1.8 cam install gone wrong.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 345
Likes: 3
From: NC
Vehicle: 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS
1.8 cam install gone wrong.
I was installing my 1.8 intake cam today. Everything went well at first. I marked the chain links before I removed the old cam
(I am 100 percent sure the timing was correct, I even took pictures before I removed the old one) I turned the crank with a ratchet and the exhaust cam with a wrench, everything moved freely. So I put everything back together and tried to start it. All the motor did was whine when I turned the key. (sounded almost like a bad starter)
The crank pulley still spins freely. But the exhaust cam wont budge at all.
I assume my valves are toast now.
Tomorrow I will tear the head off to check the condition of the valves.
Do you think the head or pistons will need to be machined or replaced?
(I am 100 percent sure the timing was correct, I even took pictures before I removed the old one) I turned the crank with a ratchet and the exhaust cam with a wrench, everything moved freely. So I put everything back together and tried to start it. All the motor did was whine when I turned the key. (sounded almost like a bad starter)
The crank pulley still spins freely. But the exhaust cam wont budge at all.
I assume my valves are toast now.
Tomorrow I will tear the head off to check the condition of the valves.
Do you think the head or pistons will need to be machined or replaced?
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
From: Killeen Texas
Vehicle: 2005 Hyundai Tiburon GT
Best case timings off
Get it on time your good to go
Worst case the valves and pistons are damaged
Replacing the motor is you best bet
If the pistons are good but valves are bent replace the head or rebuild it
Get it on time your good to go
Worst case the valves and pistons are damaged
Replacing the motor is you best bet
If the pistons are good but valves are bent replace the head or rebuild it
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 5
From: Pflugerville, TX
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
^ what he said. To elaborate a little,
In the best-case scenario you did not tighten the timing belt enough to turn the camshafts and that caused the noise during cranking, and you can't turn the exhaust cam because you are too weak to fight the engine's static compression. If it is even remotely possible this is the case, put a wrench on the exhaust camshaft and put some more effort into it. There will be a short section of the engine's rotation where turning the shaft becomes VERY hard. If there are valves pushing into pistons, turning one direction will be impossible until the crankshaft is rotated so the pistons and valves no longer touch. If you really can't move the cams at all, even with the timing belt off, you might have severely bent valves. Confirm this by removing the intake camshaft and inspecting the valve stems. Are they at the same height with the cam removed? If not - and the difference does not have to be large at all - you likely have (at least) bent valves.
It occurs to me to wonder if you might have lost the woodruff key for the crank pulley. Is there a slot on the end of the crank and a slot in the pulley with no key holding them together? That could be very bad, but could explain your problem.
Refer to this thread to be sure you have the timing lined up properly.
https://www.hyundaiaftermarket.org/f...-valve-timing/
Pull th
In the best-case scenario you did not tighten the timing belt enough to turn the camshafts and that caused the noise during cranking, and you can't turn the exhaust cam because you are too weak to fight the engine's static compression. If it is even remotely possible this is the case, put a wrench on the exhaust camshaft and put some more effort into it. There will be a short section of the engine's rotation where turning the shaft becomes VERY hard. If there are valves pushing into pistons, turning one direction will be impossible until the crankshaft is rotated so the pistons and valves no longer touch. If you really can't move the cams at all, even with the timing belt off, you might have severely bent valves. Confirm this by removing the intake camshaft and inspecting the valve stems. Are they at the same height with the cam removed? If not - and the difference does not have to be large at all - you likely have (at least) bent valves.
It occurs to me to wonder if you might have lost the woodruff key for the crank pulley. Is there a slot on the end of the crank and a slot in the pulley with no key holding them together? That could be very bad, but could explain your problem.
Refer to this thread to be sure you have the timing lined up properly.
https://www.hyundaiaftermarket.org/f...-valve-timing/
Pull th
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 5
From: Pflugerville, TX
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
I have never heard of this failure mode before, but I guess anything CAN break. Do the pistons look alright? Have a close look at the seats, the valves may have dented them as well.