timing problems lumina z34

[lumina_z34]

timing belt broke, took it to the shop they put new timing belt, pulleys , and know it starts hard, nd the steering is funny and the engine makes a funny sound, what could the problem, be know

[tblake]

either they put the belt on wrong, which is easy to do on these, or when the belt broke that you crashed some valves, probably the culprit. run a compression test, if all cylinders are roughly the same after about 4 huffs of air, even if they are low, then the timing is off, if on one bank all cylinders are low, timing is also off, if only a couple cylinders are low, then you have crashed valves.

[NeonKnight]

on the Z34s if you eat a timing belt you usually screw up your engine big time but destroying valves or something of the sort. maintenance is HIGHLY HIGHLY important! never let it go, every 60k get your belt replaced... just for safety i would say 50k.

your timing could also just be off, do what tblake said and check your timing.

[needmoemoney]

How much did it cost for you to get the belt replaced? The shop around here estimated that it would be $500 to $1000 to get it fixed. Overall, this is a horrible car. Within the first month i got it , the alternator went out. The alternator costed $600 to get replaced. A week after i got it out of the shop, one of the fuel injectors was clogged. The injector costed $65. Then back in December, the timing belt went out. Now it is sitting in my garage and I just went out and bought a 98 dodge ram.

[Manny_boy]

What year is your 3.4? 91-95 are non-interference engines, so unless you were approching 6000rpm when your belt decided it was done, your valves should be ok. 96+ belt snap, if you weren't at idle, hmmm... I'd worry a little.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Manny_boy

What year is your 3.4? 91-95 are non-interference engines, so unless you were approching 6000rpm when your belt decided it was done, your valves should be ok. 96+ belt snap, if you weren't at idle, hmmm... I'd worry a little.

Yup. Even though they are considered non-interference motors....I've found crunched valves in 'em after belt pops...

[needmoemoney]

It is a 1991. When it broke i was driving up my street so it couldnt have been at 6000 rpms because i wasnt racing up the street. As i was pulling up to the stop, it suddenly died and wouldn't start back up.

[jeffcoslacker]

At any rate, you need the cam timing verified and a compression check before any more can be said about it...

[jeffcoslacker]

Elaborate about the steering. I'm curious what it has to do with it.

[richtazz]

Technically, you are correct Manny, but if it has developed the well known piston slap issues on GM 60 degree V-6's, they become an interference engine. I would bet either the timing belt is a tooth or two off, or one cylinder is dead due to smacked valves. A compression test will confirm.

[mudbeast66]

Technically, you are correct Manny, but if it has developed the well known piston slap issues on GM 60 degree V-6's, they become an interference engine.

What is the piston slap issue? My 95 3.1 is making an almost rithmatic slapping noise in gear. At park or nuetral, it seems to not be there. I was unsure if it is the tranny or engine. How difficult is it to change the T-belt yourself? I am used to old chevy 350's, but these I am not sure.

Thanks in advance,
Mud

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by mudbeast66

What is the piston slap issue? My 95 3.1 is making an almost rithmatic slapping noise in gear. At park or nuetral, it seems to not be there. I was unsure if it is the tranny or engine. How difficult is it to change the T-belt yourself? I am used to old chevy 350's, but these I am not sure.

Thanks in advance,
Mud

Your 3.1 has a chain. You might be hearing any of a number of things. The slap noise usually goes away as the engine warms up. If it's only under load from the tranny when in gear, I'd look for a bad mount/restrictor, flywheel to TC bolts, exhaust hanger broken, etc.

[jeffcoslacker]

PS a certain amount of racket when cold is pretty standard for the 3.1

[mudbeast66]

She is actually quite when cold, noisy when warmed up.
When she is cold at idle in park, the engine will actually shimmy the car like a 350 with a big lope cam in it. When hot, she is still, buit has that wierd slap or irratic knock. Today. I noticed the oil light flickering to the beat this morning on my way to work. Again, all this at operating temp and about 30 minutes of driving at 70mph.

[mudbeast66]

P.S. should I be concerned with the T-chain with 150K miles on the original?