Expert: Robert Summers - 4/3/2008

Question
i have a 97 cavalier 2.2l that broke the timing chain while driving. i let it sit 3 years before replacing chain. i am unable to start car after repairs have been made. i drained the old gas from tank and fuel line. it seems like it wants to start but won't. i have fire, fuel and compression. i aligned the timing marks properly. please give me something to try

Answer
Hi Mitch... after 3 yrs of sitting you may have some stuck rings making for commpression loss... try pulling plugs put some brake fluid down each cyl let sit a day or two, then spin it over with plugs out to clear cyls...make sure plugs are clean and gaped reinstall pluga and try firing up... after you get it going run only a short time and then drain oil and refill, if any rings were stuck the brake fluid would go past rings into oil contamating it.while plugs are out you may want to do compression test to make sure you don't have a stuck valve a well... hope this helps