2005 V8 badly damage timing belt

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Yaff

New member
2005 V8 badly damaged timing belt (erratum: serpentine belt)

Hi guys,

Short story: what are my chances of no or little collateral damages to the engine if it ran with a badly damage timing belt but not completely broken?
(Ie 1/4 in width of the belt was still attached. )

I know if all the pulleys remained in synch (timed), no problem but what if not?

Yesterday when I tried to start the engine, one of the pulleys around the timing belt was stuck. The engine started anyway with that pulley not spinning. I suspect it was the alternator since the battery warning light remained solid on the dashboard.

Of course, the timing belt started smoking after few seconds. I shut it off the engine and restart it again and this time everything seamed normal. I turned it off again to inspect the belt and it looked fine to me. So I took the truck for errands.

Later in the day I took the truck for a longer run. Thank god I was close to home on my return when the heater died. Stupid me, I didn't think it was related to the timing belt.

When I got home the hood was smoking. The belt was badly damaged. A tiny piece of it was still running thru all pulleys. The rest got wrapped around the radiator fan preventing it from spinning. The whole engine bay was covered of radiator fluid.

Something on the cooling path was obviously hit by the broken belt but I'm crossing my fingers for no serious engine damages.

Please Santa, limit it to a belt job.

What do you guys think?

Thanks
 
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Yaff said:
Hi guys,

Short story: what are my chances of no or little collateral damages to the engine if it ran with a badly damage timing belt but not completely broken?
(Ie 1/4 in width of the belt was still attached. )

I know if all the pulleys remained in synch (timed), no problem but what if not?

Yesterday when I tried to start the engine, one of the pulleys around the timing belt was stuck. The engine started anyway with that pulley not spinning. I suspect it was the alternator since the battery warning light remained solid on the dashboard.

Of course, the timing belt started smoking after few seconds. I shut it off the engine and restart it again and this time everything seamed normal. I turned it off again to inspect the belt and it looked fine to me. So I took the truck for errands.

Later in the day I took the truck for a longer run. Thank god I was close to home on my return when the heater died. Stupid me, I didn't think it was related to the timing belt.

When I got home the hood was smoking. The belt was badly damaged. A tiny piece of it was still running thru all pulleys. The rest got wrapped around the radiator fan preventing it from spinning. The whole engine bay was covered of radiator fluid.

Something on the cooling path was obviously hit by the broken belt but I'm crossing my fingers for no serious engine damages.

Please Santa, limit it to a belt job.

What do you guys think?

Thanks
Click to expand...

The belt you are describing is the serpentine belt, which drives all the accessory pulleys in front of the engine (water pump, power steering pump, alternator, A/C etc.) The timing belt is inside the front of the engine (you can't see it from the outside), and drives the two camshafts.

That being said, I would first remove all the pieces of the old belt. Then locate all the pulleys involved and check each one carefully for damage and proper operation. You mentioned that the alternator pulley might not have been turning, so I would pay special attention to that one. Also check the radiator fan blades for damage. Check everything in the area of the belt path for possible damage caused by pieces of the frayed belt whipping around. Repair or replace anything that is damaged and install a new belt. Start engine and check for proper operation of belt and all driven devices.

There should not have been any internal engine damage caused by this belt failure, but depending on what initially caused the belt to fail, the damage may still be costly.
 
TechWrench said:
The belt you are describing is the serpentine belt, which drives all the accessory pulleys in front of the engine (water pump, power steering pump, alternator, A/C etc.) The timing belt is inside the front of the engine (you can't see it from the outside), and drives the two camshafts.

That being said, I would first remove all the pieces of the old belt. Then locate all the pulleys involved and check each one carefully for damage and proper operation. You mentioned that the alternator pulley might not have been turning, so I would pay special attention to that one. Also check the radiator fan blades for damage. Check everything in the area of the belt path for possible damage caused by pieces of the frayed belt whipping around. Repair or replace anything that is damaged and install a new belt. Start engine and check for proper operation of belt and all driven devices.

