1991 skylark

[my35rl]

Car was driving fine with no warning lights. Oil light comes on and the car starts making a loud ticking noise. It cuts of then starts back up. After driving a couple more blocks it cuts off. Put a quart of oil in and car would not start. When trying to start it, you here a tick but no crank. Anyone with a clue as to what may be going on here? Does it sound like the engine is gone? Helpppppppppp.

[kknobl]

Originally Posted by my35rl

Car was driving fine with no warning lights. Oil light comes on and the car starts making a loud ticking noise. It cuts of then starts back up. After driving a couple more blocks it cuts off. Put a quart of oil in and car would not start. When trying to start it, you here a tick but no crank. Anyone with a clue as to what may be going on here? Does it sound like the engine is gone? Helpppppppppp.

What engine is it?? 3.3 V6, Quad4, Iron Duke (2.5 liter 4 banger)?

Kevin

[my35rl]

Originally Posted by kknobl

What engine is it?? 3.3 V6, Quad4, Iron Duke (2.5 liter 4 banger)?

Kevin

Kevin,

The engine is a 2.3L Quad4.


Thank you for your time and attention,

[kknobl]

Originally Posted by my35rl

Kevin,

The engine is a 2.3L Quad4.


Thank you for your time and attention,

Unfortunately, the Quad4s have a notorious history of chronic head gasket failure. My Skylark had the Quad4, but I must have gotten lucky as mine was very reliable. Only work it ever needed was a coil, alternator, and heater core.

You're losing your oil somewhere - get your head gasket checked. Check your oil - if its frothy or looks like chocolate milk, your head gasket is gone. My second guess might be that you have a cracked engine block, in which case, yes, the engine is pretty much gone.

But get your head gasket checked - it sounds very much like you were losing oil and just didn't know it until the light came on. Unfortunately, the idiot lights tend not to come on until its too late in lots of cases.

Kevin

[my35rl]

Originally Posted by kknobl

Unfortunately, the Quad4s have a notorious history of chronic head gasket failure. My Skylark had the Quad4, but I must have gotten lucky as mine was very reliable. Only work it ever needed was a coil, alternator, and heater core.

You're losing your oil somewhere - get your head gasket checked. Check your oil - if its frothy or looks like chocolate milk, your head gasket is gone. My second guess might be that you have a cracked engine block, in which case, yes, the engine is pretty much gone.

But get your head gasket checked - it sounds very much like you were losing oil and just didn't know it until the light came on. Unfortunately, the idiot lights tend not to come on until its too late in lots of cases.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin. The car will not start. It makes a tick noise like it wants to start, but will not. The mechanics think that a Rod was bent, therefore meaning I need a new engine. Will a bad head gasket cause the car not to start?

[kknobl]

Originally Posted by my35rl

Thanks Kevin. The car will not start. It makes a tick noise like it wants to start, but will not. The mechanics think that a Rod was bent, therefore meaning I need a new engine. Will a bad head gasket cause the car not to start?

Generally you would be able to start the car even with a bad head gasket.

The ticking noise does make me lean toward a bad rod, in which case a new engine would definitely be in order.

Kevin