Mitsubishi Repair: Timing Belt breakage and repair, salvage engines, interference engines

Question
I have had my 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer for almost 5 years.  Because of a lengthy commute to work, I have put 118K miles on it.  Wednesday on my drive home from work, the engine just stopped, and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree.  I safely pulled off the road, but the engine wouldn't start again.  My father, who is a great mechanic, helped me to pull the timing belt cover off, after we had exhausted the first options of fanbelts and checking oil / fluids.  It wasn't an overheating problem either.  All temps were normal.  The timing belt, when we removed the cover, seemed intact, as it was snug on the gears.  My father fears that the timing belt broke and is gnashed in the gears.  After removing the cover, we tried to crank the engine again, and the belt was not turning.  My question is, if indeed the belt broke, how much damage may have been done to the engine.  We know that some engines are "non-interference" engines, but can't seem to find that information anywhere regarding the Lancer.  We have found salvage engines online in the area of $300 - $450, and are not beyond replacing the engine in it's entirety.  Will it cost more to get the engine fixed, or to just replace it with a salvage engine?

Answer
Hello Jeff,

Before you decide to fix/replace the engine you might want to attempt a timing belt change.  I had an '89 MR2 that lost a timing belt but the belt didn't break. When my bro'-in-law and I pulled the upper cover off there was still tension on the belt indicating no breakage. Upon further inspection, however, the teeth on the belt had stripped and therefore wasn't being driven by the sprocket.  

First, if it is the timing belt, your dash 'lighting up like a Christmas tree' (LOVE that phrase!) is normal. Before you start your engine, with the key in the 'on' position, the car is engineered to engage all of the dash lights as a test to insure all the bulbs are operable. As your engine was technically 'off' when your problem arose, the dash lights went into test mode.

The easiest way I've found to 'hear' if it's the timing belt is to really listen to what the engine is telling you when you're cranking it. Having been your vehicle since new (I think my math's right on that), you know what 'your baby' sounds like when you start it.  If, instead of the normal cranking speed when you attempt to start it, it sounds like it's cranking double-time, I'd bet dollars to donuts it's the timing belt.  Not a hard job but definitely time consuming.

As to whether or not you did any damage, dunno.  If it were me I'd go ahead and change the timing belt and see what happens. If you didn't do damage to the engine, you're back on the road. If you did, you're only out the cost of a timing belt and the time to replace it. (My philosophy is ALWAYS go with the cheapest solution first!)

If you did do damage to the engine, you've two choices to make from there. You can either repair or replace. I'd first get an estimate to see what it would cost to repair; next, see what it would cost to replace with a used/new engine; finally, compare the two. Remember, however, if you do have to go the 'replace the engine' route, a used engine will have 'used' problems. You won't necessarily know the actual mileage on it unless you're able to see the odometer of the vehicle before the engine is pulled, and you could run into the same problem, or worse, 'tomorrow'.

You sound like you're a sharp guy with someone knowledgeable in your corner, so I really doubt you'll have much problem with these decisions. Just remember...

Have Fun and Good Luck!