98 Wagon ZERO compression 2-3-4

I have just bought (CHEAP) a 98 wagon with an engine that won't run. She says shortly before I bought it, she had the plugs replaced (and some other unrelated work). It started running real rough, and she took it back. They said something about the "wrong plugs" and wanted a bunch of money to start troubleshooting it. (Seems that they should fix it for free, but her loss might be my gain).

I have it at home now, and pulled all 4 plugs. Compression on #1 is 150 lbs, compression on 2-3-4 is ZERO. Never seen such low compression before.

Any thoughts? I'm ruling out head gasket (3 cylinders?) and timing belt (#1 works).

My current hypothesis is that they put in over-long plugs, and the exhaust valves hit the plugs and bent, so they don't seat.

Thanks!

I have just bought (CHEAP) a 98 wagon with an engine that won't run. She says shortly before I bought it, she had the plugs replaced (and some other unrelated work). It started running real rough, and she took it back. They said something about the "wrong plugs" and wanted a bunch of money to start troubleshooting it. (Seems that they should fix it for free, but her loss might be my gain).

I have it at home now, and pulled all 4 plugs. Compression on #1 is 150 lbs, compression on 2-3-4 is ZERO. Never seen such low compression before.

Any thoughts? I'm ruling out head gasket (3 cylinders?) and timing belt (#1 works).

My current hypothesis is that they put in over-long plugs, and the exhaust valves hit the plugs and bent, so they don't seat.

Thanks!

sounds like the valves to me but did you confirm the timing belt didnt jump? I was always told that if compression is low when two cylinders are side each other that indicates head gasket.

I have just bought (CHEAP) a 98 wagon with an engine that won't run. She says shortly before I bought it, she had the plugs replaced (and some other unrelated work). It started running real rough, and she took it back. They said something about the "wrong plugs" and wanted a bunch of money to start troubleshooting it. (Seems that they should fix it for free, but her loss might be my gain).

I have it at home now, and pulled all 4 plugs. Compression on #1 is 150 lbs, compression on 2-3-4 is ZERO. Never seen such low compression before.

Any thoughts? I'm ruling out head gasket (3 cylinders?) and timing belt (#1 works).

My current hypothesis is that they put in over-long plugs, and the exhaust valves hit the plugs and bent, so they don't seat.

Thanks!

Could it be that the timing belt broke with the valves closed on the number one cylinder. You would get compression on the number one cylinder wouldn't you. And maybe when the timing belt broke one or more valves in cylinders 2, 3 and 4 were open. Just a thought. Somebody correct me if my assumption is wrong.

Kinda sounds like a safe bet that you won't be wasting your time by pulling the head.

Kinda sounds like a safe bet that you won't be wasting your time by pulling the head.

Well, I pulled the head. Ugh. It seems that the #4 exhaust valve seat fell out, cyliner #4 ate the seat, spat it back out the intake manifold and then it fell into cylinders 2 and 3. This happens often enough that Ford has a TSB on how to clean out the intake manifold, egr hose, and a bunch of other places that valve seat parts end up.

My head is shot. #4 piston in shot. #2 and #3 can probably be cleaned up and re-used. The piston walls have surprisingly light damage -- they should be hone-able.

Any thoughts about what damage may have been done below the piston? Bearings, rod, crank? If I need a head and one piston, I'm well under $500 and 1 day's work. I do NOT want to do rod bearings, etc. I don't mind dropping the pan, pulling the pistons, honing the walls, popping in new rings, and putting it all back together.

Well, I pulled the head. Ugh. It seems that the #4 exhaust valve seat fell out, cyliner #4 ate the seat, spat it back out the intake manifold and then it fell into cylinders 2 and 3. This happens often enough that Ford has a TSB on how to clean out the intake manifold, egr hose, and a bunch of other places that valve seat parts end up.

My head is shot. #4 piston in shot. #2 and #3 can probably be cleaned up and re-used. The piston walls have surprisingly light damage -- they should be hone-able.

Any thoughts about what damage may have been done below the piston? Bearings, rod, crank? If I need a head and one piston, I'm well under $500 and 1 day's work. I do NOT want to do rod bearings, etc. I don't mind dropping the pan, pulling the pistons, honing the walls, popping in new rings, and putting it all back together.

Just clean it all real good after you drop the pan. and replace the tbelt and such while you have it out. Then after all your repairs decide if your going to keep it. I'd also change the oil after running it a while just to be sure anything you missed is out too.

Just clean it all real good after you drop the pan.

Hey, I read somewhere that there is a TSB on how to clean out all the parts that get messed up by this -- Intake manifold, EGR system, etc. Anyone have that TSB, or know where I can find it?