It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that i write to you all today. My set of wheels that came my way for free died last week. When on holiday and 1800 kms from home the timing belt broke. The camshaft, although no longer driven snapped in 2 places and 5 valves are bent/broken. I assume that three pistons are kaput and rods probably bent.
The cause of the failure? It was the alternator. Well the alternator had shifted on its adjusting brace and its fan was hitting the fuel pump bracket. I thought it was the timing belt tensioner making the racket so i removed the timing belt cover to investigate. The alternator was found to be the culprit and the problem of clearance resolved by adjusting the alternator belt tension. Problem solved! I then refitted the timing belt cover. Problem created!
About 800kms later there came a vvvmmp from under the bonnet. I was happily cruising at 100kms in 4th, approximatly 3000rpm (correct me here) which is about 50 revs/sec. I had my foot on the clutch in about 1 second.
I cant recall if the oil pressure and alternator lights came on before or after i put my foot on the clutch, if i could then i would know if i have snapped the crank or not. I opened the bonnet and there was black stringy **** everywhere, my timing belt.
I can hear you all say "well it didnt cost him anything, and its 1800 kms away, just forget about it" and "how did you let that happen you idiot"
well it didnt cost me anything so i can afford to fix the sucker, anyway ive got to return my father inlaws hilux that i confiscated to get me home. Im gonna tidy up a spare motor and pump that i have, throw it in the back of the hilux and scoot back up to tweed heads, fit the motor and scoot back again. What could go wrong?
On the subject of how did you let that happen...
I refitted the timing belt cover incorrectly. As i was chasing low mileage on this trip i was cruising at 90kph without trouble. There was a humming sound when revved hard at gearchange that i couldnt remember hearing before but thought little of (glad to be rid of the screech of the alternator fan hitting the bracket). It wasnt there at 90 though. I had checked the belt and it appeared ok so i though no more of it. After a vistit to dreamworld i was in thrillseeker mode so i took her up to 100kph for a cruise. Less than an hour later, VVVVMMMP.
I am deeply saddened to have killed an innocent GLD. With 230000kms She was just a baby.....
The cause of the failure? It was the alternator. Well the alternator had shifted on its adjusting brace and its fan was hitting the fuel pump bracket. I thought it was the timing belt tensioner making the racket so i removed the timing belt cover to investigate. The alternator was found to be the culprit and the problem of clearance resolved by adjusting the alternator belt tension. Problem solved! I then refitted the timing belt cover. Problem created!
About 800kms later there came a vvvmmp from under the bonnet. I was happily cruising at 100kms in 4th, approximatly 3000rpm (correct me here) which is about 50 revs/sec. I had my foot on the clutch in about 1 second.
I cant recall if the oil pressure and alternator lights came on before or after i put my foot on the clutch, if i could then i would know if i have snapped the crank or not. I opened the bonnet and there was black stringy **** everywhere, my timing belt.
I can hear you all say "well it didnt cost him anything, and its 1800 kms away, just forget about it" and "how did you let that happen you idiot"
well it didnt cost me anything so i can afford to fix the sucker, anyway ive got to return my father inlaws hilux that i confiscated to get me home. Im gonna tidy up a spare motor and pump that i have, throw it in the back of the hilux and scoot back up to tweed heads, fit the motor and scoot back again. What could go wrong?
On the subject of how did you let that happen...
I refitted the timing belt cover incorrectly. As i was chasing low mileage on this trip i was cruising at 90kph without trouble. There was a humming sound when revved hard at gearchange that i couldnt remember hearing before but thought little of (glad to be rid of the screech of the alternator fan hitting the bracket). It wasnt there at 90 though. I had checked the belt and it appeared ok so i though no more of it. After a vistit to dreamworld i was in thrillseeker mode so i took her up to 100kph for a cruise. Less than an hour later, VVVVMMMP.
I am deeply saddened to have killed an innocent GLD. With 230000kms She was just a baby.....
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