Cylinders 1 & 2 are DEAD! Why me... (E16i)

WhiteFox · Jul 19th, 2005, 04:03 AM

After a roll-start, cylinders 1 and 2 are now dead. They died simultaniously. Spark is fine.. valves don't seem to be out of place..
My computer is giving me a code 1-2 which is the Air flow meter. I can put my finger close to the screen above it and the remaining two cylinders run rougher. Covering it all the way kills it off. From what I can see, the AFM is just fine.

I hate to assume this, but could it be that I blew the head gasket between those two cylinders? What else could cause this problem?

Please help me out here.. I can't afford to replace things left and right hoping to run accross it.

Slacky · Jul 19th, 2005, 05:09 PM

if by roll start u mean pop start then it could be tha your timing belt is beat and it maaaay have skipped fromt he sudden strain when u dump the clutch , thats the only idea i have, get a compression tester from a friend if u dont have one and check the compression across your engine. also check your spark. dont know why u would have lost spark but anythings possible

recycled_toddler · Jul 19th, 2005, 10:16 PM

First: Do a compression check of cylinders 1 and 2 (If you haven't already done so); The only other alternative after that is to yank the head off and do an 'autopsy'. Check the valves for bending (I usually do this by removing the rocker arm train, putting the head upside-down, filling the combustion chambers with gas and watching for trickles down the ports). It may be just as simple as a new head gasket, or you may have to put new valves in...or you might need to re-ring it. Check it out, see what you get. Best of luck!

Gsolo · Jul 20th, 2005, 01:06 AM

sounds alot to me like head gasket or worse...hopefully just the gasket blew between the two.

WhiteFox · Jul 20th, 2005, 02:16 AM

By roll starting I don't mean popping the clutch. I let off the clutch smoothly and it doesn't jerk around the drivetrain. I'm not abusive like that!

When I can get my hands on a compression tester I'll check.. Just hoping there might be something else it could be.. but doesn't look to be very much.

Oh.. and if I recall, there was a slight 'shlopk' sound when they first died.. more evidence of a bad head gasket perhaps?

Slacky · Jul 20th, 2005, 08:04 PM

u really wouldnt hear anything with a bad head gasket except for a misfiring engine, any noise would be the first time the valves bend on the piston which means jumped timing, who knows if it didnt jump maybe your ok, i missed my timing by 3 notches when i put my e16 back together and it ran like poo with bad compression on 1 or 2 cylinders, then i corrected it. one of the valves got jammed up but a simple tap with a hammer fixed that and PING snapped back down and she was good to go

soooo bottom line is check your timing while your at it, just a thought