Hey guys,

Yesterday I wrapped up a headgasket job on my 86 22re. I started it up and it ran........ just not very well. It sounded like one of the cylinders wasn't firing and I could hear a loud whistling noise. I checked th following

-timing is right on the money
-spritzed carb cleaner around the seals of the intake manifold to see if there was a change in idle...... nothing
-listened and heard all injectors clicking

then I continued by pulling spark wires out one at a time and starting the truck to see if it ran differently. Everyhting checked out until I got to cylinder number two. When I pulled that wire and started it nothing changed.

Upon discovering that I pulled the plug and checked the spark. Sure enough it was firing.

I think I've narrowed it down to cylinder no. 2. I have yet do a compression test. Im just hoping thats not the problem. Plus, the whistling noise has me stumped as well. It sounds like its coming out if the intake side somewhere.

Any thoughts, inputs, scoldings?????

 

Good diagnostics.

Was the #2 plug wet? If not, it might not be getting fuel. Even though you can hear the injector operating, it could be clogged.

Or stuck open (which should make the plug very wet).

On your whistle, I recommend getting a cardboard tube out of a roll of paper towels (or wrapping paper, etc.) to use as a "stethoscope." Knowing the location will help a lot.

 

loud whistling noise? coming up the intake or out the back?
was that still there when you ran with #2 disabled?
how are your valve adjustments?
are you getting any abnormal pressure build up in the radiator?
was the head checked? and by checked by mean properly: for warpage, etc.

Why did you need to do the head gasket?

 

scope: yea the plug was a little wet. Ill check again in the am and get a better look as well as locate the exact location of the whistling.

Abe: I chenged the headgasket beasuae I started getting coolant in the combustion chamber. Cylinder no. 4 to be exact. No coolant in the oil thankfully. I checked the head when I pulled it and I found where the ring on the no.4 cylunder on the gasket gave way. I caught it very very early. I had a local reputable machine shop check it for warpage and such and they gave it the o.k.

 

also, abe... I checked the valves before I ran it and they were fine. The whistling noise sounds like its coming from the intake side at the top of the motor somewhere. Ill check again tomorrow to see if it goes away when I pull the plug on no.2.

Thanks guys for the help thus far.

 

were new injector seals used? {nevermind, you said you checked for vacuum leaks with carb cleaner}

and in case you're worried, i'm not trying to harp on you or anything- just asking questions so we can eliminate things

 

It's all good Abe. On a side note. When I put the new motor in a little over two years ago I sent my injectors off to Witchunter to have them flow tested and cleaned before reinstalling them on the new motor.

 

Alright guys I did a little more troubleshooting and heres what i found.

Compression test on all cylinders.
no.1-130 psi
no.2-130 psi
no.3-140 psi
no.4-130 psi

when wire was pulled on cylinder number one and two no change occurred. I pulled them, each separately and then pulled them at the same time with the same results. I put the wires back on and unplugged the connector from cylinder one injector......... no change.

Plugs from cylinder 1 3 and 4 were dry.
Cylinder no. 2 had a wet plug. It seemed to be fuel.

As far as the whistling goes, it sounds like its coming from somewhere under the throttle body in the intake/injector area. Still havent figured that out either.

Anymore thoughts?

 

Sorry for the late response guys.....

 

Anyone?