1993 Ford Probe Glowing Manifold

1993 FORD PROBE
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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I have a 1993 Ford probe/se 2.0 D.O.H.C with 187000 miles with new head ,intake,exhaust and valve cover gaskets and timing belt and plugs and wires when you crank it up you can stand on the gas pedel and it might get up to 2000 rpms I did it just a few mins ago for about 20 seconds then turned it off and looked under the hood and the Exhaust manifold was glowing red what is goin on out of time???? Please HELP
Jan 3, 2007 at 12:47 PM
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SERVICE WRITER
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Plugged converter? Disconnect exhaust and see if it stops.
Jan 3, 2007 at 12:54 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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O.K it is dark now but first thing in the am I will thanks for helping
Jan 3, 2007 at 1:00 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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I disconnected the exhaust and no change. There is a lot of gas vapors coming out of the exhaust manifold I had a hard time getting the crankshaft balancer bolt out and I might have turned the crankshaft anyway to fix it or check to see if I have it out?
Jan 4, 2007 at 10:57 AM
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Let me back up a bit. Why was all the work done in the first place?

Timing off is a good possibility. It sounds like it's not burning fuel in the chambers, but in the manifold instead.

It would be good to get Tauruswheel or one of the Ford moderators on this one.
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:12 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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Well it all started with a simple Oil change with the plugs and wires next then I went to store and came back to a cut timing belt and well with 187000 on the car I went ahead and changed the head gasket since I had it all apart
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:21 PM
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Verify the wire are routed right. Easy to mix up. Real easy. I'm assuming this thing must be misfiring pretty good.
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:24 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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Yeah man runs real bad but all the wires that I disconnected I labeled and took pictures I made sure I connected them to the proper place and the plug wires I have took them off 2 or 3 times just to make sure they are in the right place
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:41 PM
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Recheck the timing marks, and make sure the #1 cylinder is at TDC.

New head bolts too? Torqued to spec in order? Head bolts removed in proper order? HEad shaved?
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:46 PM
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It was running good before the work, right?

The reason I ask, is the distributers on these were problem, expensive too. If it ran okay before though, then it doesn't matter.
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:48 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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Well it all started with a simple Oil change with the plugs and wires next then I went to store and came back to a cut timing belt and well with 187000 on the car I went ahead and changed the head gasket since I had it all apart

IT was running good before the work, right?

The reason I ask, is the distributers on these were problem, expensive too. If it ran okay before though, then it doesn't matter.
well it ran ok I just wanted to give it a tune-up
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:54 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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Well it all started with a simple Oil change with the plugs and wires next then I went to store and came back to a cut timing belt and well with 187000 on the car I went ahead and changed the head gasket since I had it all apart

IT was running good before the work, right?

The reason I ask, is the distributers on these were problem, expensive too. If it ran okay before though, then it doesn't matter.
well it ran ok I just wanted to give it a tune-up

I would not have put a timing belt or head gasket on it if someone had not cut the timing belt
Jan 4, 2007 at 12:56 PM
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AAAAGGGGHHHH

With friends like that....

It's a matter of retracing steps then. If the timing is on after you recheck it, I would do a compression test of the cylinders to be sure the headgasket sealed.
Jan 4, 2007 at 1:02 PM
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Hey I got some bad news, this is an interference engine. When not in time, the pistons and the valves collide.

If this is out of time, you very well may have bent some valves. Since the compression isn't happening right, it would burn the fuel right, and dump raw fuel into the manifold, burn ther and light up the manifold. Also explaining the fuel vapors, when you pulled the exhaust.
Jan 4, 2007 at 1:09 PM
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JUNGLELOVE_1269
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Anyway to time the crank if it has been turned with out the timing belt on if there is do you know how ??? and I will take the head back off and take it to my dad for the valve job
I hate FORDS ok man Thanks for all that you have told me you were a big help now I am goin to push it away from the house and get a match and well you know the rest Ha Ha
Jan 4, 2007 at 1:28 PM
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SERVICE WRITER
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Look carefully at the top of the pistons to make sure they aren't cracked. Pressure test and shave that head too. If it's cracked, it may be junk. 8)

Glad I could help, wish it was a happier ending.

Do follow up on this please! :)
Jan 4, 2007 at 8:46 PM
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Suggested Repair

Recheck the timing marks with cylinder 1 at TDC and confirm the plug wires are routed correctly. Because this is an interference engine, perform a compression test and inspect for bent valves and cracked piston tops. Pressure-test and machine the head before reassembly if damage is found.

Conversation Summary

A 1993 Ford Probe 2.0 DOHC that ran well before a cut timing belt and subsequent head-gasket, timing-belt, plug, and wire work would barely reach 2000 RPM, and its exhaust manifold glowed red. Disconnecting the exhaust did not help, and raw fuel vapors came from the manifold. The expert said the fuel was likely burning in the manifold rather than the cylinders, advised rechecking timing and wire routing, and warned that valve-to-piston contact may have bent valves. A compression test and inspection of the pistons and head were recommended.

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