im always looking for spare heads for my eclipse and i found on that has me a little puzzled,its still in the car but it doesnt run,(go figure)its a 1st gen nt as well.but i can almost take 2 of the rollers on the intake side out by hand,(while the timing marks are all lined up)guy said he was trying to get it started and it would backfire though the intake,im not in dire need of one just want to get another for a spare.what could be the problem?i think mabey bent valves.

either bent valves or the crank isn't in time with the cams

right, i was thinking the timing issue myself,but then whats up with being able to pull the 2 rollers out on the intake side so easily?i can literally push the lifters down with ease,and the rollers,i can rock them side to side to the point they almost come out

if the cam lobe isn't holding them down they will be "loose" like that. but they shouldn't be "ready to fall out loose"

it's actually a good thing if your lifters start to tick because you can pop the rollers off and then remove the lifters without taking the top end apart.

Spin the crank by hand until the cam starts to push them down and if they are still loose then start to worry, but if they tighten up its fine

killer thanks!yeah the timing was off by a tooth,and the lifters are really loose but not loose enough for me to pull them out,and(thats only 2 of them that are like that)also they tighten up when the cam lobes compress them,so did i get lucky and only have to replace the lifters?wow this site rocks,you saved me a huge headache

the next step is a compression test. if compression checks good, and all cylinders are pretty close to the same reading, then it was just the timing issue that gave you problems and the engine is fine. if you have compression readings that are all over the place and not within 10psi of each other then there are internal problems.

usually the lifters don't go "bad" they just tick.

unless u had a piece of sh!t car like mine and had metal shavins in them then they go bad

right,with my luck that would be all i need,But anyhow,the reason why i was concerned with the roller/lifter issue is that the cam isnt touching these two rollers at all until the lobe comes around,The car isnt running so i dont know really much exept for when we try to start it,it shudders and it acts like it wants to idle but then it backfires though the intake and dies..Were going to be dealing with the timing issue this weekend.So cross my fingers that is all thats wrong,this eclipse seems to have the curse on it.Every time i think i have gotten some were on it it needs something else.And for some reason,i cant get the timing right on this thing,Its been forever trying to get it lined out,and i even have all the manuals and faqs on it.And anyone around muncy pennsylvania wanna give it a shot then get hold of me,hahaha these mechanics in my area hear the word eclipse and run!

you are 2.5 hours from me (denver, pa) but if the cam doesn't even touch them until the lob comes then the valves are probably bent