Is that an OEM belt?

sure is,one year old!

I installed a new OEM timing belt about a year ago on my 99 GST that had about 80,000 miles on it. The new timing belt has less than 10,000 miles on it and while driving home, it split into 3 pieces. It did not break, all the teeth are intact, but it looks like a razor blade was run through it. Are these things defective and no one bothered to tell us??? I have seen timing belts snap and shear off teeth, but I have never seen one shred like this. Has anyone else encountered this and if so, other than bent valves... how much more damage should I expect??

Damage varies, but it's safe to say you're going to be taking your head to the machine shop and more than likely your pistons are damaged so you'll need new ones. Hopefully the force wasn't too major and the rest of the bottom end will be allright, but if the pistons are messed up then you'll have to do a complete rebuild.

That's weird how the timing belt got shredded like that. Did you have the timing cover on including the upper part? The only times I've seen a timing belt filleted like that are when a guy left his timing cover off and a rock got in there and also another time when the upper timing cover was cracked and loose and it made contact with the timing belt. There are pros and cons to an interference motor, but one of the major cons is what you're experiencing right now. It's always a bummer when that happens, but rest assured you're not the first nor the last. Good luck with everything and I hope the damage is as minimal as possible.

Timing belt cover was on and the car was under typical driving conditions. I just don't understand how this happened. I'm praying that its not too bad considering I just had the head rebuilt. I'm hoping that since I was taking it easy on the car... maybe the bottom end will be ok. If not... I'm not rebuilding that 7 bolt... JDM 6 bolt... here we come!

Is your head ok

When the new belt was installed did you replace any other timing components? Idler and tensioner pulley? Timing belt tensioner? All that should have been replaced with the belt. With your mod list I doubt you still have balance shafts. If not were they removed correctly?

Saw the sanme thing happen before

And this is how it happens

Timing -belt pulley was tensioned the wrong way around

1g =Clockwise , 2g = anticlockwise

the timingbelt pully pushed the belt on the retaining bolt(the one with the big washer) ..This washer cut the belt.

2nd opinion(seen this too)

If the oilpann was resealed or replaced ..and the wrong bolt put the the wrong location..well you know the rest..that bolt sits under the crank pulley..and because its too long..it will cut up the belt.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272483 , same thread or defective belts . Same brand , same age ? Both Va .

Raph said:

Saw the sanme thing happen before

And this is how it happens

Timing -belt pulley was tensioned the wrong way around

1g =Clockwise , 2g = anticlockwise

the timingbelt pully pushed the belt on the retaining bolt(the one with the big washer) ..This washer cut the belt.

2nd opinion(seen this too)

If the oilpann was resealed or replaced ..and the wrong bolt put the the wrong location..well you know the rest..that bolt sits under the crank pulley..and because its too long..it will cut up the belt.

Click to expand...

Good post. I literally went through these two problems with my last timing belt. Good thing mine didn't end u looking like that, however.

When my pulley was tensioned the wrong way and rubbing against the retainer washer, it made a horrible squeling/friction sound. Same thing would happen if you put a longer 10mm bolt in the oil pan. Those two bolt locations are right below the oil pump sprocket and the one to the right of it. These use shorter bolts than all of the rest in the oil pan.

Another reason why those ZakLee clear timing covers are great to have. Ordering mine today.

Raph said:

Saw the sanme thing happen before

And this is how it happens

Timing -belt pulley was tensioned the wrong way around

1g =Clockwise , 2g = anticlockwise

the timingbelt pully pushed the belt on the retaining bolt(the one with the big washer) ..This washer cut the belt.

2nd opinion(seen this too)

If the oilpann was resealed or replaced ..and the wrong bolt put the the wrong location..well you know the rest..that bolt sits under the crank pulley..and because its too long..it will cut up the belt.

Click to expand...

yes,i know that!

its my fault,i did not torque one of the cam gear bolts and it backed out!i cannot beleive this happened after all the years of turning wrenches.i feel so bad and im fixing the problem.people do make mistakes and this is one learned the hard way.i pulled the head this morning and the intake and exhaust did nick the pistons and all the valves on #2 were bent pretty bad.it could have been real bad,a dropped valve or something of that nature but i guess i do have some luck.i ran it by the machine shop i use and the seats and the surface are fine.i hope theres no carcked valve stem guides but ill find out when i put new valves back in it.i could have lied and blamed it on something or someone else but im a straight up person and will admit a bad but stupid mistake!

landry!

diamondstargsx said:

yes,i know that!

its my fault,i did not torque one of the cam gear bolts and it backed out!i cannot beleive this happened after all the years of turning wrenches.i feel so bad and im fixing the problem.people do make mistakes and this is one learned the hard way.i pulled the head this morning and the intake and exhaust did nick the pistons and all the valves on #2 were bent pretty bad.it could have been real bad,a dropped valve or something of that nature but i guess i do have some luck.i ran it by the machine shop i use and the seats and the surface are fine.i hope theres no carcked valve stem guides but ill find out when i put new valves back in it.i could have lied and blamed it on something or someone else but im a straight up person and will admit a bad but stupid mistake!

landry!

Click to expand...

Kudos for you.it takes a man to admit he made a mistake

BoostedinSoFla said:

Another reason why those ZakLee clear timing covers are great to have. Ordering mine today.

Click to expand...

Shameless plug tsk tsk tsk I should talk, I have one too.

Mitsubishi no longer uses Mitsuboshi belts, they are using some cheap looking belts these days for over the counter sales. I always use the Gates belts, if you pick the two up and compare them/weigh them you would see why.