What could have caused this? Carnage pics inside

[hatch]

OK, this DSM is gonna be the death of me, or at least my wallet. One problem after another with each getting worse it seems. It had been experiencing a whine ever since the rebuild and I we (my mechanic and I) had tracked it down to the oil pump area, I did some research and learned that there were 2 different types of oil pumps, one with straight cut gears and one with helical type. And that the straight cut ones experienced this whine, much like a race tranny does. He was out test driving it the other day after fixing a leaky valve cover gasket and the car shut off, it just died. He didn't try to start it, noticed that the timing belt was loose, and towed it back to his shop. He got a chance to look at it today and found this...

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The oil pump gear shattered and broke the timing belt. What could have caused this to happen? All the parts are new, new oil pump/front cover, new belt, new tensioner, new front cover and etc. I can't remember, but does the oil pump come with the gear installed? I can't remember if I installed it or it if came already installed. If I did install it, could I have done something to cause it to bind up and break like it did? Not tight enough (maybe)? Too tight (not likely)? If it does come preinstalled do you think there is a warranty on it that will cover the damages? The balance shafts were eliminated and I got the oil pump from my engine builder. So I'm thinking that the gear and everything was already assembled since it already had the stubby shaft on it, but I could be wrong.

This is really disheartening because it most likely did damage to the head. There is a possibility that it didn't because I had a timing belt break on my first car and it didn't, but I know its more likely than not.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[90laserRSfwd]

do you have any pic's of the front case ? A simular situation happened to me but I spun a balance shaft bearing and it ended up taking out the whole cylinder head. My tbelt didn't break though. Post some pictures of the front case if you can

 

[BUCK]

My GUESS is someone screwed up reassembling your Front Case / Oil Pump assembly - I am sure all that is TOAST too if indeed your Oil Pump Gears shattered - Needless to say they need to Flush the OFH & hope like hell the Oil Filter caught the debris or the whole Motor could be seriously wounded, not just the Head - & yes this is a damn unnecessary shame - You are getting ready to find out just how good your Mechanic is.... or ISN"T - I'm attaching a pic to remind you what it looks like but yeah we need more of YOUR carnage pix.

 

[hatch]

Thanks for the replies. My mechanic sent me the pics that I have so I can't go take more. I won't see the damage in person until Saturday.

So you think that the gears inside the oil pump are probably shot to hell also? That would really suck considering this is a brand new 2.3l build with probably 40 miles on it. I really like the car but damn I just want to drive the son of a bi*** for once without something bad going wrong. I knew when I got it that it would be more work than the Hondas I'm used to but man please.

 

[BUCK]

The oil pump gear shattered and broke the timing belt. .

Well I was assuming you MEANT the Gears - & not the Oil Pump Timing Belt COG exploded or something - I would think that he Loctited & Torqued the COG properly - Right?

 

[hatch]

Sorry, by gear I meant the "COG" that the timing belt turns. Thats whats pictured. The bolt is still installed where the COG was, it just broke off around it from the description I got. The guy working on it now is not the same person that assembled the front cover/oil pump and shortblock.

 

[BUCK]

I'm sure a Search OR another Tuner will turn up an exception but over quite a few years & 2000+ posts I don't recall a Cog "shattering" - Are those HUNKS of Cog in those pix??? - I'm still wondering if that is what you'd expect to see of a Cog that was not properly Loctited & Torqued ? - Your guy owes US more pix!

 

[hatch]

Yes, the gear looking pieces you see is the gear the timing belt actually makes direct contact with and turns. I'll get more pics this weekend when I go to assess the damages myself.

 

[Savage Talon]

I have never seen that before, I guess there is a first time for everything.

 

[wolf20043]

I'm sure a Search OR another Tuner will turn up an exception but over quite a few years & 2000+ posts I don't recall a Cog "shattering" - Are those HUNKS of Cog in those pix??? - I'm still wondering if that is what you'd expect to see of a Cog that was not properly Loctited & Torqued ? - Your guy owes US more pix!

I would have to assume that OVER tourqing would be more suspect at this point, causing the "COG" to crack, then fall apart as it started moving. I am with everyone else, never saw that before.
Mike

 

[Pirrofab]

Possibly fatigue but if you have ever over tightened an altnerator belt before it will whine. Quite possibly the timing belt could have been over tightened and stressed the sprocket to the point of failure

 

[Defiant]

Quite possibly solved in the last ten months.