2002 PT Cruiser with broken timing belt

[raspberry01]

My timing belt blew heading down the highway. We are going to do the repairs ourselves and I noticed in this forum everyone says this is a non-interface engine. My local Chrysler service department assures me all PT Cruiser engines are interfacing. This is a 2.4 with double overhead cam. Which is statement is true?

[CREWZIN]

OK, your calling it wrong. The 2.4L engine is a not-interference engine, which means the valves won't hit the pistons when the timing belt breaks BUT if your at a high speed and the belt breaks, the valves can hit each other. Not as bad as hitting the piston but will cause the mechanic to tear down the top half of the engine to replace the valves and maybe some other head work.

Sorry, don't take this the wrong way, but you don't seem like the kind that does this kind of maintenance very often and if you read through the forum you'll see that the timing belt/water pump/tensioner and belts is not an easy job, best left to a qualified mechanic.

[raspberry01]

Yes-non interference. Hubby is doing work- I am handing him the tools. Have helped him with motor jobs before-Accura/Oldsmobile.

I am curious as to why Chrysler dealership service department told me this motor is NOT non-interference and they see valve/piston damage over 50% of the time.

[crusierdad76]

I would say because Dealers LIE so much of the time just to make a extra buck and I know not all dealers do but a big number of them epically right now when they are fighting for there life--plus like crewzin said the valves can hit each other just not the pistons

[raspberry01]

Turns out the motor on my 2002 PT Cruiser is not free wheeling. I found this information on The world's most trusted name in belts, hoses & hydraulics | Gates Corporation. I guess due to stricter emission controls its neccessary to make more motors interferance.

And with the motor down to the head. Extensive damage did occur. Cylinders/Valves/Heads.

So new question-is it better/cheaper to buy a reconditioned motor. Or completely go through existing one?

http://www.gates.com/downloads/downl...older=brochure

[quicksilverdon]

I have not heard of a broken timing belt damaging pistons... the valves cannot hit the pistons - but they can hit each other - I guess if they hit and broke they could damage the piston.

[CREWZIN]

Raspberry01, why should YOUR engine be any different than anyone else? You haven't filled out your profile so are you not in the United States? California maybe if you have stricter emission controls? Gates might be "the greatest name in belts" (and I ordered some of my belts from Gates) but I wouldn't take their word for it that your engine is different than all the rest.

"extensive damage did occur" ....so your husband tore it apart and valves AND pistons were damaged?

[raspberry01]

Just to follow up on this-and give some background. PT Cruiser has 124K miles and we knew it needed belt and water pump etc (the parts have been sitting in the garage for 1 year) I was doing around 80 when belt broke. Damage is belt shattered time belt shield, valves are bent. However, looks like there was damage in the engine from before. Exhaust manifold cracked-idler pulley, tension pulley. They couldnt do a compression check (no belt) but did some kind of leak test, which did show no compression in two cylinders. My husband did not like the appearance of the cylinders, as he said they were blue and scoring was irregular, as if pistons were out of round. Lots of carbon on the valves.
So we are replacing the entire motor with another with 50K miles on it. Because of the wear on all engine parts, he didnt feel safe with totally redoing the top half, and the bottom half of the motor still having 124K miles on it. If we had done the repairs ourself , it would have cost over $1200- That includes having the cylinder head done, around $400.00 Probably should've junked the car, but I do like it and cant afford to buy another.

[bobdole369]

Now I can't wait to do a comparison when my wifes 2001 comes apart - to see if any valves are bent. She turned the corner, hit the gas and it went, stumbled, bucked and stalled - was only going 15 or so.

If valves are bent here then I wanna say that the 2.4l motor breaks valves every time the timing belt goes.

One quote from a mechanic I called this AM is: "I've never seen a timing belt snap and not damage something else in the valve train".

[crusierdad76]

Sure seems odd that of all the folks on this site that have had the timing belt break that none of them have said they had bent valves --keep in mind in not saying ti cant happen and at 80 you are running way over 3000 so maybe you can bang the values against each other but i have seen a ford escort when the timing belt broke and there is NO guessing if it did damaged it knocked holes in the top of 2 of the pistons----and snapped the top of 2 of the values

plus at 124,000 and a lot of carbon who knows,
i guess the big question is with the "NEW" engine are you gonna do the timing belt with it out of the car maybe the oil pump water pump pulleys and a full tranny service??? it never ends it judt never ends