Where to start???

[boogieknight84]

I was cruising along at about 85mph and I got a puff of black smoke. I stopped accelerating and coasted of the freeway. As soon as I parked it cut off. Under the hood it appears to have sprayed oil in the front. It now sounds as if the timing belt is broken (turning over to freely). Where do I began to get back on the road? This is my first non-muscleracer and I am not familiar the car, (but it ran strong and I love it...) Please Help

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Not really enough info to diagnose the problem. However, if you were doing 85mph and the t-belt snapped, you would hear it and definatly know something went horribaly wrong. A little more info will be needed.

Jim

 

[MITZA]

pull the upper T-belt cover do a fast inspection if the belt broke in half, it can always loose teeth on the bottom. Then if its that the head will have to be removed to check for valve/head/piston/block damage etc...

But first check the simple and we will go from there

 

[JDNSBR]

I was cruising along at about 85mph and I got a puff of black smoke. I stopped accelerating and coasted of the freeway. As soon as I parked it cut off. Under the hood it appears to have sprayed oil in the front. It now sounds as if the timing belt is broken (turning over to freely). Where do I began to get back on the road? This is my first non-muscleracer and I am not familiar the car, (but it ran strong and I love it...) Please Help

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

If it is indeed oil I would try to find where it sprayed from. However if it is debris from a timing belt flying apart, that is something different. You want to take off the 2 bolts that hold the top timing belt cover off these will be to the left attached to the valve cover. From there check for damage to the belt and see if the belt is indeed still intact.

Now if there is damage to the belt check the timing. Make sure it did not jump teeth. Jumping teeth can lead to an aray of problems within the head and possibly even the pistons if it jumped bad enough.

If it did jump timing, time to check the compression. Jumping timing can lead to bent valves and ect. If your compression is good pray to the DSM gods, retime and be on your way.

Hope this helps.

 

[jackstandracer]

"You want to take off the 2 bolts that hold the top timing belt cover off"

3 Bolts if its stock, the third one is on bottom right corner, conects to the metal backing plate of t-belt.

 

[JDNSBR]

"You want to take off the 2 bolts that hold the top timing belt cover off"

3 Bolts if its stock, the third one is on bottom right corner, conects to the metal backing plate of t-belt.

He's right. There are 3 if it is stock. It's been awhile since I had that one.

 

[boogieknight84]

As soon as it warms a little in MI, I'm on it! Thanks.