Posted on 06/24/2015 11:34:27 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
My daughter's car's Timing Belt Broke this morning(she thinks) and we are deciding whether to fix it or get rid of it.
Chrysler 300? Isn’t that Walter White’s car?
http://www.aa1car.com/library/timing_belt_aveo.htm
http://community.cartalk.com/discussion/2288479/2004-chevy-aveo-broken-timing-belt
Looks like this is one of the engines that bend valves when the belt breaks.
The belt itself is simple to change but you may have serious engine damage and need a rebuild if the belt actually snapped.
Engine components are designed to clear each other with proper timing. When timing is off, things can bang into each other with serious force.
How many miles on it? Recommendation is to replace at 60k
You could look up the blue book value or maybe Edmond. You can look up the cost of a belt on Auto zone or some part store to see what it costs. A call a couple car repair places and see what they want to repair it and see if it bends the valves when it breaks. If it only skipped a tooth or two it might be OK but probably will not run.
While there are some engines that are designed to live through a broken timing belt, I do not think any of them come from the government car companies. I suspect your daughters Aveo will end up with either a rebuilt engine or in the scrap yard.
Typically a broken timing belt results in bent valves and in some cases damaged heads and pistons.
Your mechanic should be able to turn the engine through and check each cylinder. That should tell the tale.
I suspect your daughter is going to be in the market for another car.
I would humbly suggest a Japanese product. And change that timing belt every 100K miles.
One of my Japanese has timing belt R&R at 48k intervals. Usually the $3 cam seal goes out a little before that, though, so we beat the 48k.
Whoever came up with timing belts should be doing hard time.
Suggest checking the NADA against the repair cost. Might still be better off to repair over a new note on or purchase of another vehicle. Making that kinda investment though, you’d probably have to drive it ‘till the wheels fell off to break even. Good luck.
Probably not worth it to fix it. As others have said, it is an interference engine meaning that the valves are extended when the pistons are down and will hit the piston if the timing belt isn’t moving them.
It was a 300M. My wife LOVED that car and I had it over 140 MPH on I-94 in Montana. It got broadsided by a deer at the 185k mark - four days after I cancelled comprehensive insurance. Plus, the AC had gone out very recently and it is a REQUIRED function around here.
I traded it in on our FR-S.
Still, the car was great. Nothin’ but oil changes, tires and brakes, and a timing belt change at 100k. Oh, and plugs at 125k.
I agree. I borrowed/drove one for a while. The ignition interlock did need some work (sticks). Car is not up to the standards of some of the elitists on the thread, however.
My car also has a timing chain.
> I definitely would get rid of the timing belt...
Yes, I agree. The most important element of comedy is timing...
Most if not all of the earlier Aveo's motors came from Daewoo.
“Fixing the timing belt does not always guarantee the car will run. In some cars, it can mess up the valves.”
I depends on weather the engine is “Interference” or Non-Interference. Go online and find out. If it’s non-interference the valves and pistons should be fine.
Another car question; Can I disconnect my ABS system, and drive it like a non-ABS car?
Timing belt breakage causes the valves to impact pistons. Almost,always fatal. Put a big V8 in that puppy. It will smoke those 14 inch tires.
Without timing, Comedians families would starve..
Aveo? What the ?? American made no doubt.
Does it have a built-in IPOD?
Break a chain.. Ya might be able to mend it.. Break a belt..
Ehhhh.. Check motorjunkiesrus.com .. Or not..
Good luck.. Strap a confederate flag on it and auction it off.
Guess I should have read all the comments before posting! I’ve been researching the subject lately for my Highlander. Seems makers are going back to non-interference and chains instead of belts?
Put it on craigslist as mechanic a special $600 OBO
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