[General]: Timing belt issue on dodge caravan 1999
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Timing belt issue on dodge caravan 1999
Hi,
my timing belt fell off while I was driving my 1999 dodge caravan. After that I was driving about 10km before the battery was completely discharged and the car just stopped.
Could I just charge the battery and drive the car to the auto service? Could I damage the engine?
How much should I expect for the repairs?
Thank you for any help or advice.
Regards, Vlad
my timing belt fell off while I was driving my 1999 dodge caravan. After that I was driving about 10km before the battery was completely discharged and the car just stopped.
Could I just charge the battery and drive the car to the auto service? Could I damage the engine?
How much should I expect for the repairs?
Thank you for any help or advice.
Regards, Vlad
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,256
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From: SoCal
If a timing belt "falls off" the engine will die immediately because it keeps the valve train in sync with the piston movement and maintains engine ignition timing. If any of it gets out of sync the engine dies. You must mean the serpentine accessory drive belt visible on the left side of the engine. It drives the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and A/C compressor. Critical in that list is the water pump. If it's not spinning your engine is no longer being cooled by the cooling system. Did the temp gauge show HOT. Did you have a boil over?
Your engine is fine. The surpentine belt has nothing to do with the valve train, typically the big worry when a timing belt breaks. That said, you may have damaged the engine because you drove with no engine cooling. What to do? Don't drive the van until you install a serpentine belt. Charge the battery and start it up. If it starts it's a good sign the engine block, cylinder head isn't cracked. Look for any signs of coolant or oil leaks. Look for white vapor flowing out the exhaust, a sign of a blown head gasket. If all looks ok you won't need any service.
BTW - The 3.3 and 3.8 liter engine use a timing chain. It will last the life of the vehicle, at least 400K km. The 3.0 uses a timing belt that should be changed every 130K km. miles.
Your engine is fine. The surpentine belt has nothing to do with the valve train, typically the big worry when a timing belt breaks. That said, you may have damaged the engine because you drove with no engine cooling. What to do? Don't drive the van until you install a serpentine belt. Charge the battery and start it up. If it starts it's a good sign the engine block, cylinder head isn't cracked. Look for any signs of coolant or oil leaks. Look for white vapor flowing out the exhaust, a sign of a blown head gasket. If all looks ok you won't need any service.
BTW - The 3.3 and 3.8 liter engine use a timing chain. It will last the life of the vehicle, at least 400K km. The 3.0 uses a timing belt that should be changed every 130K km. miles.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
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From: Rochester, MN
The water pump is internal and driven by the timing belt
If a timing belt "falls off" the engine will die immediately because it keeps the valve train in sync with the piston movement and maintains engine ignition timing. If any of it gets out of sync the engine dies. You must mean the serpentine accessory drive belt visible on the left side of the engine. It drives the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, and A/C compressor. Critical in that list is the water pump. If it's not spinning your engine is no longer being cooled by the cooling system. Did the temp gauge show HOT. Did you have a boil over?
Your engine is fine. The surpentine belt has nothing to do with the valve train, typically the big worry when a timing belt breaks. That said, you may have damaged the engine because you drove with no engine cooling. What to do? Don't drive the van until you install a serpentine belt. Charge the battery and start it up. If it starts it's a good sign the engine block, cylinder head isn't cracked. Look for any signs of coolant or oil leaks. Look for white vapor flowing out the exhaust, a sign of a blown head gasket. If all looks ok you won't need any service.
BTW - The 3.3 and 3.8 liter engine use a timing chain. It will last the life of the vehicle, at least 400K km. The 3.0 uses a timing belt that should be changed every 130K km. miles.
Your engine is fine. The surpentine belt has nothing to do with the valve train, typically the big worry when a timing belt breaks. That said, you may have damaged the engine because you drove with no engine cooling. What to do? Don't drive the van until you install a serpentine belt. Charge the battery and start it up. If it starts it's a good sign the engine block, cylinder head isn't cracked. Look for any signs of coolant or oil leaks. Look for white vapor flowing out the exhaust, a sign of a blown head gasket. If all looks ok you won't need any service.
BTW - The 3.3 and 3.8 liter engine use a timing chain. It will last the life of the vehicle, at least 400K km. The 3.0 uses a timing belt that should be changed every 130K km. miles.