I have a quick question if anyone is able to help me out maybe...

My car started running badly and I figured out that I had a blown head gasket in between 2 cylinders. I had a new gasket put on, and it ran great for about a week. Then, I was driving and all of a sudden it felt like my clutch completely went out, and my car just died, no acceleration at all. I couldnt start it back up. I took it in to a shop and one of my spark plugs was smashed by the piston, the engine was toast it seemed like. My question is, could this have been caused by the head being takin off and put back together? Or is it just a coincidence that something else just went wrong? I dont really know a whole lot about mitsubishis so I am totally lost. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Dan

 

Well i think first off you meant to say that it was a valve that smashed a piston, not a spark plug .

Anyway, how long after the head gasket change was it cuz it most curtianly could have been because of who did the work. A couple things may have been wrong.

1. they didnt set the timing right of the engine and being off it mad the valves hit (this would have happened right away though)
2. They didnt change the timing belt when it might have been going bad and then it went shortly after.
3. They didnt tighten the tensioner of the timing belt right and the timing jumped making the pistons hit.

I would say 3 is the most likely case. And as long as your pistons didnt crack your engine isnt toast because the head can be rebuilt. But im figuring its gonna cost at least another $1500 to rebuild the head. Now what i would do is take a look at your timing belt (its under the plastic cover on the right of the engine) and see if the teeth on it look like they are worn from slipping. If so then the f'd up in putting it back on.

 

Ok your #3 comment seems right because the timing belt is pretty new, the teeth on it are not worn down at all. So I dont think they tightened the tensioner right. Thank you very much for your input, I will let my mechanic know, I needed to hear it from someone that knows a lot about mitsubishis! thanks!

Dan

 

yea my guess is either they didnt tighten it right, or they didnt replace it also like most people will when they change a timing belt.

 

I actually had a spark plug go through my piston .. The dealership said that it was because of a broken balance shaft belt...