm

so when you say "knocking" you mean pinking (detonation) rather than bearing knock...
I would try changing the coil... they fail quite a bit....

sparkey · Post by **sparkey** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:00 pm

Rite, I've just come in from having a look, I'm getting a spark at the plugs, I'm getting fuel, but I decided to remove the top, and it turns our that the cambelt is way to loose!
So it is looking like it could be the tensioner, but what is like to know is would that cause all the problems I've had? And could I be expecting valve damage?
Thanks for all the replies

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:10 pm

Do the timing belt marks line up at TDC when the crank is manually turned. May have skipped a few teeth casuing the knock. Damaged can occur is revved hard.

sparkey · Post by **sparkey** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:35 pm

I was losing light and I couldn't gain proper access to the cams themselves, but could someone explain about the auto-tensioner?
Does it tension the belt when the engine is running? And what happens when it fails?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Tue Dec 25, 2012 7:43 pm

yes it tensions the belt if it fails the belt can jump teeth or even worse come off