Drivetrain (Cooper S) MINI Cooper S (R53) intakes, exhausts, pulleys, headers, throttle bodies, and any other modifications to the Cooper S drivetrain.

Drivetrain Upgraded cam, now car will not start at all

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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 01:05 PM
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Upgraded cam, now car will not start at all

Installed a new camshaft today, and now car refuses to start.. It turns but will not fire.. Any help?
Will prolly sell car if issue not resolved
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 01:40 PM
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Is there an error code? I'm having a similar problem, in the shop now. Not looking good.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 01:47 PM
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No error codes. Zero compression. Prolly looking at getting another car
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:10 PM
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Sounds like the cam was installed incorrectly and bent valves.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:21 PM
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Who did the install? Experienced mechanic or DIY?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:22 PM
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Well it turns out its 99% timing is off
Intake valves are apparently shut
We made sure there was no contact by turning engine over by hand before starting engine
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:24 PM
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No compression in all cylinders?

I was going to say to check for the obvious missing wires. The coil wire, the cam sensor etc.

Wire tying the cam gear, make sure it goes on keyed correctly, never letting slack on the chain so it doesn't jump a tooth below are a few important points. When you tightened it, how did things look?

I can't see you messing up all the valves, usually just one would go bad if you jumped a couple teeth. Are you sure the gauge is good?

Which cam? Some suppliers offer tech support.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:24 PM
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Me and my buddies did it
We're waiting on a tow truck we will take cam back of tonite and rotate engine 180 degrees
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:26 PM
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Well we checked spark plugs coil pack and such, all looked good, also noticed the car had almost twice as much oil as its supposed to
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:35 PM
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Originally Posted by niquemarshall
Me and my buddies did it
We're waiting on a tow truck we will take cam back of tonite and rotate engine 180 degrees

Are you saying you set the timing manually by feeling in the spark plug hole and rotating the engine, then I guess it might just be that easy, but if you add up the extra time to double check the timing, you are better off than having to do it three times or smashing things.

If you are going to take it apart, you can consider doing more work and do it right. You need to take off the front of the engine, and line up everything for TDC. The cam won't go on 180 wrong unless spun the engine without the chain on or you pushed the key out which I think someone said they did. Then with no key it would end up anywhere.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 02:57 PM
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Well we're 99% sure the intake valves aren't opening causing the zero compression. I'm 100% sure my valves aren't bent since the engine hasn't ran yet, only turned by hand, also if a valve were bent, I would get compression
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:02 PM
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Crower NS1
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:02 PM
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Originally Posted by HRM
Are you saying you set the timing manually by feeling in the spark plug hole and rotating the engine, then I guess it might just be that easy, but if you add up the extra time to double check the timing, you are better off than having to do it three times or smashing things.

If you are going to take it apart, you can consider doing more work and do it right. You need to take off the front of the engine, and line up everything for TDC. The cam won't go on 180 wrong unless spun the engine without the chain on or you pushed the key out which I think someone said they did. Then with no key it would end up anywhere.
What do you mean by spark plug hole?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:13 PM
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No compression sounds like you failed to line up the timing marks when you installed the chain on the cams. Most likely one cam was way out and as a result the valves are overlapping so you have no compression. I've seen this happen a number of times.

I don't know if its possible on the mini motor but I've also seen the cams or followers installed reversed Intake cam on the exhaust side, etc. This is possible on some motors, but I haven't seen it in a long time.

Good Luck!
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by timtim
No compression sounds like you failed to line up the timing marks when you installed the chain on the cams. Most likely one cam was way out and as a result the valves are overlapping so you have no compression. I've seen this happen a number of times.

I don't know if its possible on the mini motor but I've also seen the cams or followers installed reversed Intake cam on the exhaust side, etc. This is possible on some motors, but I haven't seen it in a long time.

Good Luck!
Yes although idk how the timing got off... Cam was at TDC with the hash mark on the sprocket upwards when we broke the nut on the cogwheel. But I've been told from various people who built theirs that te intake valve is off 180 degrees
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 04:00 PM
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going to be putting bigger injectors and a map?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 04:07 PM
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Hell if I can even get it to start
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 04:37 PM
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good luck! hopefully it works out for you..my schrick cams in the mail. this makes me iffy about putting it in myself now.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 05:58 PM
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Originally Posted by niquemarshall
What do you mean by spark plug hole?
That is a really crappy way to find TDC on an engine, just see when the piston is top in cyl #1. It is a last resort kind of a thing to do if you get lost, but since the piston is at the top two times per firing, you can get it 180 deg out of whack.

Just stick something in the hole and feel the piston when it is at the top of the stroke.

Originally Posted by ROOSEY
my schrick cams in the mail. this makes me iffy about putting it in myself now.

Some suppliers will be there for tech support if you buy from the right folks. Not that they can help you physically, but often small tips make a big difference.

I would have chosen (did actually) a different CAM, but if you insist,
what can work for a newb install is:

car in gear
screwdriver in brake rotor fin up against caliper so the engine can not turn
wire tie or zip tie gear to chain
mark chain
hang chain and wired gear from above so it can not fall down and move a tooth on crank gear.

There are still many ways things can still go wrong, but that and a little luck worked for me.
 

Last edited by HRM; Mar 25, 2012 at 06:06 PM.
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:05 PM
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When I had the timing chain replaced in mine I spoke with the guy for awhile. He told me that on these engines that TDC wasn't like other cars where #1 piston was up all the way. Instead all 4 pistons are right in the center of the cylinders.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 06:32 PM
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Originally Posted by miniblucabrio
When I had the timing chain replaced in mine I spoke with the guy for awhile. He told me that on these engines that TDC wasn't like other cars where #1 piston was up all the way. Instead all 4 pistons are right in the center of the cylinders.
Thanks MBC. That's good info and, for all I know, so are all new engines. That info is older than me, but I was just curious as to how anyone thought a car could be 180 off in the first place.

I wouldn't waste any time with that theory unless there is a good reason to suspect something you did caused it.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 07:11 PM
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Ok so my plan is
Pull spark plug out
Move piston 1 to tdc
Disconnect valve train
Rotate cam to tdc with all valves are closed.
Another source says move cam gear with notch straigh up (guy with 400hp r53)
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 07:50 PM
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Rotated engine to tdc turns out that the cam gear is already aligned unless it's 180 off?
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by niquemarshall
Rotated engine to tdc turns out that the cam gear is already aligned unless it's 180 off?
With these new electronic controlled motors it's not like old school. To confirm timing you will have to pull the timing cover and line up the marks.
 
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Old Mar 25, 2012 | 09:57 PM
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We are doing that now. Turns out timing was off
 
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