PhillyDelSol

I have a 94 Del Sol with a B16A3. Built and boosted, makes 285WHP/215TQ. My dad was driving it (first mistake I know) and it died on him.

The way he described it to me was that he pulled up to a stop sign and it backfired but kept running, the next stop sign he pulled up to it backfired and died. It was low on gas so he figured that was the issue. Got gas in it but it wouldn't start. So then he calls me, I meet him and try to troubleshoot it. I get in and crank it over, it sounds like ***. He said it was cranking normally before I got there but just not starting. I called my cousin (who helped me rebuild the motor and is a mechanical god) and he listened to it over the phone and said it sounded like a timing issue.

I had the car towed to my house and took the valve cover off, below picture is what I found:


So I took the timing belt off and this is what the section that was around the crank pulley:



I think that the motor jumped time and died, then when I went to crank it the valves interfered with the pistons and the weakest link (the belt) shredded.

I ripped the head off and had it checked-no damage to the valves or cams.

The belt was made by Evergreen and I got it in an eBay rebuild kit, I'm putting a Honda belt on it this time.

I'm putting everything back together tomorrow and I was just wondering if anyone has ever had an issue similar to this. I'm replacing the timing belt tensioner just in case that was the issue, but I'm thinking it was the belt that caused the whole problem. I showed my machine shop guys the belt and they said they've never seen it before. I just don't want it happening again when I put it back together. Any ideas, or am I correct in my diagnosis?

dirty19

iTrader: (1)

Bad belt or too high tension?
Not terribly uncommon.
Put the new one on and see what happens.
Do it in accordance with the service manual

PhillyDelSol

Bad belt is what I'm leaning towards. I'm figuring that's what I get for not putting a Honda belt on in the first place.

redm3turbo

I think Ive located the problem.


just hope its just the belt, and you got off lucky/cheap

98civdx

I've seen cheapy belts do that in the past.

Throw a belt in and fire it up.. You either get lucky, or you get fucked with these cars.

axis11

There was a post a few months ago about his belt jumping multiple times. It turned out the camshaft journals were bad and creating excessive tension on the belt. Not exactly same as your problem but might be worth checking while your in there.

Ryan Lwin

Bad belt. When you or whoever bought the belt, they didn't check it. Usually auto shops sell you belts without looking. You have to open it in front of them and check for any cracks or you will get bad ones. Happened to me a few times but I noticed it before I put them on.

PhillyDelSol

Cam journals are good. I'm running GSR cams with stock valves and supertech springs and retainers.

I'll find out tomorrow if it was the belt or something more.

fragmare

Yikes! Yea, make sure there's no foreign object in the lower timing cover (bolt, washer, nut, etc.) and go get a genuine Honda belt or at least something a little more reputable, like Goodyear or whatever.