Timing belt wave/rattle

[slowmotiongeniu]

I was driving on the highway yesterday, 80 mile trip. About halfway through my check engine light came on. I arrived at my destination, did the key dance. Code 11. Seems that's related to timing belt?

I popped the hood, and there's a great rattle coming from the timing belt cover. I removed the inspection panel to check out the belt, and it's waving like crazy and hitting the cover.

What could have caused this? Any chance I ruined something? What can I check on here?

Not sure what I'm gonna do now that I'm 80 miles from home in the middle of a holiday weekend.....

 

[andymoraitis]

You might want to pull the front cover and make sure that the tensioner hasn't let go, which would allow the belt to flop around. It's a dicey situation and I certainly wouldn't want to drive the car with the belt flopping and possibly skipping teeth and bending valves.

Let us know what you find,

Andy

 

[slowmotiongeniu]

Of course I'm not at home. So I'm without tools. Ran into town to a recommended mechanic - got a quote for new timing belt, tensioner, water pump, pulleys - $600

Fixed on Monday...seems worth it to me. What do you all think?

 

[andymoraitis]

I think that's a safe move and if it needed the belt, water pump and tensioners anyway then it's the right way to go.

 

[n0c7]

Would have probably cost way more if you would have risked driving it. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[slowmotiongeniu]

Well, I got everything previously listed replaced. Car runs well now. I guess the bearings in my pulleys were shot, and it caused lots of problems.

Now that everything has been replaced, I'm getting a squeak when I give the car a little gas. It sounds just fine at idle, but as soon as you blip the gas, there's some noise. Think a pulley wasn't tensioned correctly?

 

[andymoraitis]

First of all, I'm glad the flopping t-belt has been taken care. You were smart about not trying to drive it home that way and biting the bullet instead.

As far as the squeek when you blip the throttle, that could simply be insufficient tension on your accessory belts (alternator, AC, power steering). I would have a look and tighten them up if need be and see if the problem goes away. I certainly don't think it's t-belt related so try the simple stuff first.

Let us know how it goes,

Andy

 

[slowmotiongeniu]

The screw is I just took care of a fix by replacing the accessory belt tensioner/pulley. So the only change recently was the timing belt work and there was no squeak before that.

 

[steve]

So the only change recently was the timing belt work and there was no squeak before that.

Right but you have to remove the accessory belts to reach the timing belt. When they were put back on they weren't tightened enough so now it slips a bit.

Steve

 

[slowmotiongeniu]

well that makes perfect sense then

I'll check em out and see what the deal is. Thanks for the help!!

 

[Defiant]

And always suspect the frail DSM harmonic balancer.