1989 Chrysler New Yorker Bad seals. Can't pass emissions I

Tiny
WAR1REN
  • MEMBER
  • 1989 CHRYSLER NEW YORKER
Engine Mechanical problem
1989 Chrysler New Yorker 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 150k miles

Hi Gentlemen,

I need to pass emissions in Boulder. Car smokes. Notorius Mitsubishi 3L engines all smoked. Bad seals.
Ticket last fall for smoking. Tried to replace the seals but guides were stuck in the heads, so need to replace the heads.

Question; Other than a compression(blow by, cylinder leak down.I think they're all the same?) Test to r/o piston/ring source of smoking what other test should I run to make sure that if I do spend the time and money to replace the heads, that it will pass emissions?

I've been told to replace the water pump, timing belt and all gaskets ($150 kit) when I replace the heads.
Somebody in Erie can do the heads for 40 each-what do you think?

Tried Bardahl's honey. No good.

Smoking worse in summer waiting at stop llights in downtown Boulder. It engulfs me. And other cars look at me with angry eyes! I can also see it in rear mirror as I travel down the road. Can't quite pinpoint when it smokes the worst though. I know this. It is more noticeable in the summer when the engine gets hot.

Ok now in the winter.

updated 12/23/09
Thanks so much for your advice. It appears as if you are local near Boulder, Colorado? From your answer, it appears as if I will need 'major' engine repair by mid January to pass emissions in Boulder County.

I have applied to the Emission's Department in Colorado for a contest to win a small grant to get this fixed. I will need a lot more-I'm guessing close to twelve to thirteen hundred dollars to replace the heads timing belt, water pump, gaksets and seals.

I am currently a resident manager at a shelter in Boulder. Is there a private citizen or start-up shop that you know of that would be willing to do this much more cheaply if I help? Is there an automotive school that could do it for next to nothing? Any other grants available?

Regards

Wade
Friday, December 11th, 2009 AT 2:33 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,873 POSTS
How in the world did your engine make it this long and with such high mileage? These were all fixed 15 years ago!

You don't have to replace the heads but they must be removed. Your Dodge dealer has the special tools, and I'm sure the engine rebuilding shops in your area do to.

The 6 exhaust valves must be removed. The guides have dropped down allowing the seals to pop off and allow oil to seep past. A special punch is used to push the guides back up too far. Then a spacer is used with that punch to push the guides back to the proper depth. Next, a spring-loaded cutter is used to machine a groove around the outside of the guide. A wire ring is installed in that groove to prevent a repeat problem.

If a guide breaks, new ones are only about 4 bucks and will already have the grooves. A broken timing belt will not cause serious internal damage like on a lot of newer engines, but with the mileage listed, replacement would be a good idea. Same with the water pump since it's really hard to get to, you're most of the way there when doing the timing belt, and replacement also requires removal of the timing belt.

Caradiodoc
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 AT 12:59 AM

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