Did my eclipse blow up?

[badabing33a]

So I was going down the road. The Eclipse started back firing bad. So I started to pull over. Then I heard a grinding noise, a puff of smoke came out, then it died. I tried turning it over and the starter wont turn the motor over. It had oil in it. I checked that. I will check the timing belt when i pick it up.

 

[tenn-gsx]

Sounds like your timing jumped from what your saying. Hope the damage is minimal/nonexistant.

 

[badabing33a]

Thats what I thought at first. The timing belt is still there. It's a tad bit loose but not much. It wont turn over which makes me think it's terminal. I took the oil cap off, smoke/steam poured out. Same when I pulled the dipstick. I checked the gauges when it first started backfiring and they were good. I reved he car up with clutch in a little bit and it sounded ok.. Then got on the gas and it bucked. So I just took it easy down the big long hill.

 

[nightgamer]

im have to go with timing

 

[turbo4awd]

deff. sounds timing related. try turning the motor over by hand to see if its locked up.

 

[badabing33a]

What do you think was the grinding noise? It sounded like my cv shaft was coming apart. That's really the only way I can think of to describe the noise.

 

[brandon1239]

your timing could have jumped, the belt may still seem tight but it is still able to hop a tooth or two under the right conditions, and was it a grinding noise or a crumpled paper noise? crumpled paper noise would be smashed valves, grinding could have something to do with harmonic balancer or something on the bottom end coming loose and knocking around. or maybe your balance shaft let go if you still have that in. my friend kept his in and one day it decided to snap and went to town on his bottom end. good luck dude

 

[JusMX141]

Sorry man, but you can't expect one of us to seriously give you an honest answer as to what happened to your car. Obviously it's something with the engine- we can give you some places to look, but don't come back here and shoot down our answers until you actually put some effort into figuring out what happened.

Just because the timing belt is still on the car doesn't mean it didn't jump time. If the tensioner failed the belt will still feel tight up on top, but the crank pulley may be 2-3 teeth off. I'm voting timing; that would be the first place I'd start if it were my car. Start pulling all of the accessory belts and see if the engine frees up. If you can rotate the crank pulley counter-clockwise about 1/4 turn and then it stops, you have a valve interference issue.

Perhaps this will help.

Things it could be:

• Failed timing belt tensioner caused the belt to skip.
• Broken clutch component.
• Balance shaft bearing failure.
• Broken piston or rod assembly.

Things it probably isn't:

• A rodent chewed through the wiring harness.
• A flat tire.
• A dirty air filter.
• A damaged or broken windshield wiper arm.
• Your left rear turn signal bulb is burnt out.

 

[tenn-gsx]

things it probably isn't:

• a rodent chewed through the wiring harness.
• a flat tire.
• a dirty air filter.
• a damaged or broken windshield wiper arm.
• your left rear turn signal bulb is burnt out.

rofl

 

[badabing33a]

Thanks guys. I am not looking for a definate answer. Unless you were working on my car or driving it when this whole think occured, you can't know for sure. I am however looking for advice or opinions on what it could be. This may be a big help. I could NOT rotate the engine. I tried early this morning using a 17mm socket and ratchet on the cam pulley's trying to rotate clockwise. It wouldn't budge. I put alot of ass in it too.

 

[tenn-gsx]

DUDE We have told you the most likely thing. Its probaby the timing belt. Pull off your upper cover and see whats going on there. It wont rotate either way?

 

[badabing33a]

I pulled the cover off already. How do you think I got the socket on there? I posted last night saying I checked the timing belt. It is still there and not snapped. I only tryed rotating it clockwise. If I tried counter clockwise, I would most likely loosen the cam pulley bolt.

 

[tenn-gsx]

Give it a little pull counterclockwise. Dont pull too hard or move it too far IF it moves. You did say grinding noise. If it wont turn at that time then drop your starter and try again.

