Lemmie tell ya'll how awesome MY friday night was.

I did a timing belt, on the escort, on the side of Interstate 5 Southbound, just before exit 63 (Winlock WA).

I am headed south to Portland from Tacoma yesterday with a friend. We both have funerals to attend, and wifey has to work friday night so I cant take the Ram. Whatever, we jump in my car and head south. I figured it was a gamble, I knew the timing belt was at LEAST 30k overdue for a change, but I said F-it and went anyway. Get to exit 63 (I live off of exit 120, if that tells you anything, I was over 60 miles from home), And my check engine light comes on. I am like "OK, whats up car?" Because its a manual it felt like the engine was still running, but it wasnt, it was just revving because I was coasting at 75mph in gear. I put my foot on the gas, nothing. Nada. Zilch. So I turned the key off, and tried to restart it (Coasting at about 70mph now), and I could just feel the way the engine was cranking, there was ZERO load. It was just a free spin. I looked at Rob and said "That was the timing belt". Which is funny, because the reason why he was riding with me is that his car blew a timing chain last week and took the engine with it.

****.

I put on the blinker, (coasting still) and manage to cross 3 lanes of zooming interstate traffic (In the middle of BFE mind you), and get her to the shoulder (luckily was about 10 feet wide. Got out of the car, put out the road flares. Popped the hood, unbolted the timing cover and it fell apart in 2 pieces. I pulled it off and the belt was staring me in the face, snapped in half. I called the wife, told her to leave work, go to uhaul, grab a car hauler, swing by AutoZone and grab a timing belt kit, and come on down.

I was 200 yards from an exit and 1/8th of a mile from a highway side shell station. She arrived, without a car hauler. Uhaul didnt have one available short notice. Whatever, I have done worse repairs while being shot at. I grabbed my tow strap out of the ram, hooked the scort up and hauled her ***** *** to the shell station.




Belt Snapped and broke the timing cover in 2 pieces. Whoops.



I left the timing cover off. I ran my 02 ZX-2 like that for YEARS with no issues and in salty roads too. This way I can watch the damn thing and make sure I see it when its ready to be changed. The new belt is a Duralast w/ Lifetime Warranty. Because its a non interference motor, I am OK with a Duralast belt. That and I had to take what I could get my hands on, and at the moment, thats all that was available without waiting till tuesday. I threw a new serpentine belt on too since I had to take it off to do the job. All total I am in the job for $36 and some time on the side of a highway. Took about 2 hours to change, was really simple once I got in there.

 

nice work! so you just slapped the TB on there -- no settings or anything to do?

 

Nope, had to remove the crankshaft pulley, align the crankshaft and camshaft at TDC, pretty much the notch on the chank is at vertical, and is inline with the notch on the cam sprocket (also at vertical), then loosen the tensioner, put the belt on, put the tensioner back and reinstall crank pulley.

 

Good job on the fix on the fly!

 

Nice! Good job
Wife had same car in teal back in late 90's...
We drove that thing from NY to California, and back... Good memories.

 

Reminds me of every road trip I ever attempted to take with one of my DSM's. Glad you got back up and running with minimal discomfort.

 

I agree...great job. But you were also fortunate on two counts.....First, that the engine's designers allowed for clearance between the valves/piston even if the belt breaks (e.g....a non-interference engine), and, second, that the engine doesn't have to be loosened/tilted on its motor-mounts to reach and remove the timing-cover (that is the case with some engines, adding to labor/costs).

 

great job bro. You are more handy than me. I would have started cursing like crazy, called the tow truck, and then I would have cursed a little more

 

make that three, that his wife was willing to drive 60mi. to come rescue her stranded hubby.

 

Most low revving domestic 4 cylinders (mine redlines MAX at 6800 RPM, redline starts at 5500) with timing belts of that vintage are non-interference. Only recently, with additional tech such as VVT (Variable Valve Timing), VCT (Variable Cam Timing) and other advanced timing systems, has it become nessecary to reduce the clearance between pistons and valves. As an aside, I checked the CEL codes. As soon as the CPS (Camshaft Position Sensor) threw a CEL because it couldnt get a reading, the engine shut down.

I used a scissor jack to support the engine and removed the upper motor mount to gain access to the timing belt. Being it was the first time I have done it on this car, it took longer than it should have. Next time, I will have it done in an hour...in my shop...before it breaks.

True Story. She is my saving grace. And it was 120 miles. I also had a friend drive up from portland with a trailer, and a total stranger stop with a trailer and offer to haul it back to base for me. He saw my Wounded Warrior Project Alumni Decal and wanted to help a fellow vet. I politely declined that one as my wife was already there with the parts, and my buddy arrived just as I was buttoning up the car.

 

Assuming I'm in a position to replace it, in addition to the fact that it has little resale value, when the timing belt snaps on my LS400, I think I'll tow it out in the desert and blow it to pieces, Walter White style.