I need help quick to get my car home

Last night I noticed a rubbing/grinding noise coming from my engine.
I assumed it was the waterpump going out but the temp was find.
I also found a hose that goes from the throttle body to the passenger valve cover was out of the hole on the valve cover side.

This morning I started up the car to try to figure out where the noise is coming from. I heard nothing.

Then I went to the corner store with my car and on the way back the noise came back, 5 seconds later I hear a pop noise. It wasnt a loud pop like a spark plug popping out. More of a medium loudness if that makes sense.
Then the "check gauges" light came on and my car stopped running.

Now it's stuck on the street and won't start up again. When I crank it it sounds like it wants to start. I hear a couple of puff puff coming from the exhaust but nothing else.

Could it be my rockers? I have no idea what's wrong. Hopefully you guys can help me out again.


Thanks
Oliver

 

My first guess would be the Opti.. make you have spark at the coil. Then check to see if you are getting spark to the plugs.. It could be just the rotor.

good luck

 

That's what I was thinking too.
Will an opti go out just like that without any warning?
I pulled one of the wires and I was still getting spark.
When I tried to start up the car it would crank and I would smell fuel but the car wont start.
I also tried swapping out a different pcm and it did the same thing.

My friend came over to help and he said it sounds like something is wrong with the timing. It sounds like it wants to start up but can't.
How do you check timing on this car?

The weird part is the SES light didnt come on. Instead the "check gages" light is on.

 

Got my car to the side of the road. Tomorrow gonna check on the fuel pressure.

 

So which gauge was red lined?

Checking for spark and fuel is a 5 minute job. Id start there first. A popping sound followed by the car shutting off cant be good though.

 

I looked at all the gauges. None of them was red lined.

The battery is redlined now after cranking it so much.

 

Thats odd b/c the check gauges light only comes on when you over heat, lose oil pressure or have charging problems.

 

This happened to me once....
My car was driving fine and out of nowhere when i was making a left turn the
i gave my car gas and it popped and was shaking hard (thought it was another earthquake here in cali) and as i pulled into a subway driveway it
died out. I tried to crank it up but all it did was shake for like 1 second and
die. Found out later that the metal piece inside the opti (rotor?) had melted
come apart as the opti melted internally. Try the OPTI

 

Broken timing chain or gear maybe? I can't think of anything else that would rub or grind like you described that would still allow your motor to turn over.

 

It sounds like it's right up front in the timing area...I'd take the opti off and see if you can spin it and hear things rattleing around in there. If not than I'd put more money onthe timing set... Hopefully the valves didn't just smack your pistons. While your at it you may want to check for bent pushrods, since it is only pulling the v/c to check...only do that if you broke the timing set...The '95 broke a timing chain and took three pushrods with it...luckily the valves didn't hit the pistons..

Chris

 

It's starting to sound scary and expensive.

If it is the timing set, which timing set should I get to replace it?
Can I get gear drives?

 

If it is the timing set, it won't really be that expensive if you do it yourself...and no you can't use the gear drive timing set.

 

Sounds like what happened to me a couple of months ago. Changed the fuel filter and all was well.

 

I looked at the rockers through the oil tube hole on top of the valve cover and they're moving when I try to start up the car. That means my timing chain didn't snap. Whew, I was sweating that one.

I'm gonna check the fuel pressure and opti next. Just gotta find a fuel pressure gauge.
Hope my auxilary fuel pump didnt go out. Worst yet my in tank fuel pump.

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate it.

 

same kinda thing happened about 2 days ago to me...the 3 bolts on the cam gear had sheered off into the cam and it recessed into the engine...also it made the pop and acted like soemthin hit the floor board a little...u better hope it didnt break the timing chain or cam gear bc on lt1 its almost gauranteed bent valves...o was cruising at 1500 rmp when t his happened and only bent 12 valves and 6 pushrods...didnt hurt the pistons thought i go t EXTREMELY lucky...
good luck,,id pull the opti hit the starter and check if the dowel pin is moving and with the wp off try to spin the gear for taht neither should move without much force
Daniel