headgasket replaced, now car won't run

[rookie_98]

Hello, just wanted to thank anyone in advance who is able to help me.

My mechanic recently replaced the headgasket on my car. Previously the car ran but had an horrible idle problem and was spitting water from the exhaust.

Now he replaced the headgasket but the car is very very hard to start. If and when it starts it slowly dies down hanging at 100 to 200 rpms. When i push the gas pedal this loud sucking sound happens but the car stalls. Also, it was making noise from the front of the engine (top of timing chain) so i replaced the timing chain tensioner. The sound went away for the most part but the car still doesn't hold idle or run. Any help please?

It threw these cel codes:
P0202
P1511
P1550
P1509
P0325

[roadrash]

Why was the headgasket replaced? Knowing that might give some clues on what other damage might have occurred. E.g., if the engine over-heated it there might be warping that would create a lack of cylinder compression.

[rookie_98]

The engine in fact was overheating and the previous owner had overheated it too. It also had a bad bad idle, jumping from 200 to 1,000ish 3 to 5 times within a second. Car ran ok after 2000 rpms, but would kind of buck on it's own I think it was a bronco in it's previous life.

Anyway thats about it, now it just won't stay running

[colacan]

did you plug the cam position sensor back in? or is it bad?

[rookie_98]

we did plug it back in, but it might be bad. Wouldn't this only cause a bad (but yet running) condition?

[familytruckster]

Cam's timed correctly? Head checked for straightness? New head bolts?

[rookie_98]

I'm pretty sure the cams were set up correctly, he was having trouble making sure it was perfectly aligned though. Quick steps correct me if i'm wrong PLEASE

align lines on top of camshafts. make sure pulleys arrows are both up. everything while at tdc....right?

Haven't checked the head since it did run before, no go on the headbolts...do i have to have to buy new?

[familytruckster]

Yeah, they are TTYL, not reusable. (well technically they are, but it's tough to get the procedure correct)

Are you saying the mechanic did not check the head before installing it when the headgasket was replaced?

[rookie_98]

hmm i'm not 100 percent sure if he did but i'll have him check it out today if not

[dave45056]

There is a special proceedure for installing a head on these engines. It requires special tools, too. It's also hard to get it wrong when you follow the steps.
Basically it goes like this...
Install the head with the engine NOT at tdc. It needs to be 45 degrees or so retarded to keep the valves from interfering with the pistons.
Install and torque the head bolts. EVERY mechanic knows you don't reuse headbolts. The BMW requires a pecial procedure for torquig headbolts, too. First you torque the bolts, then to give them 180 degrees of additional twist in 2 stages.
Then with the camshaft locking tool installed, you rotate the crankshaft on the engine until to can put the flywheel locking tool in. Then you an install the gears on the camshafts and install the chain with a special rigid chain tensioner tool and the valve timing would be perfect.

I am guessing your valve timing is off and/or you have some bent valves. At the very least, you should check your compression to see what's going on. If you have any low values on your cylinders, you will have to take the head off again. You definitely have to put new headbolts in, too.

If it sounds like I am suspicious your mechanic didn't do the job right, that may be because of the info you posted in this thread. I mean why would a mechanic let you take the car if it wasn't running right after a major job like a head replacement?

The codes you mention make it sound like the ICV and DISA valves are not plugged in, though. But I would still make sure the head bolts were replaced and that you have good compression.