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2002 Pontiac Grand Am

Question: how to find top dead center on #1 piston on the compression stroke

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mccluggage, 2.2L 4 Cylinder, Lawrenceburg, TN, August 10, 2010, 10:49
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 Rookie

My car left me stranded. found out that the timing chain was broke. I looked at the valves and they look good and are moving the way they should when I turn the cam sprocket.
I need to know haow to get #1 piston at top dead center on the compression stroke

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  • Medium-star Best Answer
    etdrag from ET Motorsports Complete Auto Care, August 10, 2010, 13:20
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     Technician

    To find true TDC in that car it is hard with the motor in the car however you can pull out the spark plug and turn the motor over by hand, also have the valve cover off so you can see the rocker arms, When the piston is coming up the valves should stay closed that means you are on the compression stroke, if you can see the piston then you will see it come to the top and then start down as you rotate the motor. Like I said this is hard while the motor is in the car on that model, a shop with a small camera or borascope makes it alot eaiser. That should get you started

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  • Answer #2

    sts_rider August 10, 2010, 13:39
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     Journeyman

    Pull no.1 spark plug place a thin nice length screw driver in the hole and turn the crank by hand when that screw driver is all the way up and that mark on the crank pulley is lined up with it's mark that's "TDC"

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