Timing belt broke, can I repair it myself?
May 7, 2011 8:36 AM Subscribe
The timing chain broke while I was driving my 1997 Ford Taurus GL, I drove it for a few more minutes and the battery died. Once I was able to pull over to the side of the road, I opened up the hood and the chain was ripped to shreds. I don't have a lot of auto repair experience, but am I able to repair it myself by just simply installing a new timing chain? If so, are there any diagrams or helpful directions on the internet somewhere?
The car has a 3.0L V6 Engine. I've read that it isn't an interference engine so there's a chance the damage isn't catastrophic, but this is just from reading info on the internet. Any help would appreciated, thanks!
The car has a 3.0L V6 Engine. I've read that it isn't an interference engine so there's a chance the damage isn't catastrophic, but this is just from reading info on the internet. Any help would appreciated, thanks!
If you drove it for a few more minutes, it's probably just the alternator belt, not the timing belt. May take a bit of futzing about to replace, but not too hard. It was a smooth belt, n,ot a toothed belt, right?
posted by straw at 8:52 AM on May 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by straw at 8:52 AM on May 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
Actually, are you sure the timing chain broke and not one of the accessory belts? You say the timing chain was ripped to shreds, but you shouldn't be able to see the timing chain without taking the cover off. How do you know the timing chain broke while you were driving? What it sounds like maybe happened was the alternator belt broke and the battery was so old it died immediately thereafter.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:53 AM on May 7, 2011
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:53 AM on May 7, 2011
If the alternator belt is what broke, yeah, you can do that yourself. Get yourself a Chilton guide for your car off of Amazon for $20 and it'll tell you everything you need. Parts and tools may cost you $50 tops, of you don't have a torque wrench already.
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:55 AM on May 7, 2011
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:55 AM on May 7, 2011
Response by poster: The belt itself was smooth and I could easily see it if I open the hood and just look to the left of the engine without looking at an angle. There's three wheels that it sits on. I'm not sure if that's an accessory belt? My "Check Engine Soon" light went on and basically my engine overheated when the belt broke.
The only reason why I think it's the timing chain is because the car would rattle and squeak whenever it was on idle.
posted by morning_television at 9:00 AM on May 7, 2011
The only reason why I think it's the timing chain is because the car would rattle and squeak whenever it was on idle.
posted by morning_television at 9:00 AM on May 7, 2011
morning_television writes "The only reason why I think it's the timing chain is because the car would rattle and squeak whenever it was on idle."
Interference or non; engines come to a full stop when the timing belt/chain breaks.
So it wasn't the timing belt. It's probably an accessory belt and ya that should be replaceable by you. Be aware that an accessory like the alternator seizing up can cause the belt to break so make sure everything else is ok before replacing the belt.
posted by Mitheral at 9:06 AM on May 7, 2011
Interference or non; engines come to a full stop when the timing belt/chain breaks.
So it wasn't the timing belt. It's probably an accessory belt and ya that should be replaceable by you. Be aware that an accessory like the alternator seizing up can cause the belt to break so make sure everything else is ok before replacing the belt.
posted by Mitheral at 9:06 AM on May 7, 2011
The symptoms you describe are consistent with the serpentine belt breaking. This drives all the engine accessories like the alternator and the water pump, which explains why the engine overheated (no more water flow).
As others have said, if it was the timing chain that broke, the engine would have come to a dead stop immediately. The timing chain drives the camshafts that make the valves open and close on each cylinder, and if those stop moving, the engine doesn't mechanically work at all any more.
Replacing a serpentine belt is usually quite easy. It's easier if you do it before it breaks, since then you can see how the old one was routed. But even without that, there are diagrams on the Internet like this one that you can find if you search for something like "1997 ford taurus GL serpentine belt routing".
The only tricky part of it (when I've done this before) is the tensioner. This is a spring-loaded wheel that presses on the back of the belt (the smooth side) to keep tension on the entire belt. You often have to hold this back against spring tension with a big screwdriver or something to be able to get the belt on, and when you let go of it, the belt goes tight.
posted by FishBike at 9:17 AM on May 7, 2011
As others have said, if it was the timing chain that broke, the engine would have come to a dead stop immediately. The timing chain drives the camshafts that make the valves open and close on each cylinder, and if those stop moving, the engine doesn't mechanically work at all any more.
Replacing a serpentine belt is usually quite easy. It's easier if you do it before it breaks, since then you can see how the old one was routed. But even without that, there are diagrams on the Internet like this one that you can find if you search for something like "1997 ford taurus GL serpentine belt routing".
The only tricky part of it (when I've done this before) is the tensioner. This is a spring-loaded wheel that presses on the back of the belt (the smooth side) to keep tension on the entire belt. You often have to hold this back against spring tension with a big screwdriver or something to be able to get the belt on, and when you let go of it, the belt goes tight.
posted by FishBike at 9:17 AM on May 7, 2011
Often good to have somebody that will at minimum help provide leverage to the tensioner as you are positioning the belt. I agree a really big screwdriver works great! Good luck!
posted by Cainaan777 at 9:32 AM on May 7, 2011
posted by Cainaan777 at 9:32 AM on May 7, 2011
The squeaking was probably the belt telling you it needed to be replaced soon.
Do it yourself, its very easy, and buy a Haynes or Chiltons manual for your car when you're buying the new belt. It'll show you how to replace and route the new belt, as well as any other DIY fixes in the future.
posted by gally99 at 10:10 AM on May 7, 2011
Do it yourself, its very easy, and buy a Haynes or Chiltons manual for your car when you're buying the new belt. It'll show you how to replace and route the new belt, as well as any other DIY fixes in the future.
posted by gally99 at 10:10 AM on May 7, 2011
Yeah, serpentine belt. Much cheaper and easier to fix than your timing chain.
And don't drive like my brother.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:13 AM on May 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
And don't drive like my brother.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 10:13 AM on May 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers, guys! I really appreciate it. I was really worried there for a second
posted by morning_television at 10:19 AM on May 7, 2011
posted by morning_television at 10:19 AM on May 7, 2011
BTW your local library may have the relevant Haynes or Chilton manuals.
posted by Glomar response at 10:53 AM on May 7, 2011
posted by Glomar response at 10:53 AM on May 7, 2011
Depending on your location you may be able to find someone through Craigslist who would come to your location on a Sunday and do the whole thing for ~$50. The fact that you had to come here makes me think you are not into automotive diy.
posted by notreally at 6:54 PM on May 7, 2011
posted by notreally at 6:54 PM on May 7, 2011
I think you should do it yourself - it's not hard, and you'll never fear a broken belt once you've done it. Get a Haynes or Chilton's manual for your vehicle, then take the broken belt to an auto parts store and get a new one and beg, borrow, or buy a ratchet and appropriate socket, get ready to get greasy, and jump in there. You'll do just fine. Whenever the belt squeaks like a bird, it means it's too loose and either needs to be tightened up or replaced if it's old. Good luck - no worries.
posted by aryma at 6:31 PM on May 8, 2011
posted by aryma at 6:31 PM on May 8, 2011
« Older What are the best strategies for getting the most... | Config for a sub-$1k PC for audio production? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Protip: when the mechanic tells you he wants to replace the water pump at the same time, the correct answer is 'yes.'
posted by InsanePenguin at 8:49 AM on May 7, 2011