Hi all.

I've got a 93' 960 wagon I-6 2.9L Auto. I've been posting recently about engine problems. It started when I lost compression in #4. Engine has 150k on it.. otherwise in great shape, no rust.

I took the advice of some people here and tried 'seafoam' and the italian tune up.

Neither had any effect. I tried pouring oil in the cylinder, and the compression reading did not change... There is NO compression. With all the plugs out, you could hear the difference between having a good cylinder capped and #4.

When I pulled the spark plug, there was dark oil on it.

I tried looking down into the cylinder, and could not see any obvious damage to the visible piston top. I also probed around with a magnet, and did not pick up any debris.

What more can I do to see if this is a valve (Telling me to pull the head) or a piston ring (telling me to pull the engine... but without a suitable garage, I might have a shop do it... in which case this might be too expensive for the old car and I might have to junk it... But I hope it doesn't come to that)

Any advice is welcome...

The local junkyard said they would pay $100 for it... I think I could ebay the used coil packs for more.. maybe I should part it out??? I'd really like to keep it tho. (for under a few hundred dollars in required repair parts)

-Jim P.