I picked up my gf's 91 to check the brakes (the light had been coming on). It started a little hard followed by a metallic clank. I pulled onto the road and it was just running like crap! Shaking and noisy and then there was a metallic clank.

I know there are no rods but it sounded like a rod knocking. There was absolutely NO power. I came to a stop at a stoplight and it died. Wouldn't start back up.

I get it towed home and it starts. It is running REALLY rough and the exhaust STINKS! It smells like gas... but there's an extra stink that I can't place.

I'm just looking for places to start. I don't know if this could be something as simple as a bad cat or whether it's something way worse.

 

Could have broken the eccentric shaft, or the shaft on the CAS..... do a compression check, that's the first place to start. I would'nt run it otherwise, It could be that the engine is fine, but your ignition got f*cked up somehow...(Pull out the Crank angle sensor) If that's the case, further runnning could detonate the engine. But it doesn't really sound to promising, but always hope for the best.

Good luck, and hope you don't have to buy a neon.

 

That's exactly what I was afraid of. Luckily, we got a 90 day warranty with it. It sucks that it's dead for the moment though.

I'll just try to get it to a shop on Monday.

 

You need to remove the lower two spark plugs and get a mirror and flashlight. shine the flashlighte off the mirror so you can see into the plug holes, and as you rotate the motor by hand you should see a set of 3 shiny apex seals in each chamber.
I guarantee if somethings broke its going to be an engine seal before eccentric shaft.
you should also hear three solid poofs fromt the engine as it turns over so you know its got compression.

 

Did a compression check.

Rear rotor had 65-70 psi all even.

Front had..... 0!!!!

Would all three Apex seals got at one time?

 

yup!! happened to me. one apex seal breaks and then takes out the rest.

Good thing you have warranty!

 

Would it make a metallic clank sound when they go?

 

My apex seals decided to leave this fine world, as I went to start my car after doing some work to it. So for me it was more like a metallic grinding sound, but it could make a clunk as well. Anyways you could do a visual inspection to make sure but the symptoms sound like a blown engine. Sorry.