Hey guys, I was warming up my Eclipse, about 45minutes ago... and out of nowhere I hear this horrible smash grind knock sound followed by a dead engine. I was standing in the yard with the pup when it happened so that's the best way I can describe the sound.

The motor is bone stock. Everything. I go to crank it and it turns over, strong, but it just sounds like it lacks something...like air is just pushing...

I took off my inspection cover on my timing belt, belt is still there, tight, no frays or rips..but I can clearly tell the 5 spokes on the right cam and the 5 spokes on the left cam don't line up very well. I know I'll do a compression test and check timing, but I was about to head to work and it's 1130 pm and below freezing...any fast insight and or a yes or no would be greatly appreciated...

This car has gotten me through everything, and was still running 165psi compression at 147k miles 2 weeks ago...too young...

Have you tried turning it over by hand? If so does it come to a sudden stop? I would start there because it will take a few revolutions to line up the timing marks.

Well, I'll turn it by hand just to double check, but I had my girl turn it over by key until I saw the mark. Sadly enough, (looking at the camshafts through the inspection cover) the right cam dot was pointing towards the left cam, and there was no mark to be seen on the left cam..

You already know what it is. Sorry

MB

Just a few weeks ago I had my AC belt shred and a thread of it worked back behind the crank pulley and timing cover to build up on the crank pulley and allow the timing belt to slip time and bend the valves..probably something similar, especially if the t-belt feels extra tight

This is a sad day... but thanks guys for the quick responses. Never thought I'd see a perfectly healthy motor get dropped by something so small. Kept it well maintained drivetrain wise, and this is just a huge shocker. On the positive side, the ol'girl did me one last favor, and did it in the driveway, she never left me stranded on the road.

Take it easy Tuners, time to start a sudden winter project.

It isn't that hard to pull the head and replace the valves.

Alright after months of waiting to start this project, I went ahead to get going with removing the timing cover. As I started, I decided what the heck and double check timing, in the daytime of course...something I should've done but was too busy trying to find an alternative method of transport then. Anyways, now I'm lost, my timing as it turns out is dead on, but it's sounds like death trying to start. More or less I know the motor is dead, because I have ZERO compression in the first 2 cylinders (going left to right) and I didnt think it was worth testing the other 2. I know either way a rebuild is needed, but before I send this to the shop. Does anyone have the slightest clue how a motor will kick the bucket that hard, without jumping time? There's no noise or rattling when cranking, it can be turned over by hand fairly easy till it hit's a compression stroke, but if I have zero compression, and it's "stopping" like that, I dont know what to think. I doubt I dropped a valve or broke a rod since there's no noise. It's a completely stock never seen a forced induction source of any kind. Any ideas or thought's would be super appreciated before I fork over 1400 (my quote to fix it all).

BTW is this a 420A?Ive been thinking about what could be wrong and just noticed you profile.Maybe sound could of been a cough and backfire with a last gasp for air!Motor might be ok.Did you check obvious,GAS,SPARK,FUSES.

Did you align the timing mark on the crank or are you just going by the cam gears? When my belt jumped I could get the cam gears to aligned but the timing on the crank would be off.

SkyGrowsCold said:

Did you align the timing mark on the crank or are you just going by the cam gears?

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^^This.

MB

SkyGrowsCold said:

Did you align the timing mark on the crank or are you just going by the cam gears? When my belt jumped I could get the cam gears to aligned but the timing on the crank would be off.

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^^agreed I was just thinking this as well.

Yes, this is a 420a. Changed the profile since it's my new dsm daily driver . As for the timing mark on the crank I did not check those yet. Will do so first thing in the morning. I hadn't even thought that was possible to jump down there and not the cams of all places : /

As for the obvious, yes it has spark and fuel. Fuses are all good.

Would just like to have this marked as Resolved. SkyGrows was correct, the cam timing was dead on, however, the crankshaft was off by roughly 5-6 notches. The fault was the idler pulley. The guts literally exploded and it came out in 2 piece...and some marbles . Anyways, I picked up a used head (which I didnt even use..) but i did use the timing components from the engine I got these parts from, off of it. Replaced the pulleys (both of them, and the tensioner) retimed it, and other than it being slightly rough for 30-40sec on 3month old gas, it runs just as smooth as before this mess happend. It dodged a bullet and thus far continues to prove itself as the most reliable car I've ever owned. Thanks for all the input Tuners. Have a good one!

148k and rolling!

bryanwheat said:

It isn't that hard to pull the head and replace the valves.

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Sure if you want a shitty head that won't seal properly.

Valve seats won't machine themselves.

Sebba said:

Sure if you want a shitty head that won't seal properly.

Valve seats won't machine themselves.

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Come on man... Its painfully obvious that bryan was implying that the head could be reworked properly. He knows that valves must be properly seated.