Timing belt broke. Am I screwed?

[ilovecoupes]

THREAD REVIVAL!!!!!!!!!!

well after about 5 months I got around to taking pictures of the valves.they actually don't look that bad.But what do I know

these are pics are without the cams....if that makes a diffrenceand sorry, my digital camera is kinda ****tycylinder 1

cylinder 2

cylinder3

cylinder4

worst vale

Im thinking about just taking it to a machine shop and saying "Can you fix whatever is bad? And Im poor"

for the ladies, my little meow cat....

original post:So I was driving, and all of a sudden my car just dies. radio still was on, but car simply died. Tried starting it a bunch of times no luck. banged the starter a bunch, no help. So I popped off the CAS and turned the motor over by hand and the exhaust cam didn't move at all. got the car towed home and took off the front cover, to find the timing belt with a huge cut and off the gears.

So is the head toast??Need a new motor??
Modified by ilovecoupes at 12:52 PM 12/16/2007

[The_Chosen_One]

most likely damage to the valves and pistons.

[themadscientist]

put a new belt on and try to start it. I have seen interference fit motors break a belt at just the right moment and not bend the valves. I call it valve roullete.

[ilovecoupes]

Im pretty confident it broke at like 3-3500. I already took off the valve covers and turbo and manifold. I read you can check the valves by simply looking if there all the same height, is this true?

Im just hoping I didn't chip the pistons or mess up the bottom end.

Anyone have any links that could help me? FSM didn't really help

and does any one know what size Allen keys I need to take off the head? they look like 10mm


Modified by ilovecoupes at 10:39 AM 8/21/2007

[The_Chosen_One]

you could probably try a leak down test. It might give an idea of the damage.

[ragenasian]

I have had two friend's come out very lucky with their motors after the timing belt broke (Toyota Corolla GTS and a Opel Vectra). I suggested to just throw the belt on and see what happens. They did and they fired up with no problems. Again this is the best case scenario. Good Luck!!!!!!!

[dattodude]

I've heard the CA18det is able to cope with a broken timing belt... But depends on head shave, headgasket thickness.

I wouldn't pull it all apart. Replace the belt, tension it properly, and give it a go.

compression test when you are done..is obviously the next test. Good luck.

[dash]

16V 4AG is non interference. Broken belt won't bend valves Popped a belt on my escort 1.8L dohc motor. Changed the belt in minutes literally & back on the road. Motor ran with a light miss and lifter tap = minor bent valve suspected. At the end of the day, motor smoothed right out/lifter tap gone. I supposed the slightly bent valve straightened its 'cocked' head itself as it continuously beat on the seat. lol Ran perfect ever after. whew... that was a close one

[ilovecoupes]

I tried starting it like 10 times with the broken belt. Think that could be a problem?

I know how to do a compression check

But i don't know how to do a leak down test. What will the leak down test help me figure out?

[frosti108]

just add some lucas youll be fine

[driftin8ez]

16V 4AG is non interference. Broken belt won't bend valves Popped a belt on my escort 1.8L dohc motor. Changed the belt in minutes literally & back on the road. Motor ran with a light miss and lifter tap = minor bent valve suspected. At the end of the day, motor smoothed right out/lifter tap gone. I supposed the slightly bent valve straightened its 'cocked' head itself as it continuously beat on the seat. lol Ran perfect ever after. whew... that was a close one

Sorry Escort 1.8L is the same as the Miata 1.8L which is also a Non-Interference. But good Story.

[Not_a_sr]

i have seen a handful of timing errors this year, and everyone of them so far has been really lucky. if you didnt hear any noise and it just shut down you may have gotten lucky, i would throw a belt on then compression test it.

[ca18det240hatch]

Well did you hear anything hitting while you were turning it over? You may be lucky and your cams were in a neutral position when it broke.

[ilovecoupes]

Well did you hear anything hitting while you were turning it over? You may be lucky and your cams were in a neutral position when it broke.

na, the best way to describe the sound, is like there was no fuel getting to the motor. At first i thought my fuel pump went.

no loud clangs or anything.

I didn't hear a big bang when it broke, but then again i was listening to the radio

so I guess tomorrow I'll buy a belt and pray for the best.

[Zero260]

just add some lucas youll be fine

you shuld burn for sugesting Lucas oil treatment

that stuff turns to foam under higher RPM

[ilovecoupes]

you shuld burn for sugesting Lucas oil treatment

that kid lives for Lucas he puts it in everything

and he's my hero for putting Escalade rims on a Nissan truck (check his signature)

[themadscientist]

You would not have heard it even without the radio on. A tiny valve would get bent pretty silently. You would not have damaged it further by cranking after the break, what was going to happen had already happened. So it's back together and won't start?

[ilovecoupes]

So it's back together and won't start?

Na, I still have to buy a belt. Im getting it tomorrow afternoon

[ch187]

thanks for reminding me. mine just arrived at nissan. $32 aint bad.

[ilovecoupes]

thanks for reminding me. mine just arrived at nissan. $32 aint bad.

$32?? ones on autozone are like $13 -25

i should be cool with a belt from a pulsar right?

[ch187]

id rather buy parts from the dealer. i have an account with them so i get a baller discount also.. pulsar ca18de one will work

[ilovecoupes]

id rather buy parts from the dealer. i have an account with them so i get a baller discount also.. pulsar ca18de one will work

Oh nice

[Zero260]

if you didn't completely destroy avalve, it should run, it'll just idle rough, put should smooth out after like 3,000 rpm. unfortunatly, I know this from experience, by forgetting I removed to timing belt, than cranking the motor to find an oil leak(I know, I'm an idiot).

I tapped a valve a couple of times, then stopping cranking it, when I got it back together, it ran, just idled like crap.

by the way, anyone selling a good cheap complete head??

[dash]

Sorry Escort 1.8L is the same as the Miata 1.8L which is also a Non-Interference. But good Story.

lol... interesting. Didn't know what caused the miss/lifter tap then. Never did it before or any time after.Dunno the BP like a ca18 or 4ag

[ilovecoupes]

okay, finially got my timing belt. Slapped it on, started it up and........... sounded like a crazy WRX with insane cams. So looks like i bent some valves. I have to borrow my buddies compression tester to see what the real damage is.

[themadscientist]

Get the equal length exhuast manifold. It makes WRXs stop doing that

[Dattebayo]

You probably forgot to align the timing marks before putting on the belt. You did crank it a bunch of times after it broke, you know...

[ilovecoupes]

You probably forgot to align the timing marks before putting on the belt. You did crank it a bunch of times after it broke, you know...

Im pretty confident i lined the marks correctly, I counted the number of "cogs" on the belt. And according to the mad scientist

You would not have damaged it further by cranking after the break, what was going to happen had already happened.

So you know............................

[themadscientist]

yes.When the belt broke your engine definately brought all pistons to the tops of there strokes before it stopped and any valves that were in the way got bent right there. Cranking it after that would have done no more damage.

[Dattebayo]

I'm sorry, I was referring to the head timing matching the belt marks. I have had issues with a similar motor (Pulsar) when it sounded like what you were describing. Re-alignment worked for me, but I can be mistaken for your issue right there... (especially when it comes to TMS's experience)