1999 3.1 Heads

[bcopeland]

I was told that when you put heads back on, you should use gasket sealer like Copperhead or Indian Head to seal them. Is that what readers understand? I replaced my intake gasketsa qwith the problem sealer and apparently my rockers were loose (at least one), but it ran fine. That is until a week ago when it started loosing power and would shake real bad at idle. I'm wondering if I cracked a head because of the one valve not working or what. Head gaskets look fine and the heads look ok. Thoughts?

[malibugtp]

if anything you prolly bent the valve, push rod or dinged the piston

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by bcopeland

I was told that when you put heads back on, you should use gasket sealer like Copperhead or Indian Head to seal them. Is that what readers understand? I replaced my intake gasketsa qwith the problem sealer and apparently my rockers were loose (at least one), but it ran fine. That is until a week ago when it started loosing power and would shake real bad at idle. I'm wondering if I cracked a head because of the one valve not working or what. Head gaskets look fine and the heads look ok. Thoughts?

I believe the instructions on the gasket set specify no sealer. Second do a compression test and see if all cylinders are up to par, any check engine lite? Also check for vacuum leaks around the items taken off during the repair. Look for loose injector harness connectors, loose misfitted plug wires.

[tractorboy]

I have never heard of putting sealer on head gaskets. I would not do it. Usually most head gaskets incorporte some tyope of soft metal , either through out or just around the cylinders, that i guess flatens out a little as the heads are torqued.

[bcopeland]

Well I put the heads back on. The car started like the battery was dying - 3 or 4 slow revs then a start. It did that most of the day. Finally, it died out like it was the battery. I replaced the battery and then it acted like the started was slow winding. It could be the starter or the alternator. Ever heard of such? PLEASE HELP!

[bcopeland]

It was the starter.