No Compression in one cylinder!

[FattyMcBaggins]

Hey everybody. I'm really new to the Tuner scene. My girlfriend's dad has a 1991 240SX fastback SE that he wants to sell. I have been interested in getting a 240 for awhile, and love the car. The only problem is that it's recently started having engine problems. He had one of his friends do a compression test on the engine, and one of the cylinders isn't compressing. They aren't sure exactly what it could be, but think either a valve spring is stuck, or a valve is just stuck open now. To fix something like this would it cost alot of money? How complicated would it be to do? Thanks!

[themadscientist]

does the cylinder next to the bad one read weak as well? A valve hanging open tends to get whacked by a speeding piston, let's hope it's not that.

[vacnsewmedic]

its not expensive if u do it yourself,,,,maybe 2-300.00 to take the head out and get a valve job.....but if u take it in maybe over a gran or more....depending on how shady the tech is......

[FattyMcBaggins]

I'm not very experienced with working on cars in the least, and wouldn't want to screw it up even more by doing it on my own. Would it be really complicated to do? Could I just replace one valve? Or wouldI have to do it myself?

[FattyMcBaggins]

sorry, error in the last post...not do it myself...but could i just replace one valve? Or would I have to replace them all?

[vacnsewmedic]

you can replace one, the machine shop will let u know if others are bad, most likely thats the only one thats bad, so act like u know what your talking about or they may take ya to the bank,,,,,,,most machining should cost a flat 150-175.00 plus parts.....one valve isnt much......the gaskget set is about 80-100.00 .....so all u have to do is pull the engine.....

Im a tell ya i thought it was going to be hard.........it was easy sh...t....when u pull the head keep the intake manifold hooked up to it,,,to me it was easy to pull out that way.....easy bolts to get to and when u pull the head out mark the hoses so that u know where they go back......

[FattyMcBaggins]

If it just so happens that it's not a stuck valve, what else could be the culprit behind a problem like this? If it's the valve, could you give me a walkthrough of how to fix it? I'm just now getting into cars, so please forgive my slowness! Thanks for all of the help so far!

[vacnsewmedic]

well, what ever the problem is, your going to have to pull the head anyways.......

just for that small job, shops charge at least 800.00 plus parts

I can help as much as i can.....im a newbie too i just like tearing stuff apart....

lemme know