Hello,
I need help!!! I've searched and searched and found a few suggestions, but no real solution. Here's what's going on.
We changed the timing and drive belts, radiator hoses, spark plugs and water pump on my truck recently. After everything was back together we tried cranking it, and it was not firing, and clearly out of time. We retimed it, and tried cranking again, and it cranked but no fire. The cranking this time seemed very ôfreeö. Almost seemed like there was too little resistance. Well, anyway, the battery could only do that about three times and thenà.öclickö and that was it. We tried recharging the batt to no avail. My friend is all his wisdom (heÆs the idiot who said he had double checked the timing in the first place) said to try a new starter. We did, same result. I put in a new battery, and it groaned a couple of pathetic turns and then back to just ôclickö. My buddy wants to tear the front off and check to see in his words,ö if anything is binding up.ö I checked all the belts, and they are at the tension they should be. I am looking for ANY suggestions you may have. I would REALLY appreciate it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />
God Bless.
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like the timing still.

Clay

Maybe a dumb question but when you installed the new belt, did you check for timing marks on the various gears and align them accoridingly? I know I have them on my 1990 and I would assume they're also there for your 95SR.

Try turning the engine over by hand to see if it rotates completely around. With your description of a resistance free rotation, you might be completely out of time with the pistons making contact with the valves (stopping rotation). If you reach a snag while turning the engine over, don't force it- recheck the valve timing, reset it, and cross your fingers before attempting another start up. Good Luck!!

Joel, CA

We checked the timing using the methods listed in both Chilton's, and Alldata. However, I am more of an electrical/technical person, and my friend is the mechanic. Should all the timing marks line up at the same time? i.e., when the cam marks are lined up, the crank is lined up? Also, I understand this motor has some pretty tight tolerances. Is there any chance at all if it was out of time when we tried to crank it before that the motor received no major damage? It moved around like a washing-machine that is out of balance, but did not fire. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> We only cranked it for a few seconds. This really sucks. I wanted to do some preventative stuff to keep this thing going. It is otherwise in really good shape for a truck with 117k. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Yes, to time an engine requires that ALL of the camshafts are on their TDC marks as well as the crank. Everything must be in perfect sync. It is very possible that some mechanical damage was done if the timing was in fact off. It doesn't even take a complete revolution of the engine to cause interference.

Joel, CA

Welcome to the forum. Wow, talk about a steep learning curve. I'm no expert so whenever I do any kind of serious work like this I have my brother in law (who is a mechanic) or someone else who knows how to do it, help me. Something you should seriously consider for the next time.

I just hope you haven't bent all the valves up.

My buddy is the mechanic. The problem is he's never worked on a Mitsubishi before. This thing is the most complicated piece of work he's ever done. After work we're getting together to hopefully figure this thing out, and see where the truck is at as far as damage goes. We are going to eliminate the electrical posibilities, and see if we can get it started. Assuming, of course, that the crank even moves. I guess then we'll know pretty quickly if anything was damaged. I'm pretty sure that it's not cranking do to an electrical gremlin. At least...I praying that's it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Keep your eyes open guys...there may be a 1995 SR getting parted-out on here soon. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Careful, vultures like me will come out of the woodwork and start calling dibs on parts (like the plastic flares & hoods & turn signals...). BTW, what color is your SR? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Okay, heres the update. The crankshaft does not turn. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> The cams turn just fine. I'm tring to decide what, if anything, can be done at this point. I am trying also to decide if I want to bother finding a new 3.5 motor, trying to do a diesel conversion (with a different mechanic friend this time), or just plain selling it as is. Suggestions are more than welcome!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> I've been anal about the maintenance which is what makes me so sick about this whole thing. I guess the preventative maint. worked...we prevented the motor from running. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />