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Timing Belt advice..

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Dave Chan

15+ Year Contributor
83
0
Jan 29, 2005
Toronto,
My timing belt just snapped :cry:

I was driving on the highway about 100KM but the rpm just dropped to zero and my car felt like it hit something, felt like i was being pushed back then my rpm jumped to 2500 or so for liek 2 seconds then back to zero.. and then i just shut my car off. Towing cost me $350 :mad:
and it wasn't even too far from my house!!. Anyways i got home and as suspected the timing belt was gone!! I haven't checked to see if there is engine damage because it's snowing like crazy but i'm leaning on a 99% chance there is. I've got a new timing belt already, I was actaully waiting to change it when the snow started melting as i have no garage, but then this happened!
I'm a total newbie to this type of situation and i have no idea what kind of damage to check for, i've read some stories on here about the bent valves and stuff.. but i'm still unsure?

Any advice from you guys would be really appreciated..i'm so stumped on what to do.. and where to order new/used parts if i've damaged my engine :cry:
 
There isn't much you can do right now really. Jim said it, pull the VC and inspect what you can. I can pretty much guarentee you'll be pulling the head atleast though.
 
At 100km/h if your timing belt let go than i am willing to put money down that you bent a bunch of valves, You can take off the valve cover and check for loose followers. Its a time consuming job to take the head off but fairly easy depending on the tools you have at hand.
Their is a inspection plate at the top of the front of the engine. The crank pulley is the front of the engine, and the rear of the engine mates up with the tranny. This inspection plate is where your timing gears are and i think it a 5/16 socket or like a 7 mm. Ok take off this plate it should slide upwards after the bolt is removed, And take a light in there and see if you can see a timing belt. Mine was coiled like an accordian in the bottom of the timing crankshaft sprocket, and was in like 5 peices.

If you can see that you have a snapped belt, Start saving your money. Depending on how drastic your want to make your rebuild it can vary from say $2000 - $ 5000. For say new cams, lifters, rockers, P&P (port and polish). And don't forget the valves which i paid about $116.00 for exhast and $125.00 for intake. multiply by 16 valves, it adds up.

Do some searching for parts and think about, if this is something you think you can handle to do yourself. Their is lots of info and people to help you along. Sorry to hear about the bad new.

Good Luck
 
my timing belt did not break, but it somehow came loose (tensioner pulley failure?) and my cam gears went out of timing. I was traveling about 60mph, about the same as you... I'd guess in the 3k rpm range and i did some extensive damage.

like the others said check for loose or broken parts under the valve cover, and do a compression test if you can. i had 50, 120, 150, 40 psi... which are all low but especially cyllinders 1 and 4. it turned out I bent/broke seveal of my valves and possibly damaged my pistons. instead of pulling the head and rebuilding, I took this as an opportunity to buy my friend's howell 2.2 crate motor and I should have it back on the road later this week.

I had metal shavings in my oil pan, and screetching sounds when i tried to turn the motor over, so I'm curious what else happened other than the piston-valve contact. I'll take my old motor apart and check out the real damage after i get the new motor installed and running.

good luck! I hope it's as simple as a new set of valves and timing kit for you.
 
i'm really glad i posted here thank you all so much for your thoughts/insights! it brightened my day :thumb:
and thanks focker420 and chris712vt for your in depth experiences~

yeah my revolutions were pretty much at 3000rpm...so from reading your guys post there's probably some exstensive damage done..:barf:
I'm gonna start working on it this weekend and i'll keep you guys updated as this is going to be my very first attempt :coy:
 
chris712vt said:
do a compression test if you can. i had 50, 120, 150, 40 psi... which are all low but especially cyllinders 1 and 4. it turned out I bent/broke seveal of my valves and possibly damaged my pistons.
Click to expand...


Hm, why would you recommend doing a compression test? First of all he stated that the T belt had broken How are you going to do a comp test without it on? Secondly without knowing the extent of the damage assuming valves are messed up, they won't seat right, not seating right, how would they clear the pistons at TDC when at that point in their revolution?

Compression test... Not so great of an idea.(If it were even possible)

Dave: If you have some mechanical experience, common sense and patience you'll be fine. One key thing to have is a Service manual. Pick up either a Chiltons, Haynes or Factory service manual from the dealer.
 
I'm sorry I mis-read what he said in his first post. Where he said:

Dave Chan said:
Anyways i got home and as suspected the timing belt was gone!! I haven't checked to see if there is engine damage because it's snowing like crazy but i'm leaning on a 99% chance there is.
Click to expand...

I thought he said he "suspected the timing belt was gone but hadn't had time to look yet." Nevermind about what I said then, DSMcrazy3, you're right. In my case when my motor completely shut off on me on the highway, I checked behind the inspection plate on the timing cover and the timing belt appeared to be normal. My motor still turned over as well, it just wouldn't start back up. In my case I was able to do a compression test and I only meant to offer Dave an idea that helped me discover my problem.
 
Dave: If you have some mechanical experience, common sense and patience you'll be fine. One key thing to have is a Service manual. Pick up either a Chiltons, Haynes or Factory service manual from the dealer.
Click to expand...

thanks a lot for the motivation :rocks: and yes i have the chiltons repair manual which i am reading right now ^^

Once again thanks a lot guys :dsm:

I was wondering when i put on the new belt is it possible to still use the same tensioner pulley, idler pulley, timing belt tensioner and water pump etc, or is it a "must" to change all those?
 
