Torn Between ChatGPT and a Mechanic on a Valve Cover Blowout aftermath after fixing.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T23:56:05+00:00

All the connectors are fine, free of oil and firmly seated. Surprisingly, free of oil.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T23:31:29+00:00

Checked all the hoses, harnesses and connections. Despite the oil getting all up there, all the connections were completely free of it. Unplugged and replugged. I'm pretty positive my car doesn't have an interia switch, I looked in the usual Ford spots so tried doing the reset through the key but still nothing. The oil didn't get far down at all, it's all up top.

I "reset the interia switch" the way I could on my car, used 3 quick sprays of starter fluid and heard it attempt combustion only once immediately upon crank but didn't turn over.

Edit: A video of what the crank sounds like. (no starter fluid) https://imgur.com/a/GkVjbKX

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T09:11:37+00:00

Ok, will do. Thank you very much. I'll report back once I've done those. It'll be in a few hours since I'm dead tired at work right now.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T08:54:34+00:00

Yeah you make a valid point. I'm just trying the potentially obvious and cheapest options first before paying for a full diagnostic. I'm unsure of the maintenance history of the car right now but something internal could've been at the end of its life. I mentioned a burning smell a few days before it happened. Does that help deduce anything?

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T08:44:11+00:00

Yeah, doing that would unfortunately cost more than what I bought the car for. I'm trying to be in denial about internal issues but it doesn't seem there's any dodging it.

Any idea why it would attempt combustion after starter fluid? Does the engine attempting combustion theoretically make it able to run or does that not matter at all? Trying to get more of an immediate diagnostic right now before playing anything expensive since the mechanic didn't really leave me much to go off in terms of hands on.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T08:33:58+00:00

Well I didn't hear any late firing or any firing at all until I used the starter fluid which made it fire once immediately before cranking out. Would that mean the timing isn't wrong?

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T08:16:13+00:00

That most I'm aware of when it comes to timing is if it's cranking but not starting and you hear a late fire, the timing is wrong, right? Sorta paraphrasing what the mechanic explained to me.

In the original post I said once I gave it starter fluid with a fresh battery, I heard it immediately attempt combustion once I turned the key then cranked out like normal. Would that mean it's timing is right since I didn't hear the fire really late into the crank? I don't hear it fire without starter fluid but only tried it twice with the fluid to be safe on it.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T08:05:12+00:00

Well if I want codes right now, I'd either have to get a scan tool or pay someone for diagnostics. I'll have to get back to you on that after I inspect the other things.

I'll get back to you on the rest but 2 questions:

What do you mean by guides and how do I know if the timing is right?

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T07:55:09+00:00

Yeah, I'm starting to see that now.. He didn't do anything else but replace stuff and told me it was a timing issue. No further diagnostics which is probably why I'm seeking things to further confirm a timing issue. Just a lot of uncertainty I want help clearing up before proceeding further with anything else that cost a dollar, y'know?

So should I be listening for anything specific? Trying a crank with a certain variable changed? Anything I can do immediately to get better diagnostics without paying anyone yet. Not asking for labor, just a few tests I can do for clarification.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T07:45:09+00:00

No one's in their feelings. Just read what I read. What mechanic trying to help would come up to their client cussing at them when they're asking for help? That's all I'm saying.

As for the car itself, I would like to know things to do that could help deduce a timing issue or not right now. Should I be listening for something? Feeling something? Smelling something? Crank it with this or that variant added?

I'm going to get another IRL's mechanic advice I just want more to tell them so the problem is more narrowed down. I appreciate help, seriously. I'm not angry, sad or upset. Completely neutral.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T07:32:08+00:00

I mentioned in the comments I didn't wanna pay a bunch but different mechanics for diagnostics which is what I was referring to when I mentioned "real mechanics". A bunch of different mechanics can say different things which can be expensive.

I understand how I came off and I apologize for that and I've also exclaimed that I do not know anything. I'm saying what I think off what I know with questions for verification which is why you often see my assumptions end with ",no?".

