Replacing my 03 1ZZ-FE and need advice on compression

[NUMMI Guy]

I own one of the very first Vibes ever produced and have had significant trouble with it over the last few years. First, some background...I bought the car as a factory demo in 2005. It had been used for about 3,000 miles, sat for about a year and a half then was assigned. When it was assigned it fell off the radar for a good year or so and was returned with 39,000 miles on it. Then it sat again for almost a year before I bought it. I had no history on it at all so I cannot at all say if the driver maintained the car at all. What I do know is I got a smoking deal on it when I bought so it made sense to me at the time given my commute of about 4 miles daily.Forward to 2006, when I changed jobs and started working 35 miles away from home. I put a lot of miles on my car in a short amount of time and, at about 65 miles or so, my clutch went out. I replaced it and went on about my business for the next 9 months or so. It was at that time, right around October 2008, that I noticed a knocking coming from my engine compartment. It got really loud really fast so I took it to my mechanic who listened to the noise and told me it was my main bearing. Several other mechanics told me the same thing.Without money at the time I had no choice but to wait until I had money to repair the car. Which happens to be now. I have found a few engines that I wouldn't mind purchasing. A few have fallen through so one seems promising right now. It is a 1ZZ-FE from a 2004 Matrix with 74K miles on it. My only concern with this motor is that the compression, per cylinder, is in the 200 to 210 psi range according to the seller. After reading the spec on my engine, the range the spec suggests is 145 to 189 psi. Is 200 to 210 too high for that engine?If you were going to choose a motor, what would you look for in it? All replies are welcome. And if this has been asked before I apologize in advance for not searching well enough.

[keithvibe]

the seller is blowing smoke up your, you know what. I doubt that at 74k it has over 200 on compression. When new it wasn't even that high. Unless you can confirm, in person with your own compression test and tool that this engine is a freak of nature I would be very careful about that engine.

[joatmon]

The literature I have says the target compression for a 1ZZ is 189 psi, with minimum at 145. Doesn't really say what the maximum is. THe Matrix docs I have say compression is 189 for the 1ZZ, 203 for the 2ZZ. The 2003 Vibe factory service manual says that it's 218 psi for both the 1ZZ and 2ZZ. That's got to be wrong, the 2zz is higher compression motor (hence the need for more expensive gas) None of the docs talk about compression being too high, neither gives a maximum value.The Vibe manual compression test procedures say to make sure the engine is at room temperature, the Matrix procedure says "Warm up and stop the engine" as the first step. Is it possible that the compression test was done on a cold engine (thicker oil -> better compression?)Other than that, what would cause compression to be too high? Maybe lots of carbon deposits, reducing the volume of the combustion chamber when the piston was at the top. If you buy the engine,, you might want to run some seafoam or other carbon cleaner through itIf I was buying a replacement engine for my Vibe, the first thing I would look for is a warranty. I need my car, can't risk inherting someone else's "as-is" problems

[star_deceiver]

I'd say that engine has some carbon build up. Easily solved!If I was looking for an engine I'd try to find a fully rebuilt one, or at least one with really low mileage. And of course, a deal is always good!Ever thought of upgrading to the 2ZZ?

[NUMMI Guy]

I was thinking of buying a rebuilt engine but the cost of a rebuilt is significantly greater than a salvaged motor. All of the motors I'm looking at are coming with a 12 month parts warranty only, though the supplier I'm looking at for this particular motor offers a 12 month/12,000 mile parts and labor warranty as well, which I'm thinking about buying. Right now the difference in cost to me is roughly $1,400; the salvaged motor will cost me about $1,000, a rebuilt is looking to be about $2,400. Of course I'm trying to save myself some money.I think this supplier has another motor that is roughly the same mileage with lower compression. I will see if they have this one still and check out its numbers. Thanks for the feedback.