1988 4 cyl runs rough

[jettaman8691]

Car was running fine when it was stopped last night, but this
morning...........problems.

New distributor cap, rotor, plugs. Have spark through the plugs.
Engine starts and runs, but right side cylinders not firing off. Car
will idle, though rough. Plugs on side that fires off are black with
build-up. Fuel smell, of course on side not firing.

Coil? Air flow? Any help welcome.

 

[Rat]

Car was running fine when it was stopped last night, but this
morning...........problems.

New distributor cap, rotor, plugs. Have spark through the plugs.
Engine starts and runs, but right side cylinders not firing off. Car
will idle, though rough. Plugs on side that fires off are black with
build-up. Fuel smell, of course on side not firing.

Coil? Air flow? Any help welcome.

have you checked the timing?

 

[johninKY]

Broken timing belt. Ruptured FPR.

 

[l.lichtman]

Broken timing belt. Ruptured FPR.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
An engine with a broken timing belt cannot run.

 

[johninKY]

Not true in this case. This engine has 2 timing belts. I know from
expereince that this engine will run if the passenger-side belt breaks.
Not so if the driver's side breaks as it also drives the distributor.

 

[schema]

He is correct. The 1800 will run if the drivers side timing belt is intact.

 

[l.lichtman]

He is correct. The 1800 will run if the drivers side timing belt is

intact.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I'm not arguing, I'm just asking. I have always understood that the
timing belt runs the camshaft, so it controls the valves and
distributor. If those things stop, the engine dies. What can run on
the other timing belt that the engine can run without?

 

[johninKY]

The 1.8L engine has 2 camshafts and 2 timing belts. The driverside belt
also drives the water and oil pumps and the driverside camshaft powers the
distributor. When this belt breaks the engine stops running. The other
belt only turns the passengerside camshaft. When it breaks the engine
runs but only on 2 cylinders. The 1.8l engine is also a noninterference
engine so there is no valve to piston contact and therefore no internal
damage. It is also very rare for the passengerside belt to break before
the other.

 

[schema]

What he said.

 

[jettaman8691]

Bingo. The passenger side belt was trashed. Your assistance has been
very much appreciated.
Now, how does one get the crank pulley off (the one the alternator
belts run off of) without messing up something? TIA

 

[johninKY]

Best way is with an impact wrench.