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2.3L ('83-'97) Valve tick/ Library lookup help


Chapap

Well-Known Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Jul 31, 2021
Messages
1,068
City
NW Florida
Vehicle Year
1994
Engine
2.3 (4 Cylinder)
Transmission
Manual
Total Drop
1.5” till I get these springs replaced
Tire Size
225-70-R14
I changed my ECU which was the very last thing on the whole engine to change (party time). That resulted in an insanely loud valve tick. As I understand, that's a normalish thing, but I want to learn about the valve system. I am 100% sure that there's an article on doing a valve job, but I can't seem to navigate to it. Can someone guide me to it from the home page?
 
A valve train tick from computer change, I don't think so, well not related in any case

You sure it's not a spark plug wire tick?
Engine has dual spark plugs so wouldn't misfire if one spark plug wire was arcing/ticking

For 2.3l/2.5l Lima valve job, Google: VALVE JOB! DIY! At Home, No Machine Shop!

Watch the video, its a 2.5l but same as 2.3l Lima
 
A valve train tick from computer change, I don't think so, well not related in any case

You sure it's not a spark plug wire tick?
Engine has dual spark plugs so wouldn't misfire if one spark plug wire was arcing/ticking

For 2.3l/2.5l Lima valve job, Google: VALVE JOB! DIY! At Home, No Machine Shop!

Watch the video, its a 2.5l but same as 2.3l Lima
Before the computer swap it was running super rich and had that ticking noise. Sometimes it would sound like detonation and some times a rod knock. After computer change, the ratio seems fine but the tick got much louder and sounded like a text book lifter. I wouldn’t have thought an arc would be loud enough to really hear… cause it’s pretty loud. Can’t quite hear in the cabin, but it would it would turn heads when I cranked it. It seemed to get better as the engine got hot.
 
60 KV makes a pretty loud snap...
 
1994 running too Rich can be leaking Fuel Pressure Regulator(FPR) check its vacuum hose for gasoline

Once the engine is running use insulated pliers and unplug one coil pack's 3 wire connector, this will turn off spark to those 4 spark plugs, this tests the OTHER coil packs 4 spark plugs
Engine should stay running smooth, idle may drop 50 rpm

Then plug it back in and unplug the OTHER coil pack

You should do this test once a year to make sure all 8 spark plugs are working
If engine starts to misfire then the working coil pack has a bad spark plug or wire

Benefit of dual spark plugs is more power, draw back is you can't tell if one spark plug is bad
This test will also tell you if the "tick" is spark related, i.e. no tick if that coil pack was unplugged
 
1994 running too Rich can be leaking Fuel Pressure Regulator(FPR) check its vacuum hose for gasoline

Once the engine is running use insulated pliers and unplug one coil pack's 3 wire connector, this will turn off spark to those 4 spark plugs, this tests the OTHER coil packs 4 spark plugs
Engine should stay running smooth, idle may drop 50 rpm

Then plug it back in and unplug the OTHER coil pack

You should do this test once a year to make sure all 8 spark plugs are working
If engine starts to misfire then the working coil pack has a bad spark plug or wire

Benefit of dual spark plugs is more power, draw back is you can't tell if one spark plug is bad
This test will also tell you if the "tick" is spark related, i.e. no tick if that coil pack was unplugged
Everything external is new. Coil packs, wires, plugs, wires, fuel reg, a plethora of sensors. Ignition components were first to change. I do recall doing this test and getting tick improvement. I’ll try again.
 
Well I drove today and no noise. It must have been an arc. It passed the single coil test. I was scared of it, so I shut the truck off to unplug and plug. It ran a little rough on one coil but it was equal for each coil.

i have code 173 (retrieved in koeo) HO2S System Indicates Rich. Would running incredibly re rich forseveral months damage a new O2 sensor?
 
Not enough that a decent road trip shouldn't clean up.
 
Well sometimes it seems like a bad wire because it is somewhat intermittent: can sound like rod knock or can be completely gone. Only problem is it will continue to click when I shut the truck off. It’ll click all the way down to zero RPM. I kinda think intermittent sticky lifter.

also the running rich code is baffling. There’s nothing sensor/controller related left to change. Going to change the 02 sensor this weekend and hope it’s just too gummed up to work right. Would a leaky valve cause the o2 sensor to think it’s rich?
 

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