2001 Cadillac Catera DOHC

Tiny
RAY-2
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CADILLAC CATERA
  • 120,000 MILES
Why is it, after I replaced the head gasket on the passenger's side of the 3.0 L engine, the valves will not close completely. They stay open on both sides of the engine. The timing belt was replaced and setup perfectly. I manually turned the crankshaft, but can't get thru the second turn. It stops at 60 degrees BTDC and the piston hit the open valves?
Friday, October 11th, 2013 AT 2:04 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Sounds like the valves could be hitting can't think of any other reason. Why did you replace the head gasket?
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Friday, October 11th, 2013 AT 3:27 PM
Tiny
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I replace the head gasket due to water in the oil. The anti-freeze and oil was overflowing into the overflow tank. And most of it was oil from the engine. After replacement of the head gasket and re-installing the head. I noticed the valves. The intake valves will not close. I remove the camshaft, reinstalled it and now the intake vales will not close on either side of the engine.
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Saturday, October 12th, 2013 AT 9:53 AM
Tiny
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Even with the camshaft removed the valves will not close.
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Saturday, October 12th, 2013 AT 9:55 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I have bad news for you if you had oil in coolant tank then more then likely you have a oil cooler leaking oil into the coolant. Really common on those engines.I have seen them do this a lot and people replace the head gaskets and still have oil getting into the coolant. If the valves staying open with the cam in you have created a problem you didn't have before. Are you sure the timing marks are correct? If memory serves right you can put the cam sprockets on wrong on the cams. Because the sprockets will work for more then one cam position.
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Saturday, October 12th, 2013 AT 6:17 PM
Tiny
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I will remove the cams again. I'm sure I put them on right, but I'm working without a repair manual. I have taken pictures as I have removed each part, to make sure I put every thing back together, as it came off. Also when I remove the head to replace the head gasket on the passenger side. Piston # 3 cylinder had at least a pint of oil in it. Piston # 1 and # 5 also had an oil water mix in each cylinder. As for the belt, it is brand new with the correct markings. White and yellow. The year and model tell me to use the (yellow marks) and that is what I have done. I just don't understand why the valves will not closes.I followed the pictures on a website that tells me how to alien the cams and the belt. Where is the oil cooler located?
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Saturday, October 12th, 2013 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
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Coolant in the oil I could see a bad head gasket. But I have never seen a head gasket put oil in the coolant. That has always been a bad oil cooler they leak oil in the coolant. The cooler is under the upper intake and under the fuel injectors. There is a cooler plate its under. There is two steel lines going to it in between the two heads. Did you get a timing belt alignment tool kit to properly set the timing for the belt?
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Sunday, October 13th, 2013 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
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I took the cams off again and the intake valves will still not close on the # 2 camshaft and the same thing with the intake vales on the # 3 camshaft. The timing belt is new, with the markings on it. As for the tool kit. I purchased it weeks ago and I have followed the instruction, which I got off the internet. I'm not sure which marks on the camshaft I should alien follow. It shows a drawing on how to set the camshaft marks. I set the #1 cam at the longer mark. The # 2 ate the shorter mark, # 3 at the longer mark and # 4 at the shorter mark. I notice that the # 3 intake vale, hits the piston on the second turn. I need the proper alignment marks to set up the camshafts. As for the oil cooler, I can't fined any thing wrong.
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Monday, October 14th, 2013 AT 9:33 AM
Tiny
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It also looks like the # 6 camshaft valve broke the piston head.
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Monday, October 14th, 2013 AT 9:36 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So you have a broked piston now?How did you check the oil cooler? The best way is to put it in water and pressure test it with compressed air and look for bubbles.
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Monday, October 14th, 2013 AT 9:58 AM
Tiny
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I worked on it a full day yesterday and will work on it again all day today. Do you have any pictures that can help me. Like I said.I don't have a repair manual.
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Monday, October 14th, 2013 AT 10:14 AM

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