97 probly lifters

[redroan351]

Hello everybody. Sorry for the lengthy post. I just joined this site two minutes ago, and have been reading the Lumina forum history for about six hours now. You guys have a great site, a lot of friendly people, I use a site for my Ford Lightning that is similar.(nloc.net)
Anyway I just got this 97, problem started with very high idle. EGR port clogged bad, had to chizzle. So replaced lower intake manifold gasket and up.
Now don't everybody laugh at once, but my sure fire way to reinstall the push rods didn't quite work out...Broken push rod. Replaced it.
Found idle still high. Checked and replaced IAC valve. That fixed the idle but I have some pretty good rattle/tap/maybe knock, and runs rough.
The girl that owned it before me drove it with the 3000 RPM idle for a while, so I'm guessing it's pretty worn out.
I had suspission of lifters, rockers (or how I torqued them, I used AllData directions). Possibly main bearings. Noise speeds up with RPM'sWhen I get under it while running and put screw driver to my ear it's loudest at bell housing.
Has anybody actualy heard of the fly wheel being loose, would that cause it to run rough? She had the Tranny replaced right before I got it.
I've been reading on your site about the TCC solonoid. And recalibrating the idle. Also a lot of problems with the CKP and ICM's, intakes and valve train's, and carbon cleaners.
I realize this looks like I might have ADHD. That's cause I do. Any healp is a blessing. Thanks for having me

[redroan351]

By the way I was able to pull only a code of 0300 out of it, for a misfire. And compression is good, spark is good.

Please help I'm a starving college student. Plus if it's in the bottom end I'll buy a motor from one of you guys!

[jeffcoslacker]

I have heard flexplate/flywheels make knocking sounds when the bolts to the torque convertor are loose. Could be worth investigating.

What broke the pushrod? You know they are different lengths, have to go back where they came from, right?

Yours may have roller lifters, could have issues there also...

[redroan351]

I just went and checked all the bolts from the flywheel to the torque converter. All tight.

Yeah I knew they were different lengths and I still screwed it up. I kicked myself for a day.

Just noticed though that the oil sending unit and the the cam sensor connectors are burnt. I wonder what that's about.

I just heard about a problem with the roller rockers rotting and breaking on these. It seems so much like a valve train issue, but it's so loud by the bell housing with the driver to my ear.

[redroan351]

I don't think I was clear. The push rod broke as soon as I started it up. I don't think it hurt anything else. But I also broke a pushrod so what I think might not matter.

Thanks alot for your reply

[jeffcoslacker]

You got a vacuum gauge? That'd be a quick way to rule out a bent valve or something from overlifting when the pushrod broke. Sure there aren't any others out of sequence?


When you say runs rough, steady miss like a dead hole, or what?

[wafrederick]

Probally has a broken camshaft.I have seen about 2 or 3 do that in the 3.1s(3100) so far,broke in half.There is an easy way to do check if the cam is broken remove the oil pump drive,have some crank on it and look down the hole and if the camshaft does turn.If it does not turn,it has a broken camshaft.

[redroan351]

put some Marvel and some seafoam in, stables out and quiets somewhat at higher idles. Seems like it could get better if the enitial problem is fixed.

I just noticed that if I turn air on, air flows weak and only out of defrost and a little from floor. Then at high RPM's will blow out of column vents. So I guess it's a vacuum issue, or at least there is one.

just got a tester, gonna go check it out.

If my Cam was broken would the pushrods move on all cylinders? Would it even run? I'll check it out.

[wafrederick]

Two of those three did run on all cylinders,I do remember that.They did run also but had a noise that resulted in camshafts broke in half.