About 5 months ago, the heater core began leaking badly and ended up causing the head gasket to fail. I followed the write up, replaced the head gasket, took the heater core out of the loop and all had been well. Then about a three weeks ago the lower radiator hose (which I should have replaced when I did the head gasket) failed and the symptoms of a failed head gasket came back. Replaced it again, replaced the radiator hose, and it had been running fine for about a week and a half. Then it began to make a nasty squeaking sound. It sounded like the noise was coming from the back (aft) side of the engine. I could not determine what the noise was, and it was very intermittent (like it would idle for minutes and I would only hear it once). Then while he was driving it, he made a U turn and the car died. He pushed it out of the intersection and called me. It would start and run, making sounds from the back of the engine and then die. It wouldn't run for more than 10-15 seconds. So, I towed it home since this seemed like something I wasn't going to be able to fix quickly. After getting it back home, it seems very difficult to turn over. I would crank it and it would only crank slowly and then eventually stop turning over completely. The best way to describe the cranking is similar to having a dead battery. I took the battery to the local auto parts store and they tested the battery saying it was good. I went ahead and purchased another battery and it was still hard to turn over. I have been busy for the last week and haven't had any time to look into the problem. So the car has been sitting. Today I went back out to it and checked a few things. This is what I have checked:
1. I tested the camshaft sensor IAW this post (https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... =1&t=31301) and it tested good.
2. Next I took off the timing belt cover and cranked the engine to check the timing marks. They are still lined up on the two camshaft pulleys. I was unable to see the crankshaft mark (to be honest, I couldn't find the crankshaft mark when I took the timing belt off before, I used the access hole that you put an extension inside to lock the crankshaft, then once the upper head was removed, I could see that the engine was definitely at TDC.)
3. Then I removed the spark plugs and tried cranking the engine again. It was still hard to turn over with them removed.
4. I put the spark plugs back in and tried loosening 40 bolts that hold the camshaft cover on. Just loosened them a 1/4 turn each. I didn't pry up on the cover at all. This time it cranked over easier and started. However, it was making a HORRENDOUS noise. I have posted a video at youtube, it'll only waste a few seconds of your life:
I didn't use a torque wrench on the camshaft cover
, so it's possible the cover bolts were over-torqued, could that have caused the engine to die while running? I have now torqued the bolts to 12 ft-lbs, it starts and runs, but its still that squeal / metal on metal noise. So I am considering my next course of action. My next thought is to take the timing belt off again, take the crankshaft cover off and check the camshaft and journals etc. Any other ideas?
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