There should not have been any internal engine damage caused by this belt failure, but depending on what initially caused the belt to fail, the damage may still be costly.
Click to expand...

Oh boy, you have no idea how much joy your quick reply provides.
I'm obviously not a mechanic

EDIT (socially ackward comment removed and replaced by) "I'll happily buy you xx amount of beer (or whatever)". Same effect."

I was thinking to tow the truck to the dealer. But now that I know it is the serpentine belt. Can I drive it couples of miles to the dealer?

I feel so much better. FEW!!!

Thank you man, you just made my xmass.

- I'm going to keep you posted for the end result.
 
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A festivus miracle!!!!!! haah

Yep, what TECHWRENCH said. No way it was the timing belt. If you are not a mechanic, no problem, take to trusted mechanic (or friend who knows what they are doing). Doesn't sound like you did a lot of damage.

As far as the gay comment, well, I would've said," I'll happily buy you xx amount of beer (or whatever)". Same effect. No need to delv into a socially awkward subject, haahaha.
 
CookieRoe said:
Yep, what TECHWRENCH said. No way it was the timing belt. If you are not a mechanic, no problem, take to trusted mechanic (or friend who knows what they are doing). Doesn't sound like you did a lot of damage.

As far as the [socially awkward] comment, well, I would've said," I'll happily buy you xx amount of beer (or whatever)". Same effect. No need to delv into a socially awkward subject, haahaha.
Click to expand...

Point taken and fixed.
Feel free to remove the suspicious word in from your comment. :cheers:
 
@CookieRoe

Back at the subject - Do you think it's ok to drive it couples of miles or should I get it towed anyway?

Thanks
 
Yaff said:
@CookieRoe

Back at the subject - Do you think it's ok to drive it couples of miles or should I get it towed anyway?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Depends on how far you are from where you can get it fixed. Sounds like the belt is ready to snap. Towing it wouldnt be a bad idea. Dont forget the power steering pump is attached to the belt as well. If that thing snaps while driving, you loose hydraulic assist (not good). Sounds like you need a belt (obviously) and alternator bearing (cant think of the exact name now). I really dont think you damged the alternator. Of course, I could be wrong.
 
Yaff said:
@CookieRoe

Back at the subject - Do you think it's ok to drive it couples of miles or should I get it towed anyway?

Thanks
Click to expand...

If "the whole engine bay was covered of radiator fluid" the car is absolutely not drivable.

Either find out what caused the belt problem and fix it or tow it someplace. A dealer replaced alternator is going run you $550 to 600 plus $90 for the belt.
 
Yaff said:
@CookieRoe

Back at the subject - Do you think it's ok to drive it couples of miles or should I get it towed anyway?

Thanks
Click to expand...

If the belt is as damaged as you describe, I wouldn't try driving it at all. The belt could do more damage as it finishes self-destructing. And, since this belt drives both the alternator, and powersteering, driving with it removed could be difficult and might cause the battery to fail. I would recommend getting it towed.
 
Tow it. Find a reliable, trustworthy local shop and have it towed there. I wouldn't use the dealer unless you just want to pay 40 percent more than you need to.
 
BTW, don't let the timing belt replacement get forgotten. How many miles are on it and has your timing belt ever been replaced?
 
If this were my 4runner I would just go get a new belt and put it on. It is very easy to do. If you are not comfortable checking the other items you could then drive it to a shop and let them check it out.
 
The belt is done, chances are the alternator bearing either seized or the alternator is cooked. Even if the bearing was all that was wrong the heat generated by the friction in the bearing would most likely have destroyed the coating on the windings in the alternator rendering it useless.

The more important question in my mind here is, "where is all the radiator fluid coming from?" Did a hose break? a crack in the radiator? Did you overheat the engine so badly it boiled fluid that badly?" Until you can answer that question, the extent of the damage is going to be difficult to predict.
 
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