Change them! Unless you have so much fun replacing vital motor parts and spending $1,000 on repairs; then you can leave them. :p

One vital part went out, the others aren't necessarily too far behind. Since you'll be exposing them all, replace them. It's the right way to do things.
 
Change them! Unless you have so much fun replacing vital motor parts and spending $1,000 on repairs; then you can leave them.

One vital part went out, the others aren't necessarily too far behind. Since you'll be exposing them all, replace them. It's the right way to do things.
Click to expand...

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb: i will make sure i do that thanks!!!

also i was looking at this 420A head on ebay and it looks really interesting! has anyone dealed with this before??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHRY...008QQitemZ180088862304QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

and this too~~

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Neon...ryZ33625QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
 
my car was idling when my timing belt broke and i bent 2 valves.

good luck to you
 
well ive never broke a timing belt but have changed it 3 times. first off taking off the balancer on the 420a is a big pain. i use a 3 jaw slide hammer puller but people tell me it will bend the balancer. i guess there is a special puller for it because the puller would need to go inside the crank bolt hole. second i would replace the water pump and timing components while your in there. (tensioner and idler) did my timing belt and 2 months later i was pulling it all back apart to change those timing components and they tore up the new belt when they broke. third if youve never done head work before id take it somewhere. it doesnt cost that much to take to a machine shop and have the head machined for warpage and new valves installed. and machine shop guys do it all day long you can trust them. or find an eBay head cheap. keep your old one to port , polish, put better valves and cams for a rainy day when you want to bolt on a couple more horses.
 
TheCykotik1 said:
well ive never broke a timing belt but have changed it 3 times. first off taking off the balancer on the 420a is a big pain. i use a 3 jaw slide hammer puller but people tell me it will bend the balancer. i guess there is a special puller for it because the puller would need to go inside the crank bolt hole. second i would replace the water pump and timing components while your in there. (tensioner and idler) did my timing belt and 2 months later i was pulling it all back apart to change those timing components and they tore up the new belt when they broke. third if youve never done head work before id take it somewhere. it doesnt cost that much to take to a machine shop and have the head machined for warpage and new valves installed. and machine shop guys do it all day long you can trust them. or find an eBay head cheap. keep your old one to port , polish, put better valves and cams for a rainy day when you want to bolt on a couple more horses.
Click to expand...

i totally agree with you on taking off the balancer is a pain, its also a pain to put back on.
i bent the first 3-jaw puller is used.
 
well ive never broke a timing belt but have changed it 3 times. first off taking off the balancer on the 420a is a big pain. i use a 3 jaw slide hammer puller but people tell me it will bend the balancer. i guess there is a special puller for it because the puller would need to go inside the crank bolt hole. second i would replace the water pump and timing components while your in there. (tensioner and idler) did my timing belt and 2 months later i was pulling it all back apart to change those timing components and they tore up the new belt when they broke. third if youve never done head work before id take it somewhere. it doesnt cost that much to take to a machine shop and have the head machined for warpage and new valves installed. and machine shop guys do it all day long you can trust them. or find an eBay head cheap. keep your old one to port , polish, put better valves and cams for a rainy day when you want to bolt on a couple more horses.
Click to expand...

wow thanks for your advice i'm probably going to take it to a machine shop since i've never ever done head work before :coy:

Use the correct Chrysler 3-jaw puller. Makes a world of difference.
Click to expand...

also where\what is the correct version of the chrysler 3 jaw puller and is it attainable in automotive stores or is it like a dealer thing?

sorry for the newb questions guys :(
 
Just align it, whack it a few times with a mallet, then drive it flush with the crank bolt. Make sure the pulley is on there enough so you don't start stripping threads off the bolt. It doesn't take long at all doing it that way...
 
WOW that crank pulley was a PITA but i finally got it off!! i broke 2 3 jaw pullers and on my 3rd puller... sucess!!
i couldnt rent the proper tool for the job because. we don't have an autozone in canada.. we have part source? i went there to ask but they had no idea what i was talking about nor did they have a tool rental program :(

I also ended up removing the head and i finally found out the damage... it's 4 bent valves on the intake side.. and i'll be taking it to a head rebuild shop tomarrow or the next day~

thanks for all the help/advice to everyone in this topic!! :dsm: :dsm: :dsm:
 
VelocitàPaola;151142500 said:
Just align it, whack it a few times with a mallet, then drive it flush with the crank bolt.
Click to expand...


When he says mallet, he means a rubber mallet, not a hammer. I don't mean to compromise your intelligence but it could be tragic wailing on your engine with a hammer, especially while doing frustrating tasks like timing.
 
Dave Chan said:
WOW that crank pulley was a PITA but i finally got it off!! i broke 2 3 jaw pullers and on my 3rd puller... sucess!!
i couldnt rent the proper tool for the job because. we don't have an autozone in canada.. we have part source? i went there to ask but they had no idea what i was talking about nor did they have a tool rental program :(

I also ended up removing the head and i finally found out the damage... it's 4 bent valves on the intake side.. and i'll be taking it to a head rebuild shop tomarrow or the next day~

thanks for all the help/advice to everyone in this topic!! :dsm: :dsm: :dsm:
Click to expand...

Canada eh?

Hehe had to say it. Good luck man!:thumb:
 
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