scary stuff

[P1za]

So as I am driving my car home tonight I get the surprise of a CEL. I get home and check it. My scan tool says its a P1390 which for chrysler it means "Wheel Speed Sensor 1 - G Sensor Circuit" for dodge and jeep it says the same things(what a surprise). So I look up the code on the interwebz and it shows me with this

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wtf did my car just die???? Any and all help is appreciated thanks!

My bad, details: it runs good, I didnt really push it hard or anything. Sounds like a bearing might be going out is what my friends neighbor told me but from what we could hear it sounded like it came from the powersteering unit thing. That was like 4 months ago. Recently it has started up really ugly with an unknown sound, which i think is the powersteering, but now im not so sure. And I think i heard a clicking noise with the idle when i got home, something new not so sure where its coming from either.

 

[starfish]

Open up the cover on the timing belt.Have someone turn the car over alittle at a time while you inspect the belt if you havent done so already.The belt might be shreaded alittle.A piece might be slapping the cover as the belt spins around the water pump pully,Which is right behind the steering pump.Hope this helps

 

[P1za]

Ok sounds good thanks man. Will update on what I find out

This is what i saw on my car today. I tried to get as clear as pics as I could but this is the best.

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This I found in between my cam gears. It was bent into an L shape...

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And this is my friend turning it over for me. I got scared

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[GSLENK]

We were hoping you would be turning it by hand, at the crank pulley bolt. Not literally turning the car over with the starter. If you were worried that you skipped timing, why the hell would you try to use a turner, that is strong and fast enough to turn the car on?

The point being is that piston + valve sex is a lot more detectable by hand then by cranking the car.

 

[bullettdsm]

Yeah, you got problems. See how much the belt bounces around? See how the belt is riding off the cam gears? Both signs of tensioner problems (I should say tension problems. You don't have enough tension on your belt. Possibly a bad pulley). I don't see any pics of your two gear marks lined up, but that wouldn't necessarilly tell us anything (unless they were off on the cam gears. But they could be off on the crank).

I would check the timing at this point (as well as the tension of the belt). I would also not try to start it again. Your next start could be your last. If you haven't broken anything yet, you will (when that slack belt slips).

MB

 

[P1za]

Yeah I didn't have a single tool at home so I broke off my belt cover to look inside. Then just turn the car to see what is up. All I know now is I have a lot if work to do on this bish

 

[jimbob_843]

Your belt is not aligned properly on the cam gears. You have like 1/4 inch of space there. Wtf is up with those bolts holding them on? Not acceptable, they probably allowed so much play outward that your camshaft seal ( the piece you found) came out.
Replace the bolts with oem ones, do a complete timing job and replace cam seals. DONE

 

[chinexican]

I once had a similar problem. It had a tick/ rattle sound. When i disassembled the timing side, the bearings in the pulleys literally fell apart. Get it fixed before you have to replace valves.

 

[P1za]

Your belt is not aligned properly on the cam gears. You have like 1/4 inch of space there. Wtf is up with those bolts holding them on? Not acceptable, they probably allowed so much play outward that your camshaft seal ( the piece you found) came out.
Replace the bolts with oem ones, do a complete timing job and replace cam seals. DONE

Idk about the bolts. What do the OEM ones look like? This is the first time I have ever seen my cam gears

 

[NHerron]

Just a tip, be careful about braking off the timing cover plastic. In a pinch, we did that because cover was rubbing on belt and ended up dropping a chunk of plastic down inside the cover. LUCKILY could see in and got it out. No fun -2 hours in an Autozone parking lot worried the whole time about dropping it all the way down and then be really F'D.

Okay I haven't seen an explanation for that "cam" seal. It's looks to still be in one piece and besides that, how is everything NOT coated in oil?!

Those cam bolts aren't OEM? At least they are 10.9's I guess.

 

[bullettdsm]

The bolts are oem.

MB

 

[P1za]

Well I have been doing a little bit of research online, what kind of timing belt kits do you guys recommend? I saw this one but not so sure...
95-99 2.0 L DODGE DOHC TIMING BELT WATER PUMP KIT 420A | eBay
And also what about the tensioner? Do I need to have a hydraulic one??
what could that seal be? theres is no oil leak or anything from the cams..

 

[NHerron]

Gates waterpump IMO & general consensus is OEM timing components, nothing less. Its more money but you wont regret the peace of mind.

Yes, the tensioner is hydraulic. Here's a timing belt link, I couldn't find one specifically for a 97' 420A, this says 95/96. Hopefully someone wil know more about that...
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G-NT.html