Changed my oil today and drove around a bit, when on the way home I heard a really weird 'rubbing' type noise and my battery light came on. I pulled off the main highway and noticed my power steering felt like it gave out. I popped the hood to find my timing belt half off, my power steering and Alt. belts completely off and just hanging there on the crank pulley. Also, I think it was the alternator belt that appeared to have one of the ribs chewed off about halfway around the belt. Belts are 2,000 miles old (approx.)....

Of course it was dark and I did not have a flashlight, but I think the crank pulley came loose and shifted causing the belts to jump and pull the timing belt away from the cylinder head. Any takers?

Luckily the timing belt stayed on .... am going to check things out in the morning.

 

if the crank pulley is loose, get that fixed right away. don't drive it or start it until its fixed, have it towed to a shop. if you're lucky, your crankshaft isn't fucked, but if the belts came off then it probably is.

 

After I heard the noise I was doing about 60 and stopped within about half a mile of hearing the noise. Car was still running fine when I shut the engine off...the timing belt stayed on, and there were no other noises that followed. I could see if the timing belt came of that the crank might be damaged, but just from the A/C belt and alternator belt coming off?

 

Found the culprit....the crank bolt not only came loose, but the top of it cracked pretty good....


only have to replace the bolt and the a/c belt.....got off lucky I guess?!?

I will post pics later today to show you guys.....unreal!


edit: I was able to find a bolt at the stealership up the road and a new alternator belt as well. Only thing I saw of concern was the crankshaft key appeared to be a bit deformed....like it heated up and changed shape(?) but it is the end that goes into the crank so the end that adheres to the pulley was still good and fit fine. I tightened up the bolt and reset the the belts and started her up. Seems fine except the idle seems higher than usual.

Anyone have any thoughts or cautions for me?


Modified by NoVALude at 9:43 AM 8/19/2006

 

the timing belt doesn't have to come off. mine didn't. and what you have to thing about is that it's not because the belts fell off, that was the effect. the cause was the crank pulley moving around so much. when somethings rotating that fast, a little movement can do a lot of damage.