QuestionWhile driving at 20 MPH, then waiting at a stop light at
approx 900RPM (IDLE)THE MOTOR QUIT: WAS FOUND THAT THE TIMING BELT BROKE: WHAT COULD BE THE DAMAGE? BFORE I START
TAKING THE MOTOR APART:have heard stories from bent valves to holes beat in the pistons - is it worth trying to fix or is it a total loss of motor no matter how the timing belt broke, Engine has about 80,000 miles when belt broke, was not aware should replace belt sooner at approx 60,ooo miles. Thanks in advance for your expert advise. Walter
AnswerHi Walter;
Take the cylinder head off, and look for little "smiley faces" on the tops of the pistons. If there are Bright, Shiny, Well Defined marks that look like: ")" that half of a parentheses, then there are bent valves. If however, there are no marks, or slight impressions only to the carbon coating the top of the piston, and not through into the metal the piston is made from, then re-install a new timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and anything else you can afford that looks suspect...like the valve cover gasket, and intake plenum gasket, etc.
My expectations are you should be OK.
Good luck, Walter.
