Weighting my options in Michigan

[DerekTJeep]

First off, I want to give a BIG THANK to Marquis Auto Parts place located on 23492 Red Arrow Hwy. Mattawan, MI 49071. If you want phone number of that place, let me know. They're open from 8-5 during the week and 10-4 on weekend. You can look them up at www.marquisautoparts .com.

I was driving my white 1990 Grand Wagoneer. The truck has only 113K with working 4wd!! It broke in front of this place. I was told that timing gear broke. It'll need work on timing gear. The car is over at that place now.

The people there were very nice!! They were nice to drive me to Kalamazoo Valley Community College(KVCC). That was about a 6 mile drive. KVCC is where my girlfriend works. I tried to give them $15 for all this hassle driving me back to KVCC. They didn't want any money. That is why this place is GREAT!!

Now, what I'm trying to decide is how much it would cost to fix timing gear in Kalamazoo/Mattawan area. I've AAA towing so towing is not the issue. I would want to get few estimates.

I may sell the Jeep out in the area and buy other vehicle or may be rent an Enterprise vehicle to get me back to Chicago.

I'm looking for feedbacks. You can post it here or E mail to dtroy@tmail.com.

Thank for reading here.

[jeepmandan]

Well, that's not going to be a cheap fix. What kind of troubleshooting did they do to tell you that it was a timing gear? What are the symptoms?

[FSJ Guy]

Sounds more like the distributor gear. Maybe that's what they meant. They probably looked at the distributor and saw that it wasn't moving.

To replace the distributor gear, you should also replace the cam gear that drives it. To do THAT, you have to pull the timing cover. To do THAT (pull the timing cover), you have to pull all the front accessories off.

They are the alternator, A/C compressor (you can leave the hoses connected, just flip it out of the way), power steering pump, harmonic balancer and radiator.

It's more labor intensive than anything else. If this is your first time doing something like this, it helps to have someone alongside who has done this before. Otherwise, go real carefully and methodically and LABEL EVERYTHING.

[DerekTJeep]

Thank for your feedbacks. I got an estimate for $500--tax included to fix this timing gear.

I got the Jeep to use the 4wd for winter driving. I'll probably have it fixed, then sell it in March or April.

I'm not very good at fixing especially with all the snow falling here.

When I was driving, it died. THe engine turns fine. When I try to start it, it backfires, but won't start.

Those guys at Marquis Auto place knows car so I would hope they're accurate on timing gear thing.

[SnowShoe]

$500 is not bad...make sure they warrant thier work and they are sure about what repairs you need...no surprises...

I have done this job twice and, as said before, not a project for a novice with out an experienced mechanic over seeing your work.

I would suggest installing a new Edlebrock double roller timing chain if you go forward with repairs. You can purchase from BJ's Offroad.com

Good Luck...:thumbsup:

[Millerluck]

I'd make sure the rotor is turning or not.

Might just need the cap dried out. WD40 works great.

Larry Miller

[sappy76]

If the timing gear was broke or the distributor gear toast, why would it backfire? I would think there would be no spark at all.

What were the symptoms when it died? I know this may be a stupid question, but is the carb getting gas? I've died a couple of times on the road with the fuel gauge reading 1/4 plus when in actuality it was empty. I've had the float stick after it ran dry and causing it to flood and backfire. Tapping on the carb with a tire iron unstuck the float and then it ran fine.

Just wondering how they figured it was a timing gear?

[FSJ Guy]

I think they're calling the distributor drive gear a "timing gear". Either way, you have to pull the timing chain cover off and replace both the cam gear and the distributor gear. $500 is actually very reasonable for that amount of work.

[mrtazwrench]

$500 is not bad...make sure they warrant thier work and they are sure about what repairs you need...no surprises...

I have done this job twice and, as said before, not a project for a novice with out an experienced mechanic over seeing your work.

I would suggest installing a new Edlebrock double roller timing chain if you go forward with repairs. You can purchase from BJ's Offroad.com

Good Luck...:thumbsup:

DO NOT USE THE EDELBROCK TIMING SET! THEY ARE MACHINED WRONG AND CAUSED MY DISTRIBUTOR GEARS TO FAIL DUE TO LACK OF OIL!

Bulltear added a double roller timing set in October that is what I will go with next time.

[DerekTJeep]

Thank. I'll try see what I can do tomorrow when I get to the vehicle. I did use wd 40 on carb to no result. IT did get spark, but not started up.

[Millerluck]

I wish you were closer to me.

My youngest is going to Western.

She's home right now....but we have spent many weekends in Kalamazoo.


I'm with sappy76

I would agree if it's sparking it's got to be turning the dist.

I wish I could check the timming.........

Poor some gas down the carb and see what happens.


Larry

[sappy76]

Thank. I'll try see what I can do tomorrow when I get to the vehicle. I did use wd 40 on carb to no result. IT did get spark, but not started up.

You meant WD40 on the inside of the distributor cap not the carb, right?
I'd do two things, 1st pull the cap and turn it over, you should be able to see he rotor spin or not spin. 2nd I'd buy a clear glass tube fuel filter (Autozone $10) and put it in line with the original fuel filter, between the filter and the carb. I always run one of these on my Jeeps, it makes it easy to see if the carb is getting fuel (empty tank or dead fuel pump). I've been spoofed by a faulty fuel pump in the past.

I've been reading a lot of dizzy gear issues on the site and I've never had one. I've had a host of electrical problems and fuel delivery problems that may be your issue. I've had my brainbox die, my magnetic pickup in the distributor die, and a ton of other issues. I'm just wondering how they concluded that the timing gear broke?

My best friend and FSJ wrenching partner lives only a couple of miles from where your rig is at. I'd be interested in looking at it and confirming the gear issue but I may not be able to get over there. PM me with your phone number and I'll see if my buddy is available.

[DerekTJeep]

Thank for all of your concern. I don't use voice phone. You can send a text message at 224 805 0773 to my pager or send an E mail to my pager at dtroy@tmail.com. I'll call you back via relay phone. If you want, I can have my girlfriend call you back.

[DerekTJeep]

The junk yard guy put wd 40 inside carburetor, and nothing else. Didn't even try to put foot on gas and said that it was timing gear.

[1983 j10]

if its backfiring that is signs of timing but not so much the grear borke more its out of adjustment. like it skipped a tooth or two try losening the distributor at the base and have someone crank the engine and turn the distributor back and forth and see if it will fire and maybe that will get you home.

[DerekTJeep]

I thank you for all your help. Yes, it's the timing gears. They will be worked on this week. It should be ready on Friday, January 2. I hope that it gets done on Dec.31 so that I can take my girlfriend to Navy Pier. I'll keep you updated :)

[DerekTJeep]

Truck was ready on January 31. I drove it to Navy Pier. My girlfriend and I spent the night at Navy Pier for NYE. It was cool!! I now have the 1990 Grand Wagoneer over at my house. It runs fine. I'll probably not drive it to Michigan again.