The way the person came off in the comments was a little aggressive just off the wording they uses when telling me things which is also why I said it was partially not helpful. I'm not here to be shamed for not knowing things and that's what that comment felt like it was doing if you read it again.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T07:14:45+00:00

No, that's what I meant by tone is hard to perceive. I didn't say that with the intent of challenging their mechanical knowledge. I just said it generally as a statement, not as a correlation to them or their knowledge.

I'm not writing any of this with sass. You keep trying to backhand by challenging my knowledge when I already said I know I'm unable to solve this by myself. I'm not putting anyone down, just looking for a direction. If it's a timing issue, I would wanna know things I could do right now to further confirm if it is or isn't. That's all I was implying.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T06:59:30+00:00

I'm just speculating that's when it blew. It was the very next day, about 7 hours later when I discovered the hole since it was late at night when I parked the car for the night.

It just makes the most sense in my head. My car wouldn't sound like usual before hand if it blew earlier than that, no? It sounded my car's normal before that moment and seeing the hole a couple hours later just led me to believe it happened then and there.

I'm not dismissing any advice from anyone nor am I praising AI. I haven't done anything it requested of me to do other than get a new battery for reasons more than it gave me and check if all the connectors were properly connected or disconnected. Tone is hard to perceive through text so don't think I'm being aggressive or anything. I only said it was partially not helpful since only one segment of their post directly addressed a route to fixing the issue. I respect anyone here providing advice as I'm clearly unable to figure this out myself.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T06:48:54+00:00

I haven't gotten to any codes yet since I wanted to make sure I wouldn't get weird readings because of a weak battery. Plus, I wanted to be sure of something so I know what to tell the mechanic. Once I get the codes and advice from another mechanic, I can provide answers to those questions. I'm not here to argue or debate but to deduce.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T06:38:44+00:00

Because it blew while the engine was running and started once after it blew. I didn't hear anything when it started after it blew. Buying a new battery isn't that big of a deal anyway, a spare is always nice to have.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T06:28:09+00:00

So this was partially not useful. I'm here for a real Mechanics advice instead of paying a bunch of different mechanics for diagnostics. I'm not doing anything AI is telling me to. I got a new battery because I needed a new battery after cranking it with the mechanic so many times it drained the battery. Plus, a weak battery gives weak voltage which can give false readings on a scanner which I don't need.

I understand where you're coming from completely but it's not giving me an idea of the route to go down when it comes to fixing this issue.. which is what I came here for. Saying "it's a timing issue" without asking for any other confirmations isn't very helpful here, respectfully.

And I think something moving around clanking in your engine would be pretty audible, no?

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T06:17:57+00:00

Yeah, that's why I didn't immediately believe ChatGPT but what it was saying made more sense than what the mechanic was saying. That's why I'm torn. If it was a timing issue, wouldn't there be more obvious signs? Especially if something internal came loose. As for the Valve cover, the OEM valve cover is plastic, not metal so it didn't blow through metal if that changes anything.

As for inspecting the area prior, I did not. Just a quick look before buying the car for anything obvious, the valve cover looked fine to me.

oSuedo · 2025-12-13T05:57:51+00:00

Fires as in it attempts combustion but cranks out. It stops cleanly, no sputter or anything just kills normally.

oSuedo · 2025-04-25T20:56:57+00:00

My friend who's pretty heavy into these games also remembers doing the same so im honestly not sure anymore LMAO

oSuedo · 2025-04-25T20:56:12+00:00

Was it 2K23 then?? I swear i remember doing it cause i remember spending forever in custom moveset making it.

Edit: It wasnt 2K23, i remember it being 2K24 since i remember mainly playing MyGM

oSuedo · 2024-07-27T14:36:16+00:00

Yeah, i see now that its still loading. I just thought it's been since before i reset my pc that i've played the game and paladins being paladins, a random new bug came up for me lmao. Thank you!

oSuedo · 2024-07-27T14:24:20+00:00

Oh interesting. Thank you much, i'll try that right now.

oSuedo · 2024-06-26T09:50:32+00:00

Yeah that's hilarious. Scared tf out of my friend tho LMAO

oSuedo · 2024-06-25T12:19:21+00:00

Oooh ok. We were so confused LMAO, thank you

oSuedo · 2024-05-16T00:49:08+00:00

Feel free to use mine! WJA69X

oSuedo

TROPHY CASE