Another one bites the dust?

[daveyfx]

Well it finally happened -- the DSM decided to implode upon itself while I was driving. I'm not quite sure what happened to the car just yet but I was pulling out of the Hess and decided to wind out first. I eased her into second and started to wind out that gear as well until it hit about 5K and it felt like I hit a brick wall. Fuel cut had kicked in and the car just shut itself down.

All the dash lights came on (SES, ABS, the whole gang) a second later and I depressed the clutch and tried to start the car back up while I was coasting, but to no avail so I coasted it into a parking lot.

I popped the hood to look for anything obvious. The block looks fine; electrical connections look to be intact but unfortunately it's raining like Hell out there and I can't check everything. The factory timing belt covers are still on there so I can't tell if everything's peachy with the belt there.

Battery connections are fine and I hear the starter cranking fine. When the car died, it just felt like it hit fuel cut, engine turned itself off, and the revs died down. No drama about it, just wound itself down

Anyone want to take any guesses? I'm likely going to have it towed to a local reputable shop.

 

[boostedgst2984]

welp bud i hate to say this but sounds like a timing belt snapped on u. It felt like the same thing to me when mine went. So ur looking at a head rebuild to fix it and possibly pistons as well depending on what happend inside the engine.

pull off the top timing cover and check the belt to see if its still thre.

Else it could be a sensor problem i would think. But check that timing belt frist. I got my head rebuilt to equivlent to a stage 3 from SBR for 700 bux with same parts they use.

 

[Game Over]

How many miles are on it? Did you hear any metal on metal noises as it died?

 

[daveyfx]

Just went out there and pulled off the timing belt cover and there's no slack in the belt... I can crank the engine and watch the accessories turn, the timing belt's moving as well and the sprockets move with it like they should.

Who knows?

 

[daveyfx]

How many miles are on it? Did you hear any metal on metal noises as it died?

80,000 miles and no it didn't make any noises when it quit on me. It just acted like it hit fuel cut... HARD though, the car bucked and then the engine just died but other than that it was pretty quiet about it.

 

[spyder97gs]

Check your coils

 

[hellotbone]

Check the obvious first. Check for fuel getting to the engine and spark. Its possible your fuel pump quit or something like that coils etc... Check it out first.

 

[boostedgst2984]

your crank angle sensor could of went up on u. That could also be y it just died and wont start up.

 

[daveyfx]

It jumped timing. How bad yet, I'm not sure - but I hope the engine's OK.

 

[daveyfx]

The balance shaft belt snapped and the engine also jumped timing. The car has no compression, valves are bent, crank angle sensor got trashed in the process.

So it's getting a rebuilt/machined head, new belts, tensioner, idler, and sensor... all for about $1000. Sound like a good deal?

 

[Strm Trpr]

While you're at it, get a damn BSE kit....

 

[daveyfx]

While you're at it, get a damn BSE kit....

Sounds like a good idea... where should I get one from?

 

[Strm Trpr]

I bought mine from SBR.
There are other ways of doing the BSE, search and find you method....

 

[marcmsj]

Sounds like a good idea... where should I get one from?

http://www.slowboyracing.com/shop.php?sid=&cat=67

 

[Strm Trpr]

<a href = http://www.vfaq.com/mods/balance-shafts.html> BSE Install</a>

All you really need is the cap and the stubby shaft.
Use the part numbers and get those two parts from SATAN for about half of what you'd pay anywhere else....

Fuggin Balance Shafts

 

[daveyfx]

The one from SBR looks good to me, thanks fellas. I had no idea the balance shafts were capable of wreaking so much havoc.

Now, given that I have a 99 7-bolt, is eliminating the shafts going to cause any problems with reliability? They should like they basically are there to reduce NVH but I'm concerned about the bottom end's reliability when dealing with dampening devices.

BSE... can it only help?

 

[daveyfx]

The install on VFAQ definitely supports the idea of removing the BS. If it's as beneficial as the article leads me to believe, then I'm definitely going to persue this. My only concern is that it looks like it's a suitable amount of additional labor... but as long as the general consensus is that I should definitely do this then I will shell out the bones