Question
My Little Red TC
QUESTION: Mr. Finston
Several years ago you gave me swuch good information on how to remove and replace the heads on a 1990. . . I now own a 1989 TC with a 2.2 turbo. Nice car, but it will not pass smog, because of oil. Compression in all cylinders 85-95 wet and dry. I need to do the rings, I assume. I am looking to get a step by step procedure sheet, or book or anything that will help me do it. I can do the work, I just do not want to make the mistakes that a regular guy might make. I do construction work, and I just do work on my own cars. I am not a "Mechanic". . . I do not want to do anything the hard way, but rather the correct and best way. If you can help as you did last time I would be so appreciative. . . I have the dealers service manual, but it does not give directions to do the ring job in a step by step manner. It does tell everything else as far as special procedures and specs and tools are concerned. . . Anyway, I am looking forward to this intimate interaction with my little TC, and want her to run as good as she can. . . I am sure that with your wise counsel the job will turn out to be a pleasurable experience, as opposed to the nightmare, that it could foment into. . .
Please let me know what it will take to accomplish this. . .
Thanking you in advance for all of your expert advise
Duane Bass
ANSWER: Hi Duane,
Other than the '89 Service Manual from Chrysler (page 9-8 to 9-54) my only other suggestion would be tha Haynes manual #25020 which covers the 2.5L 4=cyl. engine rebuild (which is the same block as the 2.2) but also has the balance shafts that you don't have. Let me know if you don't have the pages from the Chrysler Corp. manual and I could xerox and postal mail you those. Similarly for the Haynes. Best of luck on the project.
I wonder which smog test requirement you have failed, or is it an oil visual standard?
Also I found at www.allpar.com/fix/rebuild-engine.html an article entitled "Bob’s 1986 Daytona Turbo Z C/S: rebuilding a 2.2 liter turbo engine" which looks quite good.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
Lebaron and TC
QUESTION: Hello again, that was a quick response. . .
That should be a 1990 Chrysler Lebaron. The TC had to many Hydrocarbons in the exhaust. With the low compression ratings, I am assuming the problem to be rings. I mean I am assuming that I have to drop the pan, pull the head, replace the timing chain, and maybe the oil pump. Maybe new bearings? I am going to have the whole engine apart, and I just dont want to miss doing something critical, that may mar my results.
The Service manual that I have covers the 16 valve head only, and the 3.0. . .
I have a Chiltons(8673)20382 Chrysler Front wheel drive cars 4-cyl 1982-95. I was browsing through it and I found a mistake in my procedure already. I did not warm my TC up to operating temperature before I did my compression testing. It is exactly the kind of mistake that I am trying to avoid. And of course in hind sight it makes perfect sense, because you have to heat the rings up to expand them and create a better seal. DOH!
However I do have the test results from the DMV, and maybe they would be better understood as to what they mean by you , rather than I. I mean it might be just a case of bad valve stem seals. . .
Here are the results
HC (PPM) CO(%) CO(%) + CO2 (%)
Limits 220 1.20 ?
Low RPM(925) 209 pass 4.62 fail 15.93
High RPM(2304) 231 fail 1.94 fail 14.68
I will decide what should be done after I hear back from you
AnswerHi Duane,
I would not launch into a ring job because of a failed smog test. First, how many miles per quart of oil are you using? Do show any blue smoke out the exhaust after slowing down and then stepping on the gas?
As to the remediation of the smog test failure, I would begin by checking for fault codes with the ignition key and the flashing of the power loss light. Let me know if you don't know that routine. Let me know the trouble codes that you get out. There are several sensor possibilities for items that might be contributing to the excess emissions.
The catalytic converter may be the cause for the high HC so consider whether that might be a possibility for replacement. It can be tested at an exhaust shop for partial blockage.
The CO is a mixture issue (too rich) whose cause may be revealed by the fault codes. The oxygen sensor may be the cause of that one.
The condition of the spark plugs and the timing of the spark should also be evaluated.
Then before the follow-up test I would change the oil, do some necessary high speed highway driving to blow out any buildup in the combustion chambers, and of course just before the test make sure the engine is well warmed up.
Roland
PS Please 'rate' my answer. Thanks
