Hello Everyone. I hope you can help me with my problem. I was driving earlier today when I heard a loud 'bang' come from under the hood of my car, the noise sounded strange --- almost as if I had blown a tire or something. Then my car started to lose power, and finally died a couple feet later. Then after a minute or two, coolant (the green stuff) started leaking out. My car will turn over but it wont start.

My dad checked the engine and said the timing belt is broken. He doesn't understand though where the water is coming from.

Does this mean my motor is trashed?? Help!

Thanks!

BTW: I'm driving a 1999 Neon with a SOHC and with roughly 90,000 miles on it.

-gigi21

 

i would have to say you damaged one or twoof the intake valves when the cam stoped spinning and the piston came up and smacked it, as for having the coolant leak out is a bit of a mistery, i would have to say you damaged the head also. but you will have to take it apart to figure out what really happend

 

thanks :-)

 

I would suspect you have some bent valves and the fact that you tried to turn it over after may also have bent some valves (mine had 14 bent valves). It is possible that the water pump failed causing the timing belt to break, this could explain the coolant leak. Is the coolant leak near the timing belt area?

Have a read through this thread re: bent valves - leak down tests, etc.
https://dodgeforum.com/m_813823/tm.htm

 

Thanks neisg1! My Dad said it looks like the coolant did come from the water pump. He hasnt pulled it apart yet but it's coming form that area. And no hoses are broken. Thanks for the string you provided --- that was a big help.

Do you think there was any possible damage to the cylinder head, guides, or seats? Which one would you say usually gets damaged?

I'm trying to decide whether to just buy a used cylinder head...

When my dad pulls it apart I'll be able to give some more info. Thanks again for the help!

 

if you dont wanna buy a head i got valve i could sell you for like $30 plus shipping

 

The water pump probably freezed on you and then in return snapped your timing belt. Thats what it's suggested that you replace those 2 and the idler pulley all at the same time (around 100,000 miles).

 

He only had 90,000 on the car...seems to have broken a little early.Judging by the way you say it made a loud bang in the engine, it prolly messed some stuff up.My timing belt let go at 5k rpm, but I did not hear any bangs, rather a low weird rumble then the engine instantly died.My engine turned out to be fine after new timing belt.