Aaargh...... timing belt tensioner sheared on the motorway

[alwigley]

Changed timing and balance belts last week, all tensioned correctly using one of the club's tools, and was feeling very pleased with myself. Driving down the M23 at lunchtime, lost all power followed by an ominous slapping noise...... Timing belt tensioner has sheared off it's bearing. These were all supposed to have been replaced at an engine rebuild some 12,000 miles ago (5 years), so I left them be, but checked for any excessive play and they seemed fine.

Guess I will have to pull the head off and see what the damage is - belt valves for certain, but do these cars normally damage the pistons as well ?

Yours miserably [&o], Alan

 

[barks944]

Owww, I feel for ya! On that model car its an off centre pulley that maintans the timing belt tension isn't it? Sounds like the bolt has snapped? You probably wouldnt replace the bolt just the pulley.

 

[alwigley]

Oddly the tensioning bolt is still in place - the sprocket itself appears to have sheared out of the bearing casing, which I cannot understand as they would have been play in the bearing if it was that knackered. The previous belt was so loose it was slapping the belt cover casing, which is what prompted me to change it in the first place, besides sheer age. Looks like the additional tension of a new belt just killed off a worn tensioner.

 

[peanut]

bad luck Al [&o]

new belts with higher tension usually finishes off the water pump and alternator bearings as well.

I'll swop you........? fix your head for painting and re-carpeting my sitting room...groan [&o]

 

[alwigley]

Sadly I also have to repaint and recarpet the living room, hall, stairs, landing, new downstairs loo and build a wall - not sure when any of it will happen ! Interesting offer though, although I hate painting []

 

[peanut]

it was worth a try. I can't seem to find anything else to prevent me starting the job any longer []