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Well, on the way to work this morning my car died on the interstate. Luckily I was in the very right lane when it happened. I was accelerating (but not too much) and I feel and hear a "CLUNK!" and my engine bogs for a second at the same time. I thought I had hit something on the road. Then the engine dies, and I pull over to the right. And I get out and pop the hood and do the typical "hands on the hips, stare at the engine, pull out the cell phone."
I thought my timing belt broke. I have a brand new belt and water pump and everything in the garage at home, all ready to be put on. But I procrastinated, then we sold our house, and so I figure "oh, I'll do it when we move into the new house." So I'm kicking myself. I was so sure the belt broke on me.
Ok, so I got the car towed back home. I pull the valve cover off to survey the damage. The belt is NOT broke. Good news and bad news. Anyway, I pull all the spark plugs out, and begin to turn the crankshaft with the valve cover off so I can see the magic inner-workings. All looks good, except for one thing. As I turn the crankshaft, it seems like the timing belt is really loose at one point. Basically as I turn it, the timing belt gets loose, then tight, then loose, then tight. Not extremely loose. Like I can't slip the belt off or anything when it's at the loose point.
But my question is, what could cause this? Do you think my timing belt skipped a tooth or two?
I'm about to put the valve cover back on and test for spark. I just didn't want to start turning the engine over and over if my belt was broken.
I thought my timing belt broke. I have a brand new belt and water pump and everything in the garage at home, all ready to be put on. But I procrastinated, then we sold our house, and so I figure "oh, I'll do it when we move into the new house." So I'm kicking myself. I was so sure the belt broke on me.
Ok, so I got the car towed back home. I pull the valve cover off to survey the damage. The belt is NOT broke. Good news and bad news. Anyway, I pull all the spark plugs out, and begin to turn the crankshaft with the valve cover off so I can see the magic inner-workings. All looks good, except for one thing. As I turn the crankshaft, it seems like the timing belt is really loose at one point. Basically as I turn it, the timing belt gets loose, then tight, then loose, then tight. Not extremely loose. Like I can't slip the belt off or anything when it's at the loose point.
But my question is, what could cause this? Do you think my timing belt skipped a tooth or two?
I'm about to put the valve cover back on and test for spark. I just didn't want to start turning the engine over and over if my belt was broken.