My DSM nightmare (pics)

[AlexSza]

After a short weekend decided to block off the fiav on the tb, was successful.
Winter is coming and was going to use the Talon as i park the Mustang, pull it into the garage for a quick look over everything and there is a finger size hole in the center of the belt... Any thought as to how this could have happen? i do not leave tools on the engine when its worked on, I do not even touch the belt with my hands. With the build only having just 10,000 miles on it nothing in the bay or on the engine come in contact with the belt. The belt is also new with 10,000 miles.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

 

[KentStateTsi]

Do you not have an upper cover? Looks like a piece of loose hardware maybe.

 

[awdtalon4451]

Do you not have an upper cover? Looks like a piece of loose hardware maybe.

Loose hardware or components would surely cut or burn a groove in the belt not punch a hole huh? That bizarre bro, your belt looks spick and span other than the hole in it. I would drop the timing cover just to visually look over everything.

 

[awdtalon4451]

After a second look at the pic it appears to have had the whole punched through from the ribbed side of the belt. So a small bolt or something similar could have been picked up and pushed through when it passed a pully.

 

[StarFawkes]

After a second look at the pic it appears to have had the whole punched through from the ribbed side of the belt. So a small bolt or something similar could have been picked up and pushed through when it passed a pully.

I vote small bolt got caught between belt and pulley.

 

[KentStateTsi]

Loose hardware or components would surely cut or burn a groove in the belt not punch a hole huh? That bizarre bro, your belt looks spick and span other than the hole in it. I would drop the timing cover just to visually look over everything.

I am aware of that. If you look closely there are 2 areas of the belt that look like something has been rubbing on it while running.

 

[Roberti 2G]

At least you noticed it before disaster. When you pull it try to find the cause. Best case it was a defective belt or a rodent maybe? Good luck man

 

[awdtalon4451]

At least you noticed it before disaster. When you pull it try to find the cause. Best case it was a defective belt or a rodent maybe? Good luck man

A rodent? Inside the timing cover? Lol....sabotage

 

[swifteagle]

Some times the bolt that go's throw the oil pan can be to long and hit the belt.

 

[awdtalon4451]

I am aware of that. If you look closely there are 2 areas of the belt that look like something has been rubbing on it while running.

Im not sure i see the two spots your referring to. Are you talking about the little slits by the whole?

 

[awdtalon4451]

Some times the bolt that go's throw the oil pan can be to long and hit the belt.

Thats caused by people mixing up the bolts on the pan, theres two different lengths. Not the case cause it would have cut a groove along the entire belt not punch a whole in it.

 

[Hesh724]

did it jump and teeth that you can tel so far and are you going to investigate where it came from? Good luck i hope everything is ok!

 

[DSM_love_GST]

I bet it was a rock that got between the belt and a gear. Happened to a Honda kid i knew.

 

[Roberti 2G]

A rodent? Inside the timing cover? Lol....sabotage

Bro you never know little Nazi rat's figured he might have the top cover off or something.

 

[chanley talon]

I think swift eagle is correct that looks like a puncture from the oil pan bolt.

 

[DSM_love_GST]

If it was an op bolt, it would be closer to the motor and would be a groove not a hole in the center. It also would have been there from the first startup, not later on.

 

[awdtalon4451]

Bro you never know little Nazi rat's figured he might have the top cover off or something.

Lol nazi rats...good shit

 

[WillRaceForBeer]

No way it was a long oil pan bolt. A puncture like that was clearly caused by a single event, perhaps failed rodent sabotage! But most likely a stray bolt, right place, right time around a pulley, if it was a geared pulley there is a good change the timing jumped a tooth or two.

 

[awdtalon4451]

A puncture like that was clearly caused by a single event, perhaps failed rodent sabotage!

Bahaha too funny! OP have you been driving without the upper timing cover off? If not the only explanation is a bolt backed out inside the cover. This is why is scares the crap out of me about running no upper cover.

 

[Ernie D]

I bet it was a rock that got between the belt and a gear. Happened to a Honda kid i knew.

I beleave it was a rock also, I just replaced a timing belt on a nissan with similar damage, I checked the timing cover and found a small piece of limestone in it. Could of happened to you also, just be glad you noticed it before it was too late

 

[foxracing4500]

could you stick a pick all the way through it? I would check all your timing belt covers to make sure all the bolts are there, also take the end of a bolt and see if it lines up with the puncture mark.

the first photo looks like something pushed through on the smooth side, while the 2nd one from the other, unless the OP did that?

 

[ncdirtrider249]

Same thing happened to me, one of the timing cover bolts broke through the timing cover an chewed up the belt. Luckily nothing broke in the process, a new Gates belt did the trick

 

[bastarddsm]

Rock.

 

[AlexSza]

The pictures are as how they sit, yes the hole is almost the size of my finger. I will jack the front end up and do some bolt counts. All my oil pan bolts are the exact same size. I'm not afraid of doing a belt job, just didnt think it would come 60,000 miles early. I'll pull the motor and do it and triple check the belt route and small lock tite some bolts and hardware to be sure. Yes I run without the timing cover, I searched a long time ago and found majority of the people run without them and mine was all warped and didn't match the holes. I'll call some junkyards and try to snatch a decent cover. The main cover is on covering the oil pump, tensioner etc. thanks for all the input guys well appreciated!

 

[95talongirl]

Glad you caught it before something worse! I'd def. pick up from timing covers, since it sounds like you daily drive it.