03 fe350 valves open

[poidog]

RE: 03 carryall fe350 w/oACR: sudden quit, no compression, both valves stay open when cranking. Pedal start, w/o acr sticker on engine, turns freely on starter, ???

[Fairtax4me]

How far open are the valves? Are they moving when you turn the crankshaft?

I’ve heard of some failures of the camshaft gear on the 350. It’s plastic and has rivets holding it to a steel plate that’s welded to the shaft.

[poidog]

They are open enough to have no compression what so ever. The valves do not move at all when the engine is turning. But both of them? A failed cam gear makes sense. probably need to replace the whole camshaft assy if it is a weld up?

[Fairtax4me]

Time to pull the motor.
Yes, replacement of the camshaft is usually necessary. When you take it apart check the link rods for the balance weight for play at the big end. Usually the outer rod (toward the clutch) is the first to have play. If there’s play in the link rods there’s no point getting a camshaft. The link rods will break and wreck the engine. If you have a press you can remove the cam drive gear from the crankshaft and check the crank journal and inside of the rod for scoring.

[danderson808]

I have a similar problem with my 07' precedent with the same engine. Drove onto a trailer to bring home for the winter but wouldn't start up to drive off the trailer. My valves are moving so I don't suspect a problem with the cam shaft, however I only have 60psi for compression. I was curious how often the Hydraulic lifters fail?

[Fairtax4me]

Hydraulic lifter failure, Not often. Usually they fail stuck in the collapsed position, giving far excessive valve lash clearance.

60 psi after sitting is usually due to fuel wash of the rings. Squirt some oil in the cylinder and the compression should come up.

Also just to make sure, you did the compression test with throttle held wide open?

[danderson808]

I appreciate the response! I assumed pressing the pedal to the floor would give me wide open throttle, so I started checking that out just to verify. Found out my throttle was not moving at all. I pulled the floor board covers to find the cable adjuster popped out right by the gas pedal... Running like a champ now.