Messed up '96 Need help!

[Wick3D-PimP]

Recently my 96 talon has had messed up problems left and right. Most recently there was a loud noise coming from my timeing belt(i think), and there was other problems like crappy idleing (up and down) , check engine light was on, slightly lack of power....

Anyways i was on a trip and on the way home all a sudden the rpms dropped real fast while i was driving then a few snaps could be heard, then engine dies and the engines back fires (somewhere under hood). Engine dead no restarting....

I'm guessing the timeing belt broke? Came loose? or what?

Either way, can someone maybe enlighten me on if they are sure its my timeing belt or something else.. and if it is, whats the likelyhood of serious damage being caused to my engine due to that, and maybe point me in a good direction on how to fix it.

[MrZ]

Wick3D-PimP;
It sounds to me like your belt broke, or perhaps it just jumped a tooth or two, but either way, it's a serious situation from the snapping sounds you describe. It is entirely possible that you had valve/piston contact, and you may have bent a valve or two.

Unless you are very good with cars, and have the right tools, my suggestion would be to bring it to a good shop and let them diagnose and repair it. Changing the timing belt is one thing, and while it isn't one of the more difficult jobs I've done, I would not recommend it to someone that isn't experienced with cars. Having the possibility that you have valve damage just complicates everything that much more.

Mark

[Raz_Kaz]

What the problem could be is your timing belt, i had the same issue with my talon a few months ago. It's the reason for your Rpm reving up and down outta nowhere. You might wanna check out the gearbox as well just to make sure that its not screwed up as well

[Wick3D-PimP]

I have already thought about takeing it to a shop, but lack of funds makes it hard to accomplish. I was hopeing that i could find a guide or something somewhere on the net on how to replace the timing belt, also resetting the timimg, as i figured its not as easy as just putting the belt on starting it up. Either way i figured if i replaced the belt/put the belt back on and it stilll didnt start, id know tht there was something else wrong with it.. such as bent valves or what ever else side effects that coulda happened, and then i coulda worried about just either selling it/take it to a shop.

[MrZ]

Wick3D-PimP;
I don't know of any place on the web to get the information you need, though it may be out there somewhere.

Haynes makes a repair manual for your car. I have one for mine. Their manual details how to replace the belt, set up the timing, etc. It really isn't all that difficult to get everything lined up and put the belt on, but you do need to do it properly, so in my opinion the manual is a must.

You can do it the way you suggest, that is, pull the time cover, replace the belt, and cross your fingers that your valves are ok.

Good luck. Should you get into the job and have any uncertainties or questions, put up a post, I'll help you out. I've replaced the belt on my car twice, it has 207,000 miles on it now!

Mark

[bighauns]

Just a question to anybody in regards to the idle goin up and down...Is this for sure the timing belt? Cuz that has been happening to me occasionally. I will start it up dirve it around and it is all normal...and then the next time i start it up 5 mins later it is doin the wonky idle thing. Let me know please. As well, sometimes (usually when it is cold but not always) I will be driving along and when I put my clutch in the rpm's drop and it stalls out on me...even though it was driving normal before. Why is that? the same reason? I have adjusted my idle speed and i dunno. Thanks!

[MrZ]

bighauns;
I doubt the timing belt is the cause of your problem. To be honest, my car has been doing something similar recently. It only does it at a certain point when the engine is warming up, the engine idle speed goes up and down about 400 rpms or so. It only happens to me within the first few minutes after I start the car cold, and usually only if I'm driving the car cold and stop at a light or a stop sign. It goes up and down a few times and then usually stabilizes. I know for a fact my timing belt is tight and properly timed. I'm really not sure what is causing it, I'm not picking up any fault codes in the ECM, and my TPS checks out ok. It may just be the idle speed motor spazzing out. Then again, temperatures here have been quite cold the last few weeks here in Chicago.

Mark

[bighauns]

Mark,
Thanks a lot! That is what I figured, now that I think about it, it usually stabilizes, and if it doesnt it is cuz it is really cold. Here in Canada it has been like -30 to -40 degrees CELCIUS! so i dunno what that is in ferignheit (i didnt spell that right either, haha) but do you know what would explain the stalling out for no particualr reason?? thanks again

[Wick3D-PimP]

Hey guys,

Just to keep you guys up to date on my car. I have taken a nice look at the timing belt, have not yet got the caseing off, but thru the viewing window and threw feeling it. The timing belt is SHOT, i cant believe i let it get that bad, its missing about 15 teeth, not all at one spot, but at one side which is around the crank shaft now, there is about 10 missing, and the crank just spins in place.... Most garage's charge 200+ to change a belt on these type of cars, and id rather not pay that. In the next week i should be getting a haynes manual... wish me luck

Also for the problem with the car ideling funny and dieing out, I might just pop the viewing window off of your timing belt and inspect it, having your car break down just sucks, and its worth the few minute effort.

[Wick3D-PimP]

Its been a while scince I updated on this forum. I finally got most of the stuff off to get to the timing belt... for some reason the bolts that hold that plate on are about an inch too long and I cant get the caseing off with the engine still in the car.. im thinking about just drilling holes in the wheel well. Anyways after getting that caseing mostly off I finally found the evil... the tensior pulley is completely tore apart.. metal shreads everywhere.. im assuming that the bearing went out.. and eventually seized up and thus the noises .. which im assuming was the pulley ripping to pieces and the teeth grinding off the belt. So now im looking for the pulley ,except i cant find JUST the pulley for sale and its just a kit to replace the whole nine.

My question now remains... could the vavles still have gotten bent?
I pulled my valve cover off and all the valves are in the closed position, which im not sure if that means squat. Any help would be great.. thanks in advance.

[coldhell9]

Your valves should be ok. My car did the same thing about a year ago. However I am not making any promises because I myself was crossing my fingers when I turned the key. For everyone with the idle fluctuation here is your solution. It is your fuel pressure. Same thing again on my car. nice and cold and the car idled crazy untill it finally warmed up. I replaced my fuel pressure regulator and the problem insantly went away. keep in mind that it also could be the fuel pump as well.

[RAZA6720]

I Have A 96 Talon 2.0 Non/turbo
We Just Replace The Timig Belt And Now It Won't Start.the Belt Wasn't Broken When We Replace It And Timing Marks On The Cams Line Up.please Advise

[goat20019]

fuel injectors... if you have a idleing problem 9 outa 10 times its the fuel injectors... i have a 92 talon n/t that idles funny only sometimes, and i took it to a shop and they said my injectors were dirty, so you can try running fuel injector cleaner (works sometimes) or replace your fuel injectors, dirty injectors will cause the engine to not get the needed fuel, causing a spastic idle.....

[seniorbigs]

The valves are bent. Valve guide may be cracked also, unless it was a low rpm failure.
The timing marks on the crank need to line up with the cam marks also.
The surging idle can often times be cured by cleaning the carbon from the throttle plate and bore. There is a more involved procedure of adjustments if that doesn't work.