BMWZ3

Just bought a 00 ES with 184k on her and just wondering about the timing belt. It hasnt been done the second time around and i'm wondering if this engine is junk if the belt goes or if the car just stops going?

ASG14

iTrader: (1)

If it;s never been done, you must be leaking oil REALLY bad. It will liekly cost around $400-$700.

llcoolpass

what's oil got to do with it?

Ariyanna

Yeah ^ what he said My friend has a 1997 Acura TL and had his first timing belt done at 200k miles and didnt have a drop of oil.

ASG14

iTrader: (1)

Usually by 100k miles, the Cam seals will start to leak a tad. To replace the Cam seals, you have to take off the Timing Belt and some other parts. So if the Timing belt was never replaced, the Cam seals weren't either. In which case, there is likely some fairly bad oil leaks at this point. It;s the oil leaks that will concern me more then the timing belt. The water pump as well to be honest, as the bearing by this point can sieze at any time.

llcoolpass

now that made sense, but your first post left a lot of questions! lol

obviously, changing the cam seals on that many miles is a no brainer. any mechanic that wouldn't is silly. but it's going to be one long job and not cheap.

the engine would be damaged by the belt breaking if it's interference, which i believe only started with the VVT implementation engines.

i dont think it's fair to say the engine would definitely be leaking oil from the cam and/or crank seals.

i think what makes me nervous is that someone never changed their timing belt after 190k miles..... so what else haven't they been doing?
before doing all that work, i would just start with poping off the front cam cover valve cover and seeing if its all gooked up inside. make decision to continue then ....
then i would lightly bolt it back on and perform the job in the normal order [timing belt, cam seals, water pump , hydraulic tensioner, valve cover gaskets, accessory belts, front main crank seal, oil change after running it a few minutes after the previous work]

ASG14

iTrader: (1)

^ I've actually been wondering if the VVTi engines were interference but always forget to ask the mechanics at the dealer.

llcoolpass

yeah they are, its a shame. my guess is that the intake and exhaust valves could hit each other is the particular thing, based on the variable part of it, but heck what's the point of speculation on that aspect. you break a belt, you got head removal at a minimum -- for valve replacement, if the valved get bent out of shape. there's always a chance yours wont when the belt breaks, but it's a small chance, especially with 24 valves v-6.

interestingly, noninterference engines can also bend valves and more -- in a collision caused by timing belt failure-- but that's usually an extremely low chance. one way this can happen even though in theory it shuldnt is carbon build up on the pistons and valves. the carbon buildup exceeds the amount of normal clearance between the two colliding parts

BMWZ3

....I don't anyone caught my drift. It has been done once (one would assume) but I know for a fact the second time around the timing belt has not been changed. I'm just wondering how long I can continue to use the car risking snapping the belt. I'll be putting on some highway miles (which the car supposedly has on it) so I just want to be careful. Its to cold out now for me to tackle something like that so...just wondering. Anyone have a DIY for a 00-01 ES Timing belt job?

ASG14

iTrader: (1)

We can;t give you a good answer without knowing 100% if the belt WAS replaced, if it was, what was the mileage, AND, was it an OEM or aftermarket belt. I've seen one aftermerket belt snap after 25k miles. Pull the top part of the T-Belt cover back, and look at the belt. See if it has any cracks. or anything else bad looking. That will be the best way to tell.

llcoolpass

gates is aftermarket and is very good, i hope instead of gates or similar i didnt put a **** belt on mine ... now you got me thinking lol

what mileage was the belt replaced at bmwz3?

by the way, isn't your name kindof sacrilege? lol

BMWZ3

My question wasnt "when is the timing belt going to snap?" My question IS IF IF IF the timing belt DOES SNAP is the engine RUINED or can the timing belt just be replaced and keep on going?

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Your engine will be ruined if the belt snaps, i know this for a fact. Change it or you will regret it

dallison

yes it will be ruined. i believe the belts are changed somewhere in the 90-105k range. i had mine replaced at 105k. I am contemplating running it until it dies or replacing it at 220k

BMWZ3

is their any diy? i cant find anything... I dont want to spend a lot having someone do it. i'm a college student, i'm poor and i have some time on my hands now and then