Skyline Wont Start

[mr_crust]

Last night i was commin home when i came around a corner n the second i went to accelerate, my car (R33GTS-T) lost all power n rolled to a stop. the lights and radio all still work.

When i tried to crank the car back over the thing just sounds like a spinning noise and it wont start

Its not fuel because i can hear it. im lost, my baby wont start...

any help would be appreciated

[RB240Dav]

Put your hand over the air intake and have a buddy turn the engine over. If you get a push - pull air flow (air sucked in, then pushed back out) then I've got some bad news for you. . . . Timing Belt.

My heart sinks for you at just the thought, but it's the easiest thing to check for.

Edited November 1, 2005 by RB240Dav

[mr_crust]

if its the timing belt, i dont care, but if its bent the valves, ill die

ive got an idea that it could be the crank angle sensor..

also i've been told from a few ppl its could be coil packs (?) to do with my remote start n alarm etc that is lose n its activated my engine disengage n thats why it wont start ...does that sound right?

[Paradizzle]

Fuel pump?

[mr_crust]

my initial thought was right i snapped the timing belt and bent the valves, so its f**ked.

[madbung]

Damn, thats gotta hurt...any idea how many klms on the belt before it let go?

[mr_crust]

the belt had only 51,000 ks on it, thats whats pissed me off the most.

The guy who has to rebuild it says, maybe coz its the original belt and the the car is 10yrs old (1996 model) it happend with age.

this aint my day

[Paradizzle]

fark that sucks balls man. What type of $ damage you looking at!? Damn good luck with the rebuild mate.

[RB240Dav]

Did your mechanic say he thinks it's the timing belt? Did you try the air intake testing method? If it's not pushing any air out the intake you're probably safe.

Edited November 2, 2005 by RB240Dav

[wrxhoon]

Timing belts should be changed every 100 k k's or 5 years wichever comes first , thats what most car makers recomend . They will usualy last a lot longer but you cant take the risk. In wrx's they should be changed every 4 years and some diesel landcruisers every 150k k's or 7.5 years but they have a short and thick belt .

10 years out of a belt you are asking for trouble , just look at your driving belts ( air cond, alt+ power steer ) if they are 10 years old you will see tiny cracks on them .

[mr_crust]

nah the importer confirmed my timing belt snapped. so im gettin a rebuild, i've already organised it n the car has been towed upto dandenong for it (over an hour from my place)

the car is under warranty still, so im only outta pocket for the tow truck there and back

[Dee 33]

Lucky mate. Very lucky about the warranty.

The first thing anyone who imports a car should do is change the timing belt. As we all know, most cars are wound back so even though your car might say 50,000km for all you know it could have done 150,000km and be well due for a timing belt change.

It's really not worth the risk.

[br3tt]

What dee said.. Very lucky about warranty and it hopefully only being the belt.

Bet it would of taken a load off your chest

Enjoy

[dezz]

I think ill get my timing belt changed when my car gets here

do the compliance workshop usually do it for you on request, at the extra cost of course...

[mr_crust]

well when my car came into australia 2 months ago they changed all filters and everthing else, but the timing belt was never mentioned.

bt3tt, mate ur so right, lucky the warranty covers it all. Warning to anyone who gets an import, change the timing belt, because you dont know how many k's the cars done. Also i was told that it also is cause because the car has the factory timing belt and being 9yrs old it gave way

[GTAHH]

That just sucks, but it's a good reminder for blokes like me who have just got a car recently imported car. I wonder how much the importer will be up for....

What places will sell a timing belt for RB20? Easy to check condition of belt? Take cover off?

I'd be relieved to a degree that it happened when under warranty

Edited November 2, 2005 by GTAHH

[OzanMakinaci]

For my benefit, can someone explain how the timing belt breaking can cause so much damage?

Cheers.

[POOMBAH]

A timing belt stretches out over time through wear and could break at the worst possible moment, like what happened to Mr_crust. As it stretches, the engine slowly goes out of time resulting in decreased engine performance, lower petrol milage etc.

If the timing belt breaks, the camshaft will stop turning in time with the engine while the crankshaft continues to turn for a short time until the engine dies.

In that short period of time major engine damage could occur such as, broken valve guides, bent valves or a broken camshaft = bad.

[mass_iv]

sorry to hear mate, lucky its not costing u much, think of it as a positive, u will get a rebuilt engine for nothing......

this has made me think of changing mine now!