Chrysler Repair: 2.5L 4cyl: valve train service, valve train, spray pattern

Question
Roland,

Below is my original problem to get you up to speed.
QUESTION: 1st let me thank you Roland for all your help in the past. I have been using your old answers for over 3 years keeping my 3 Lebaron's running! This is my 1st posted question as I cant find a resolution in previous posts. 153k miles driving 142 Highway miles 6 days a week. Last week made a stop and a turn and all of a sudden it gust seemed to loose power and run like crap. would get up to 70 but not as fast or normal as usual. at idle shakes and seems to drown in gas when given a quick acceleration. A slow elceleration seems fine. Only codes are 12&55. I Replaced fuel filter and O2 sensor. Checked all vacume lines,(there aren't that many) removed plugs 1 at a time and notice huge difference every time. I was thinking EGR? BUT! I'll be damned if I can find one! Even the Vacume diagram on the inside of the hood doesn't show one. Anyway, I'm stuck on this one. Thanking you in advance for your time and efforts, Sincerely, Brian N
>
> ANSWER: Hi Brian,
>
> You are welcome! I looked at the '92 manual and find that the egr on the 2.2/2.5 may or may not be present depending upon the vehicle and the state where it was first sold. Because it is not spelled out in detail the best way to find out is to look for it. If you have one it would be hehind the engine at the passenger-end so look from that side of the hood opening. It sits above the exhaust manifold, actually on a bracket/fitting that is part of the intake manifold that is on the front corner of the than manifold. So either there is something or there isn't.
>
> If you don't have an egr then my first thought would be to check the spray pattern of the injector in the throttle body. When it is idling the spray should be very fine and symettrical with no drips, and when the engine is shut off it shouldn't drip either. There is a possibility that the injector has started to fail and if you haven't has to replace the original then it is a good possibility that the injector is the problem.
>
> Let me know if you have an egr and I can tell you how to check it. Otherwise it is a moot point.
>
> Roland
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> ---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
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> QUESTION: OK, I have confirmed that there is no EGR. The spray out the injector is not noticeable, that meaning that it is fine. Because I let it warm up I did notice that it is flippin smoking!
>
> I don't have a compression tester but I suspect it's the flippin head gasket. Can you provide links for me to get the "correct" info on replacing it? IE, the tork specks and the like. and again Roland, You have provided me with many answers in the past just searching your posts. I AM TRULY appreciative of all you have "UNKNOWINGLY" done for me and I would assume(i hate that word) others as well

NOW, My revieling.....
It took a while because I had to move. Aaargh!  When I removed the valve cover I found a Rocker Arm sitting in the head.



I compressed the head and put it back on.

drove it 2 miles and it started to run like crap again.



Removed the valve cover and there it was again laying ....



This time I removed one of the other rockers and changed it's place, switching them and re trying the drive, this time i got 7 miles! But alas... it poppedagain,



Thinking it was a bad (worn) Rocker I got a new one.  When I removed the valve cover I found that it was the SPRING not totaly expanding, Not the Rocker or the lobes on the camshaft! I hit the spring with a rachet and it popped up!

 I compressed and compressed and pushed and moved the spring as much as I could trying to get it loosened up, I put the new Rocker arm on and i'm in the car now with it running for over an hour and all seems fine. the new question is can I change the spring (if it popps again) with the head on the car?



Thanking you in advance for your time and efforts.



I never would have thought that a rocker would have popped and caused this!



Brian  

Answer
Hi Brian,
There are about 8 pages on the valve train in the FSM which I can copy and postal mail to you. You can change the springs, guides etc. without removing the head. If you would like the pages let me know a postal mailing address. If you would send me back 3 42-stamps to cover the copy and mail costs that would be appreciated.
Roland