M13A Missing Cam Sensor & Melted Connector

Ricky, you should make a wiki article of your post, it’s an excellent summary.

"A code reader would help a lot with diagnosing the problem. A compression test isnt a bad idea given the history, but its running for a short period, so unlikely. 

Try starting it and keeping it at about 3000 rpm with the throttle pedal. If that works and it keeps running hold it there for about a minuite to get a bit of heat in it, then see if it idles. If it idles ok or high then its the IAC valve, if it idles rough or not at all then maybe TPS sensor or a vac leak. IAC valve can be cleaned out easily enough if gunked up, then have a look at the EGR valve too as thats where the gunk will have come from no doubt."

Many thanks @Riccy.

So earlier today, a friend came round and we did the compression test.

Cylinders from front to rear (throttle depressed; plugs out):

1. 30 psi
2. 90 psi
3. 90 psi
4. 55 psi

aaargh !

Following Ricciys post, I then ran the suggested test:

• started (on the key) 
• ran at 3,000 rpm 
• in order to maintain 3000 revs, I had to press the accelerator down more and more
• after 25 secs, revs rapidly tailed off, and the engine stalled

So likely cause will be TPS Sensor or vac leak.

100% agree that a code reader would be a good idea.  I will query friends ...

But I do need to say that I originally posted re this strange engine behaviour because I thought it might be a relatively simple fix.  But the compression test is very bad news indeed - major surgery/new engine ...  So on that basis, it really isnt worth people spending a lot of mental resources on this - this engine will be for the recyclers!

And yes, post should go in the wiki riccy 

 

Welcome. I cant get my head around the wiki editing thing.. Its a bit too much like HTML code, which i never understood properly. Feel free to copy it in if you guys can make sense of it

I have 2x good spare M13vvt engines in the shed needing a home. Going free if anybody wants one

Both were taken out to convert to M16/M18 motors so were in good condition. one has 47k on and the other 82k. They are bare and will need the bits swapping on from your engine, but they have no compression issues to worry about and the price is good