Aleromod.com - View Single Post - 03 Ion Coupe- Crank No Start

comanche · 10-27-2010, 12:29 AM

Well, I posted this at Saturnfans, but I'm not getting much response, and I know there are some good guys here....

My sister has an 03 Ion... crank no start....

Went to start it this morning, started and ran real rough for 3-4 seconds, then quit and wouldn't restart.

Fuel pressure good, AC/signal present at ignition module, switched out ignition modules with no change. Security light is not on. No engine codes.

Cranked over fine, sounded slightly different, as if compression was low.

Compression test was 90 PSI in each cylinder. (abnormally low, all equal)

I'm guessing that the previous owner never replaced the timing components, and that the chain is broke or jumped or something... does that diagnosis sound correct?

Well, chain is still present, and looks tight. It looks to have been replaced at some point in the past as the colored links are red and green, not factory copper and silver. The camshafts seem to be timed to each other, no way (that I can see) to tell if the crankshaft is in time with them.

What we did tonight:
Used a leakdown tester to pressurize each cylinder individually while we had the valve cover off.
Turned the engine over by hand while watching to make sure the lobes of both cams were not pushing the valves down.

For each cylinder, pressures remained in the red (serious leak) during multiple hand-cranked revolutions of the crankshaft. At no point did the pressures reach even moderate leak levels.

I am going to say that this means that the valves are probably bent on all 4 cylinders? Is this common for this engine?
Could it be a head gasket leak between all 4 cylinders?
Any other ideas? I wish it was an easy fix, but with valves not seating properly, it seems that this is going to be an expensive/time-consuming repair.

10-27-2010, 12:29 AM	#1
comanche V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Kalamazoo, MI Posts: 477	03 Ion Coupe- Crank No Start - 90 psi/4 Well, I posted this at Saturnfans, but I'm not getting much response, and I know there are some good guys here.... My sister has an 03 Ion... crank no start.... Went to start it this morning, started and ran real rough for 3-4 seconds, then quit and wouldn't restart. Fuel pressure good, AC/signal present at ignition module, switched out ignition modules with no change. Security light is not on. No engine codes. Cranked over fine, sounded slightly different, as if compression was low. Compression test was 90 PSI in each cylinder. (abnormally low, all equal) I'm guessing that the previous owner never replaced the timing components, and that the chain is broke or jumped or something... does that diagnosis sound correct? Well, chain is still present, and looks tight. It looks to have been replaced at some point in the past as the colored links are red and green, not factory copper and silver. The camshafts seem to be timed to each other, no way (that I can see) to tell if the crankshaft is in time with them. What we did tonight: Used a leakdown tester to pressurize each cylinder individually while we had the valve cover off. Turned the engine over by hand while watching to make sure the lobes of both cams were not pushing the valves down. For each cylinder, pressures remained in the red (serious leak) during multiple hand-cranked revolutions of the crankshaft. At no point did the pressures reach even moderate leak levels. I am going to say that this means that the valves are probably bent on all 4 cylinders? Is this common for this engine? Could it be a head gasket leak between all 4 cylinders? Any other ideas? I wish it was an easy fix, but with valves not seating properly, it seems that this is going to be an expensive/time-consuming repair.