# No compression on all cylinders yet car starts and runs **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 24, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428 "2019-11-24T01:12:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![172slcs\_150026](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f17d59/32.png) [@172slcs\_150026](https://community.cartalk.com/u/172slcs_150026)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/1 "2019-11-24T01:12:46Z")
I’ve read that if there’s no compression on all cylinders then the car shouldn’t start. I did a compression test because the car vibrates when idle and in gear only, neutral makes it go away. Sometimes the engine would stumble and shutoff after quickly coming to a stop. Those issues started only a month or two ago. Everything was followed for the compression test: Disconnect fuel pump Disconnect coil Remove spark plugs Screw in gauge Hold pedal and turn starter 5-10 times I’m thinking maybe it’s connected to the timing even though I re-did the timing thinking it was that originally. Looking for ideas. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/2 "2019-11-24T01:16:26Z")
> [@172slcs\_150026](#): > > Looking for ideas. I’m looking for year/make/model/mileage of the vehicle. And I still can’t find it. Tester ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/3 "2019-11-24T01:17:50Z")
If you mean 0 compression on all cylinders then it cannot run…Maybe the gauge is leaking off; a not unheard of thing to happen., ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/4 "2019-11-24T01:32:32Z")
If you’ve used that same gauge successfully for measuring compression, and are certain all cylinders register 25 psi or less, this is indeed a mystery. Any diagnostic codes there? ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/5 "2019-11-24T01:49:22Z")
You either performed the compression test incorrectly, or the gauge has some kind of a defect, such as the “schrader valve” . . . which is actually a rather common problem The engine won’t start with 0 compression on all cylinders ---
**Author:** ![172slcs\_150026](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f17d59/32.png) [@172slcs\_150026](https://community.cartalk.com/u/172slcs_150026)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/6 "2019-11-24T01:50:46Z")
It’s a rental from O’Reilly Auto Parts. Only P0400 (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) though that has been on there for a long time so I don’t think it’s related. ---
**Author:** ![172slcs\_150026](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f17d59/32.png) [@172slcs\_150026](https://community.cartalk.com/u/172slcs_150026)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/7 "2019-11-24T01:51:41Z")
That’s actually good to know. I’ll pickup a different rental one from a different O’Reilly location. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/9 "2019-11-24T01:53:27Z")
There’s another possibility I forgot to mention . . . Perhaps you didn’t properly assembly the compression tester. Did you clearly hear and feel a “click” as you assembled the hose to the gauge . . . ? ---
**Author:** ![172slcs\_150026](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f17d59/32.png) [@172slcs\_150026](https://community.cartalk.com/u/172slcs_150026)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/10 "2019-11-24T01:55:09Z")
On the hose there is a metal part that lifts up to insert the end of the gauge into then releases back down. I didn’t hear anything click. ---
**Author:** ![172slcs\_150026](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/f17d59/32.png) [@172slcs\_150026](https://community.cartalk.com/u/172slcs_150026)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-compression-on-all-cylinders-yet-car-starts-and-runs/153428/11 "2019-11-24T22:55:18Z")
I solved the issue of the engine stumbling/shutoff when stopping quickly. A vacuum hose connected to one of the valve covers was 0.05" to 1" cracked upward from the base Looking at it it would not seem it would cause issues. I taped it with electrical tape. Another vacuum hose was not fully seated on so I made sure to push that all the way on. So that solved that as well as _some_ of the vibration at idle in drive. I went a different O’Reilly store and rented another compression tester and it worked.