Engine DEATH!

[Shift__BODOM]

hmm...where to start...

well, today, i got in my car, started it up and it died. this happened 3 times until i decided to just lay on the throttle a little to get it to idle at 1k, the usual cold idle. this usually happens on cold rainy days like this one, so i wasnt really worried since it usually runs semi-fine. so i drove about 4 miles to my dad's office, talked to him, then left. as i was going down the street, not even 1/4 mile from his office, the car just started making this loud, deep knocking sound from what sounded like right behind my steering wheel. so i freaked out, and killed it and rolled into this autozone parking lot. i opened the hood, and unscrewed my oil filler cap thinking that i ran out of oil because i have a leak, and there was white smoke/steam coming out. i also pulled the dipstick and it was pretty much dry, and there was the same white smoke/steam coming out of the dipstick hole too. so i bought 4 quarts of oil, filled it up, and started it. now, before i started it, however, i pulled the dipstick to check the oil level, and the oil was very "wet". it wasnt really oily and thick, it was almost watery, so i checked my antifreeze and it was full and green just like it should be. anyway, it started the same as it did at home, and i put a little throttle on and idled it at 750. after a minute, i let off the gas and it held its own, so i went over to the engine bay, and listened and i heard every once in a while a low, deep tick, so i raised the idle slightly at the throttle body and the noise increased in frequency. well, i figured i should probably take it home, seeing as how i had 20 dollars in my pocket, and no tow truck will tow my car 5 miles for that, so i started it up, and headed home. on the way there, the car refused to go over 40, which was fine with me, but at every stoplight, the car would die, so i had to keep starting it up at every stop light. so i hit the highway (i live off the highway) and i could only go 35, and the traffic was horrible, so i had to keep starting it, and as i started it more, it got harder and harder to start, so i hit the shoulder, put the hazards on and cruised at 30 (now it wouldnt even go past 30) till i got to my neighborhood, pulled into my driveway, and promptly cursed out my car in the cold rain. about 30 minutes later, my friend and i went back outside, and now the car wont even turn over. it cranks, but wont start.

so, im pretty messed up about all this, and i dont know what to do. this is my daily driver, and right now its killed, i have no money for a rental or repair, and i really need a fix. please help!

arrrrgh!! i am so fed up with this stupid engine!!! all problems!!

[Altiman94]

sounds like you blew the head gasket, then spun a bearing. I would source out a used motor.

[Shift__BODOM]

thanks for the reply...anyone else know what is wrong?

btw what exactly is "spinning a bearing"?
Modified by Shift__BODOM at 6:18 PM 2/26/2005

[Shift__BODOM]

bump for help...

this is the online mechanic forum, right?

[Shift__BODOM]

**UPDATE**

i got the engine to turn over. it was flooding itself. i ran it for maybe 15 seconds, just to listen to it, and killed it. i dont know how to check for which bearing is spun (if a spun bearing is cylinder specific...i still dont know what a spun bearing is...) and the #2 cylinder plug hole had white smoke/steam coming out of it. also, if i rev it even slightly to bump up the idle, it "knocks" really loud from what sounds like the middle of the block. it sounds like there is a big piece of metal just jumping around in there...very disturbing. i dunno how useful this is, but hopefully it'll provide more insight.

PLEASE HELP!
Modified by Shift__BODOM at 2:45 PM 2/27/2005

[s13sr20chris]

altiman is prob right. a spun bearing is when the bearing comes loose from its position in the main or rod cap and rotates with the crank a little.

regardless of whether or not she spun the prob is that the bearing clearance goes out of whack. it typically makes noise and scarrs the crap out of the crank.

your choices...1)take her apart and get prices on new bearings, gasket set, and any damaged parts(such as oil pump, crankshaft, etc.)

2)get another motor to drop in and play with the other one in your spare time.

i would suggest going with 2 since lots of folks have ka motors just lying around.

[Shift__BODOM]

alright, cool. thats good news to hear...i was scared that i totally ruined my motor. anyway my friend just swapped in an sr20det into his '89 240...though that motor is SOHC...will it still basically wire up to a '93 DOHC chassis and ECU to be able to just run? if so, then ill prolly just hit him up for his motor (or just jack him) and fix mine in my spare time...it would also give me a chance to find my oil leak and seal it up.

i didnt think of swapping motors and working on it...thanx for reminding me of that!

although, i think my dad is gonna help me out financially and we're just gonna take it to his friend's shop. he's doing headwork on my dad's volvo for like, ultra *** cheap...id love to work on my own motor..no time tho.

[s13sr20chris]

thats coolswapping in the sohc might be too much of a pain in the bum.especially if you ever want to go back.

[Altiman94]

I agree wtih chris here, I would find a used ka24de instead. If ou were in Iowa, I would sell you mine cheap.