apme123

the retainer will not cause low compression, if you are going to be removing the head check them with the head removed, its much easier to change them with the head off, although you can do it with a compressed air tank by pumping air into the cyl and a valve spring compressor. Let us know what you find when you pull the head.

I_s2k1

Ooohhh ok thought the retainer mightve caused that but I guess not! Ill just take off the whole head. Hopefully if its not raining which by the looks of it it will be but who knows Arkansas weather is bipolar. One day its 80 next day it snows :

I_s2k1

Ok im no scientist but as im unscrewing the exhaust side taps with the screw driver where u adjust the valves, they are harder to turn then all the others? Why is this

I_s2k1

And its on cylinder #2 also. The one im having problems with. The intake side unscrews fine but the exhaust feels a little pressurized when im unscrewing

kap

Just to chime in on my exp: 2003 stock 90k mi

I've had a similar problem with op. I misfire when idling only. When I push the car, it felt fine though. ive gotten codes from 1399 1300 1301 1302 1303 1304. 1301 was most common for me. And more recently, I've been getting a flashing cel that turns off when I restart the engine. The code was for misfires.

I tried switching coil packs around, nothing. Then I noticed that my cyl1 spark plug was significantly more white (crispy texture) than the other 3 (hence the more frequent cyl1 misfire). So I did some research, and it seemed as if I was burning really lean, and it may be an injector issue. I tried seafoam, that did nothing.

What did work was a $8 bottle of chevron injector cleaner I got from Walmart. I used up my tank, filled it with the inj cleaner, then filled in about 6 gal of gas (directions say to use 15 gal, but I wanted it more concentrated). After driving for 30 min, no more cel for now, and I think my problem was fixed because I used to idle really rough and my car would shake a but during idle, but now it is smooth as silk.

Check your spark plugs, and if it looks like you're running lean, all it may take is a $8 bottle of injector cleaner.

I_s2k1

Well too late for that input i already tore the head. Found out cylimder 2 had low compression. Im stuck at trying to take it out like if something is holding it down from the driver firewall side. From the looks of it it looks like the water outlet

s2cho

just went through this not to long ago and i nearly did everything you did

I_s2k1

Ok update cylinder head is finally removed!
Taking it to a mechanic tomorrow to get it checked out on cylinder 2.
Would u guys recommend the head to be resurfaced?

apme123

as long as it wasn't overheated i think it should be fine, I would have the machine shop check the valve seats and the straightness of the head.

I_s2k1

Well i took it to a mechanic that looked at the valves he said they didnt look bent so he poored water in there and it started leaking water from the intake side. I took it to the machine shop and they are providing me with a whole head gasket set grinding the valves resurfacing the head and whole valve job i guess for $364. I should be getting the head back tomorrow and be putting it back together thursday and friday