1988 Corolla engine knock and power lost

[dmclapp]

My goal this past summer was to tune and repair my 1988 Corolla DLX with 16v carburated engine. After replacing the battery, distributer cap and button, ignition coil, wires and plugs and even replaced the alternator, the car was running strong again for several days. On my way home from the auto store with fresh oil and filters, the engine lost power and started to stutter and knock.

I limped home and checked things out only to find that the #3 and #4 cylinders aren't firing and there was a bad knock coming from the engine block. A retired mechanic used his stethoscope and said it sounded like a rod knocking - possibly a burned valved.

Any suggestions? What is the best way to properly diagnose this problem and repair it? engine tear-down or simply replace the engine?

Thanks!
Dave

[eage8]

sounds like what happened to my 4A-F. It developed rod knock when I went down a very steep hill... (I think I oil starved it) I would just replace it. you can get a used one for fairly cheap I imagine, and since you limped it home I imagine there is probably some damage done to the crankshaft.

I replaced mine (with a different engine... but I would not recommend this due to the pain in the butt it is to swap to fuel injection.)

[SCT]

Burned valves and/or burned piston rings can be verified with a compression and/or leak down test.

For major problems, better to replace the whole motor. Engine rebuild would be a way to go, but I think spending on new gaskets, rings, bearings, etc. to rebuild would cost just as much or more than an engine transplant. Depend if you're doing all the work or not and where you get the parts from and for how much.