No start, no compression after resetting timing. Video included.

Got a slight problem, my first post here is a question so plz don’t flame me for this, I am trying to help a friend out with his car that has been in my garage for a month. He has secondary transportation, and I have the room but it would be nice to get this project done.

We had to replace valve gaskets, requiring removal of the timing belt and Timing was off; although we lined up the timing marks. We proceeded to get the magic tools, set it all, seemed good… now no compression.

Car:
1998 2.8 N/A 30v audi a4 quattro

Video of start from first attempt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwC_3AH3DbE

Video of start from second attempt:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_pDklyJVSw

I am hoping the valves are not wrecked. In these motors is it possible for the crank to be off 180degrees? Is it possible that you could be at TDC it still needs to be turned one more time (read this on some random search never saw this repeated anywhere else). From my searches TDC on these motors TDC on compression cyl3?

Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

Something was assembled wrong. You might have to yank the heads and check for bent valves... Or save time and replace the engine with a used one.

Next time, rotate the engine a few times by hand before putting it back together or starting it to make sure the valves don't smack the pistons if you're off.

 

Enough to get 0psi on all 6 cylinders? I have hard of many instances when timing goes (with compression at 60mph) on interference engines and there is little to no valve damage, and the car still starts. Could it be something else before I resort to pulling the heads? On this engine does the crank rotate twice per full engine cycle?

 

You have 0 compression... something was assembled wrong. Check the cam gears and crank gear and make sure they are tight. Check the timing marks. Either way, its gonna have to come apart. If you haven't bent the valves, you're lucky.

You could try a leak-down test to see where the leak in each cylinder is, but it likely will only confirm what you know. Take it apart and try again.

 

I was driving home and my engine just cut off... no noise, nothing. I had power for lights, radio, a/c and what not. We got it home. It sounds just like the second video. We just did an oil change, just had the clutch replaced... there was never any rattling, banging before this happened. I did have a whine from the start up fan (it usually sounded like jets whining on a cool start and it had been sounding like the bearing was going)... but now this... any ideas?

 

What model, year, engine etc are we talking here? How many miles and when was the timing belt changed? Inspect the timing belt to see if it’s still there.

 

oooo, my bad. Its an 2002 A4 1.8T with 144,000 miles
timing belt was inspected when we replaced the thermostat. It appeared to be brand new. The timing belt is still there. You can see it spin when you try to start it.

 

Check the timing and if that is on then check compression and go from there. If the timing is off then it skipped timing somehow. i.e. foreign object fell into the belt/pulley. Scan for codes and see what pops up. If there is no compression then something is up with timing and valves are bent. New head will need to be installed or a new engine.

Doug

 

Timing belt is fine. Can't check for compression because the engine doesn't attempt to turn over at all. When I start it, the belt turns and nothing happens... i don't hear a starter clicking... so I've ruled that out, but i should hear some attempt for the engine to turn over.

 

Have you inspected the timing belt teeth? There is no way for the belt to turn without the crank turning too except if the teeth are stripped clean off the belt. When I say check timing, you have to put the mark on the crank to the mark on the timing cover, then remove the timing cover and check the timing mark on the valve cover from the cam gear. I suspect there is blockage in a cylinder like a dropped valve and now the engine no longer can turn over.

Doug