1.5L SOHC issues

[mcphuk]

Hi All

My mum was the proud owner of a 1997 lanos SE (1.5 SOHC E-Tec). A couple of days ago, while slowing down to a stop at the top of a hill the motor stalled and wouldnt fire again. Was driven off the road in 2nd gear by cranking the starter.

Got it home, found it had stripped the timing belt around the crankshaft pulley. Replaced the timing belt and tensioner and noticed that that timing marks didnt line up exactly right, about 1/2 a tooth out. With the crank pulley aligned correctly, the cam pulley was off a little, more towards the firewall. advanced, retarted, not really the issue. It ran, but was rough as ya mum. We then tried to move to belt back a notch and see what it did. Moving the belt a notch didnt do anything except make me scratch my head some more. Still ran just as rough as before.

Now we are starting to think maybe a sensor is broken, but we arent too sure. Dad also thinks it maybe vavle related. I have tried to find a 1997 workshop manual to no avail, the ones I have found linked from the forums have only pictures and no text. if anyone could point me to a complete manual, with a diagnosis or troubleshooting kinda thing that would be great. I have been using a manual for a 1.5 SOHC E-Tec II(http://chevy.mrmax.dp.ua/EN/documents/K ... kalos.html), does that matter, what were the changes. At the moment we are really confused.

Has anyone had stuff like this happen before, or have any ideas?? Does the E-Tec have a cam angle sensor, could it be???

[MMamdouh]

sorry to hear that man

stripped timing belt on those engines will result in valve damage for sure so you need to check the engine head/valves.

MMamdouh

[mcphuk]

thx for speedy reply. I was under the impression that only the twin cams were interference engines. Thats gonna suck. about to take the valve cover off and see what i can see. Let ya know soon.
Thanks again for the fast reply.

[MMamdouh]

well... the 1.5 SOHC with 8.5:1 compression (Racer) is a non interference engine but the 1.5 SOHC with 9.5:1 is an interference engine (Lanos)

MMamdouh

[mcphuk]

Not too sure of the compression ratio. engine code is A15SMS, if that helps.

Just tested the compression with the end of a file(just used the files handle to fill the spark plug hole). With all the plugs out, cyl. no. 4 seemed to have no compression. when we turned it over with the valve cover off everything looked fine. no funny noises. just worried about lack of compression in no. 4. Dad is about to go take it for a drive and see.

Thanks heaps!

[mcphuk]

drive didnt last too long... was running rough when dad left, was running rougher when he came back 2 mins later. mmmmmm??????? anyone have an estimate for a reco head?

[MMamdouh]

all lanoses came with the 9.5:1 1.5 SOHC engine... the other one was on racres.

probably you got a bent valve at cyl. #4... driving the car in this condition is bad.

MMamdouh

[mcphuk]

yeah thanks. Driving the car was bad... off now to get wrecker head... $275

[mcphuk]

Hi again.
First, i'd like to thank MMamdouh. You do a great job on this forum, Thankyou!!!

For any other 1.5 SOHC owners. Make sure you do your timing belt when due. if your not sure, do it, just to save yourself the drama. My dad and i were too lazy to do it and it has wound up costing a shitload more than it should have. Honeslty shouldnt take much more than an hour or cost much more than $100

If you are a lazy turd like myself, your belt will break. HA HA! Dont even bother messin around with wreckers. take your head in to be reco'd. A rooted head from a wrecker cost me $275 and came complete with an already bent valve in it, a reco on my old head was $408. Head gasket was $40 and intake gasket $10 plus the 3 weeks it has taken to finally get it moving again.

Once again MMamdouh, Thanks!