How old is yr timing belt

[Aussie Stig]

Another story showing you can't win sometimes
Bought a BJ11 Astina new in 2002. It also has a non-interference engine. Cam belt, tensioner, idler, seals etc. were changed at 100,000km as per service schedule.
Four years and just 45,000km later, the (replaced) tensioner spring broke, got into the works between the crank pulley and belt, causing the belt to slip and the valve timing to go out about 180 degrees.
Engine quit, car towed and the whole cam belt replacement process had to be repeated.
Bluddy $5 spring caused just under $800 (parts and labour) worth of repairs.

Triple Bugger!

[project.r.racing]

Another story showing you can't win sometimes
Bought a BJ11 Astina new in 2002. It also has a non-interference engine. Cam belt, tensioner, idler, seals etc. were changed at 100,000km as per service schedule.
Four years and just 45,000km later, the (replaced) tensioner spring broke, got into the works between the crank pulley and belt, causing the belt to slip and the valve timing to go out about 180 degrees.
Engine quit, car towed and the whole cam belt replacement process had to be repeated.
Bluddy $5 spring caused just under $800 (parts and labour) worth of repairs.

Bummer.

Could've been worse. Could've had a SP20 and the the screws from the VICs butterflys unscrew themselves and have the valves and pistons eat them up.

But yes indeed a weird one the tensioner spring going. Newer heard anything remotely similar before.

[JBT]

But yes indeed a weird one the tensioner spring going. Newer heard anything remotely similar before.

Me neither, but there you go. It's been my daughter's family car for the last 3 years and it only happened a few weeks ago.

[deviant]

Some tensioners get a workout

http://youtu.be/5NnMuyifPA4

[Gladiator]

Some of you blokes need to put more bloody miles your bloody Roadsters!! They're no fun sitting in the garage.

[Locutus]

Mine is 12 years old and 107k kms.

Have had all the bits to change it, just need to make the time.

Some tensioners get a workout

http://youtu.be/5NnMuyifPA4

wow.

[gslender]

Nothing at all like the tensioners in the NA/NB engines. Not even close.

[Mr Morlock]

Ignoring belt replacement is not clever it's pretty stupid.

[gslender]

Ignoring belt replacement is not clever it's pretty stupid.

Nobody said it was clever, just that it doesn't have a material impact to anything other than inconvenience. Stupid is thinking its a bigger deal than that.

[Mr Morlock]

a point that seems to have not been noticed. "As nothing is carved in stone when it comes to auto repair, we have seen "interference" engines not bend valves when the belt breaks and we have seen "non-interference" engines bend valves when the belt fails".

It's remarkably naive to think that breaking a belt and disabling a car is not going to represent any more than an inconvenience.Most will take the sensible route and do the maintenance.

[project.r.racing]

That point you have already brought into the conversation. It has been noticed, and you are the only one to agree to it.

[gslender]

I'd go even one further....

1) It is possible for an interference engine to not bend valves - that is just very, very lucky. More likely is that you will bend a valve. But accept that you could have the engine stop immediately at the same time the cam belt snaps and nothing hit anything - just very lucky.

2) It isn't possible for an non-interference engine to bend valves. If you had a valve break or damage it had nothing to do with the timing belt snapping. I can prove that by rotating my cams when any piston is at TDC and never does anything contact with anything. No damage.

If you believe differently, explain technically how you think the valves come into contact with something etc... use your mechanical knowledge of engines to explain yourself.

On the other hand, if you are just basing your view on what you've heard, then stop spreading rumors and FUD - you are making the world worse by being uneducated and encouraging others to think the same as you.

[noobee]

I'd go even one further....

1) It is possible for an interference engine to not bend valves - that is just very, very lucky. More likely is that you will bend a valve. But accept that you could have the engine stop immediately at the same time the cam belt snaps and nothing hit anything - just very lucky.

2) It isn't possible for an non-interference engine to bend valves. If you had a valve break or damage it had nothing to do with the timing belt snapping. I can prove that by rotating my cams when any piston is at TDC and never does anything contact with anything. No damage.

If you believe differently, explain technically how you think the valves come into contact with something etc... use your mechanical knowledge of engines to explain yourself.

On the other hand, if you are just basing your view on what you've heard, then stop spreading rumors and FUD - you are making the world worse by being uneducated and encouraging others to think the same as you.

I'd have to disagree with point 2.tired valve springs and belts that break when engine is doing 7000 plus rpm will do the trick.
Mick

[project.r.racing]

just the springs would've done the trick to bend valve. the belt would've broken due to a mechanical failure in the drivetrain.

[gslender]

I'd have to disagree with point 2.tired valve springs and belts that break when engine is doing 7000 plus rpm will do the trick.
Mick

Nope. That's a valve spring breaking and damage wasn't caused by the timing belt. A new timing belt installed the day prior wouldn't have stopped that failure.

Try again.

Explain how it can cause damage.