Was driving the car when it lost power..I had to drive the at high RPM's to get it to run... got it home , let it sit, never started again.....I tried MMO , did not work.... when I try and start it, all I hear is a lowpitch humming . there is no clicking or sound tht the engine is trying to turn over. Does any one have any ideas what the problem might be?? I fear the apex seal...How can I check to see if it is the apex seal??? The car is a 84 GSL-SE with 95,000 miles...The car did sit for 1 1/2 years ( at around 91,000 ).. the car was running great until this episode. Any one in cental North Carolina who may be able to check this car out for me?? any ideas would be very much appreciated.....cjf

 

do a compression check

 

I don't have the tool(s) to do compression check... I guess I could pay some one to come over and do it... cjf

 

Do you have spark on the leading (lower) plugs? You'll probably have to charge your battery if its drained, but find out about spark and post back...

 

does the engine turn? can you turn it by hand with the plugs out?

to do the poor mans compression test (works for me) pull the trailing plugs and crank the motor, you should hear a constant stream of psst-psst-psst noises at least six times in a row (well, maybe four... but youll know when she's blown)
if you hear psst-nothing-psst-psst-psst a seal is shot... etc.

if compression sounds good, check other things, like fuel delivery (unlikely) timing (possible) plugged cats(possible) and demons living under the hood (ive seen it happen before...)

 

sounds like you lost a rotor.... compression test to be sure thoo...

 

how do I check for spark on lower plugs?? ( sorry, I can play around with mt car pretty well but when it comes to electrical issues, I get nervous) Help me out as I am somewhat of a novice with this.... I am going to try and turn crank by hand..Iwas told that if it does not move, I blew a seal....thansk guys/gals for your help.......chris

 

see, if the engine dont spin, you cant check for spark without an Electrical engineering degree... or something close to it.

you're correct that if the engine cannot spin, its likely an apex seal. when the seal shatters, fragments get crunched into the rotor housing and clearences are VERY tight in the engine, the 3mm apex chunk (like a chips ahoy chocolate chip really) will prevent the motor from moving. my blown seal was special: it got wedged in so hard, the engine just clunked everytime the rotor face bounced off it. made little wear marks on the bearings it was so bad.

btw: throw some screws and pennies on the floor, then vaccum them up with a shop vac or some other high power hose vac. Thats the noise you hear when the apex seal shatters.

 

Or you could just be driving along and all the sudden you here a shot High pitched screetch and the motor immediatly dies. Thats what happened when I blew my first one @ 250,000 miles. About time I thought.

 

cjf: That’s pretty much what happened when I blew the seals on my 1st ported engine. Loud pop, then rough side to side wobble & hard to keep running. Made it a couple blocks to where I could pull over. Once shut down wouldn't start. Compression test told the story.

 

Darn!! I hope it is not a apex seal but......sounds like it is ...I will let ya 'all know...

 

You turn the key and all you hear is a hum, is the engine turning over at all? Everyone jumps to the conclusion that the engine is shot, but if it is not turning over, it's the starter.

Take the trailing, (upper) plug out of each housing (one housing at a time) and turn the ignition switch to start, (remove the plug wires to those to spark plugs). Check to see if the engine is turning over, if it is, then listen for 3 even pulses from each plug hole. If you don't have even pulses, it's an apex seal (0 or 1 pulse per housing), or a side seal (2 pulses per housing).

 

no , engine does not turn at all,,but remember, the car lost at least 1/2 of its power while driving the car ( see above) ..when the car cooled down, it never started again...I am going to try everythng all you guys said to try...I will let you know..I hope it is not the engine..I will be sooooo pissed......cjf