I have a 91 Accord EX and was on the highway going about 55MPH... when i increased to about 60MPH my engine stalled and died on me, luckily i had enough speed to get to the shoulder safely.

Later, i found out my timing belt had snapped!

To what extent is the possibility of damage on my engine?

I did put in a new belt with the correct alignment and such... the car starts and runs...

I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN OR WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM HERE ON?

Any input is appreciated! I was thinking if this doesn't work, a new engine is in order... i have read that the timing belt snapping at high speeds can cause serious engine damage, such as bending valves, etc.

Thanks ahead of time to all!

 

If it starts and runs then I'd say you are a very very lucky dude.

 

Yes it starts! Surprisingly to me as well... now it's always gonna be in the back of my mind that my car will stall on me on the road one of these days... Geez...

So far so good... anymore input/advice from others?

 

Measure your compresson. If you did any minor damage to your valves your compression will be bad.

As you know, if you had done major damage, you wouldn't be able to start it...

 

check your compression and leak-down. if they are good, then you've not hurt anything otherwise, bent-valves

I wouldn't worry about it breaking again for another 90k

 

HOW DO I TEST FOR MY COMPRESSION? LEAK DOWN? SORRY... i'm not sure how to do that?

Doesn't this cause the car to be very fuel in-efficient?


[Modified by dclub01, 5:47 AM 3/19/2003]

 

Both are tests for how 'airtight' your combustion chambers are.

Compresson test...
Get a compresson tester from AutoZoned or someplace. Its a pressure gauge that fits into the spark plug hole.
Remove all spark plugs, unplug injectors or fuelpump fuse. Unplug distributor or coil or something so you don't have spark.
Put the gauge in one sparkplug hole, have somebody crank the starter with accelerator floored. Crank till the gauge doesn't go any higher.
Repeat for the other cylinders.
If you repeat after squirting oil into the cylinders, if it improves you have ring troubles. If it doesn't improve you have valve troubles. Well, I guess if its real good in the first place it won't improve much either.

Leakdown test...
Position a cylinder at compression TDC & lock the crankshaft so it doesn't turn. Pressurize that cyinder with compressed air thru a fitting in the sparkplug hole. Watch how long it takes for that pressure to leak out.

These are diagnostic tests. They won't make the car less efficient, but if the car is inefficient they can help you figure out why.

In reality, if you had actually bent your valves, you'd notice. It's not subtle.

 

The car is running fine now... but i hear a sound like it's grinding somewhere in the engine, or at least around it?! The sound is low, u can't hear it from outside, u have to be inside with all the windows shut...

GAWD... i'm thinking new car...

**thanks for the info on compression and leak!




[Modified by dclub01, 5:54 PM 3/19/2003]