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| Tweet Topic Started: Aug 9 2011, 09:35 PM (3,519 Views) | |
| maxamy | Aug 9 2011, 09:35 PM Post #1 |
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Advanced Member
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I was driving to work this morning and the Geo started a "clunking" sound...I have heard this sound before but this morning it was much worse...I turned around and the car barely made it home (a 1/4 mile or less) it was slipping as if it was the transmission but when I got home it would not start. I looked inside the oil filler cap while my son cranked the motor over and the cam didn't turn. The piston wasn't moving either... It did eventually turn but the cam never did... I didn't crank much more I was afraid of messing something up more... I felt like it was the tranny this morning but the engine not starting this evening confused me.... Not sure where to start... Any Ideas? ... Anyone? ... 1995 Geo Metro 3 Cyl Auto trans.... |
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| JoeBob | Aug 9 2011, 09:49 PM Post #2 |
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Why you Mutt!
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Sounds like the timing belt may have died. Not to fear, the Metro's engine is not an interference engine, so this will not cause a train wreck inside the engine. If you want to see what happens to an interference engine, go to a junk yard and look for a Kia Rio that has the head off...you'll become obsessive-compulsive about timing belts after that! Had this happen with a Chevette years ago...a couple teeth broke off the timing belt. New belt and I was on my way. Update...if it is the timing belt, search on here and you should find instructions on replacing it (someone will probably provide a link...) Edited by JoeBob, Aug 9 2011, 09:51 PM.
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| dayle1960 | Aug 9 2011, 10:02 PM Post #3 |
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Fastest Hampster EVER
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Replacing a timing belt is easy. Make sure you pick up the correct belt for the exact year model metro you have. Some have square teeth while other ones have rounded teeth. Take the old belt with you to the parts store. Just pull off the black plastic timing belt cover, unscrew the tensioner, and pry the belt off. Repeat in reverse for installation. Should be less than an hour job if you have experience. Maybe two hours for a newbie. Don't forget to match up timing marks. Good luck. |
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| Jezza | Aug 9 2011, 10:08 PM Post #4 |
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Boost Junkie
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Sounds like the timing belt for real ... they should be real cheap and easy to replace.
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| 96Geoman | Aug 9 2011, 10:18 PM Post #5 |
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There's a kit that you can buy that has the timing belt and a new tensioner. The 4 bolt hole crankshaft timing gear uses a round tooth belt The 5 bolt hole crankshaft timing gear uses a square tooth belt |
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| maxamy | Aug 10 2011, 05:51 AM Post #6 |
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I'm pulling the cover off as soon as I get a chance to work on it...prob Thurs evening but that doesn't explain the clunking sound I heard before it died...It was a metal clunking sound...I hope nothing broke....I'll post thur or fri to let you all know what happened...Thanks for the advice....Max |
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| bogs | Aug 10 2011, 10:38 AM Post #7 |
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Duct tape heals all wounds
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That would be really hard to tell without knowing a whole lot of other things. For instance, was the clunking coming from the front or back of the car? Left or right side ? Did it move around? Were there specific circumstances that made it happen (i.e. left turn / right turn / acceleration / etc ). Answers to the above ( and probably to lots not there ) will help narrow it down. Transmission slipping could be related or could be nothing more than the clutch needing replacing
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| maxamy | Aug 10 2011, 08:38 PM Post #8 |
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It's an auto ..so no clutch but I understand the details are vague...I've been worrking a bunch and had church tonight so tomorrow evening I am going to go into a phone booth and change into my supergeo mechanic suit and start tearing stuff apart :-) .... I only hope I can get it back together and she runs again... :-) I'll keep you posted....Thanks for the help ... Max |
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| Memphis metro | Aug 10 2011, 09:14 PM Post #9 |
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How did you know the pistons are not moving? |
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| Woodie | Aug 11 2011, 03:59 AM Post #10 |
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Timing belt sprocket came loose from the crank? |
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| maxamy | Aug 13 2011, 07:32 AM Post #11 |
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I got the timing cover off ... everything seems fine in there. The white dot is on top while the keyway at the bottom is pointing up. the belt is tight and all seems well...When I crank the starter it only seems to be grabbing every now and then...Im suspecting flywheel ... ? maybe torque converter ? ... the cam will turn but it takes several hits.... i peeked down the spark plug holes to watch the pistons and they are moving but only a little... Whats the best way to diagnose flywheel? Does the tranny have to be removed or is there an inspection window to watch whats going on while someone cranks it over? |
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| maxamy | Aug 13 2011, 07:33 AM Post #12 |
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removed spark plugs...got a flashlight and had someone to crank it ... I did see them moving but not much...I think the starter is only hitting randomly... |
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| wizard93 | Aug 13 2011, 07:50 AM Post #13 |
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Sounds like a weird case. If the transmission and engine has been separated before, perhaps someone didn't tighten the torque converter bolts back down and they backed out? That would cause the starter to turn the torque converter and not the engine. Or...maybe the ring gear came loose off of the torque converter? Possibly even a broken crank, although any of these things are rare. Possible, but rare. Or, it could just be the starter. Whatever it is, it's not getting rotation somewhere between the starter motor and the rest of the engine. |
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| Memphis metro | Aug 13 2011, 07:58 AM Post #14 |
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With the timing cover off have someone crank over the engine and see if the belt rotates around. Teeth on starters will sometimes wear down and not engage the flywheel. They will usually make a awful sound though when you try to crank them. On a geo this should not be a problem. . |
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| Memphis metro | Aug 13 2011, 08:23 AM Post #15 |
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While I have not worked on a metros automatic transmission, does not the flywheel bolt to the engine and the torque converter bolt to the flywheel? The starter would engage the engine and crank over the engine whether the torque converter nuts or bolts became loose or not since the flywheel is bolted to the engine crank, unless one of the bolts somehow jammed the flywheel where it could not turn. On larger trucks the ring gear heated up and slid on to the flywheel but on cars and trucks they are mostly welded and no chance of that happening. Am I missing something here? Maybe he needs to check and see if his bolts have became loose on his starter and the starter is about to fall off. |
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