 

[badabing33a]

Ok will do. I have to wait a day or two to get the car up to my house. It's currently at my grandparents. I do have a spare engine if the damage is significant. I am leaning towards a rod or piston that took a dump. If it comes down to it, I will throw in my spare motor that has been rebuilt. But, it's out of a 90 eclipse. I will use everything from my 92 Eclipse like the CAS, intake, exhaust manny, etc. All I am using off the 90 engine is the head and block. That way, I know everything works since 90's are a little different. Is there anything I would need to do to use the 90 engine? If I use the 90 enigne, I will rebuild the 92 engine. I feel as I always have to have a spare engine. Less work when something like this happens.

 

[JusMX141]

I could NOT rotate the engine. I tried early this morning using a 17mm socket and ratchet on the cam pulley's trying to rotate clockwise.

Never rotate the engine using the bolt heads on the cam pulleys. There's a reason Mitsu made a place to put a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar in the end of the crank pulley.

 

[badabing33a]

I couldnt pull it apart until I get the car up here to my garage. I wanted to see what would happen since it would be a couple days till I get it up here.

 

[Beemer92]

The way your describing it sounds like the engine is toast. The starter isn't gonna have anything to do with turning the engine over by hand unless you recently replaced it and didn't tighten the bolts back up. Also, the engine jumping time will have very little effect if any on turning over the engine by hand. I'm personally leaning more towards a balance shaft bearing failure or a rod, crank, etc.
Also, not saying your trying to rotate the engine by hand the wrong way or anything, but I would highly recommend turning the engine over by hand using a breaker bar on the large center bolt on the harmonic balancer. It bolts directly up to the crankshaft. Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[badabing33a]

Thanks Beemer. The first thing I do when I get the car up here is try turning it over by hand on the crank. What about the 90 engine? Will that work fine if I need to use it?

 

[tenn-gsx]

The starter could if it is jammed into the flywheel teeth and locked up. That is why I said remove it. To make sure that isnt rhe source of the grinding and stall then being unable to turn the engine by hand. Yes its not very likely but I have seen it happen before. Also the timing belt slippong and having a bunch of bent or broken valves most certainally can lock up the engine and keep you from turning it by hand, or with the starter. This is why I said try rotating it just a little bit backward. If the valves are hitting the piston during the foreward rotation then moving the crank backward will bring the piston down and further away from contact.

 

[falcon8r]

It sounds like a valve to piston issue. My brother has an 06 STi that is on the third engine because of bad oil pick-up tube welds. Soo... cams get dry and it makes noise like yours. Valves are all junk . Subi central is still paying $$$$ on this mess. I do not like to just toss out dead engine thoughts. BTW- Just swap everything onto the 90 longblock. I woud do a balance shaft delete and freshen anything under the front cover that should. No reason that 90 could not be a long lasting swap. Tres...

 

[badabing33a]

That would make perfect sense. I think it's terminal. Valves, pistons, rods, etc. I will keep you guys updated when I tear the engine apart. Again, thanks for your help. You guys are the reason that I haven't sold my DSM's. So thanks.

 

[badabing33a]

So I finally started working on the car. I sucked it up and went outside today in the cold weather. Took the valve cover off first. All the rocker arms on the exhaust side were laying under the cam. So I took the intake off as well as the battery, battery tray, battery trey mount, and some other little things. I will go back out later and do some more.

 

[MM's Talon]

im thinking timing belt as well.. ya check and see if u can turn it over by hand and if its locked up i guess its time to go bigger but good luck bro hope its safe

 

[JusMX141]

^ ^

Something happened which caused the timing to jump. All of your exhaust valves are bent, and there's a good chance the valve guides are cracked as well. Needless to say the head is probably junk, but there's a chance the low end is still 100% intact. That's good news.

 

[badabing33a]

Thanks. The timing belt is still there nice and tight. Unless it's still on up top and broke at the bottom. Once I swap the motors out, I am getting a 2G Tsi. I would have had this done if it was during the Spring or Summer. I hate the cold!

^ ^

Something happened which caused the timing to jump. All of your exhaust valves are bent, and there's a good chance the valve guides are cracked as well. Needless to say the head is probably junk, but there's a chance the low end is still 100% intact. That's good news.

That makes me feel alot better. Should I pull the head before swapping engines? Then maybe put a different head on it. I will still probably swap engines. This one has 230,XXX miles on it.