Author Topic: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.  (Read 851 times)

Offline Travis Koch

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An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« on: March 16, 2016, 09:21:38 am »
So, some of you may have seen the pic I posted on the facebook site regarding my partially separated timing belt. 
I tried to drive my Gvr4 one night but it would not start.  Sounded like compression issues and continuous cranking brought no life.
Next day I pulled off the upper timing cover and saw the break right in the belt right up top.  The rest of the belt looked fine.

Fast forward a month or two....

Didn't touch the car again as I was busy with other shit until now and didn't want to risk the belt busting apart.
 So long story short, I replaced the belt and in short order I found that the no start condition was caused by a faulty relay, fixed it but....
During trouble shooting I found out that I have another, (yes another) head gasket failure.  @#@$@@@%%^^#@!

 What are the chances?  Well, pretty good I guess.... Damn DSM's.  I guess she couldn't wait for the inevitable upgrade and figured this might help speed up the process.

Point of the story.... check your timing belt from time to time and rotate it through its entire length to make sure there is no localized damage.  It could save your cars life! 

 I just got lucky due to the faulty relay! pheww!
Current projects:  1992 Laser RS AWD - daily summer
                           1995 Talon Tsi AWD - daily winter
                           1989 2000GTX FWD - not sure where this is going yet
                           1991 Talon Tsi AWD - soon to be organ donor

Offline Bryan Hoytema

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Re: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2016, 05:34:41 pm »
Ya good call . Need to keep maintenance schedules tight on our cars especially the timing belts . yearly or every 100k , could be a costly thing to over look .

Offline kevin derhouson

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Re: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2016, 11:45:21 am »
Big fan of the gates Kevlar belts, still need to change then but a little bit of extra insurance for a small price difference
She lives.
new build details ---> http://freetexthost.com/hgidu250ql
current awhp: 387

Offline Travis Koch

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Re: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2016, 10:58:19 pm »
yah, this was a Gates belt... not Kevlar, but still....  looks like the split/tear is at the point where it is stitched together.
Current projects:  1992 Laser RS AWD - daily summer
                           1995 Talon Tsi AWD - daily winter
                           1989 2000GTX FWD - not sure where this is going yet
                           1991 Talon Tsi AWD - soon to be organ donor

Offline Robert Vorley

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Re: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2016, 07:34:57 am »
I also have a gates belt.  I bought a clear timing cover in order to make inspections easier. Some run without a cover, I wouldn't.
1997 Eagle Talon AWD,
461 awhp, 357 tq @ 28 psi on RG's "heart-breaker" Mustang Dyno

Offline Bryan Hoytema

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Re: An unfortunate event leads to a fortunate end.
« Reply #5 on: March 27, 2016, 05:43:24 pm »
I had a gates Kevlar belt on my old 2g and ran without a cover . Luckly I had no issues . But if I had to do it over I would've invested in the clear timing cover.