If a car's timing belt snaps while running, will that destroy the engine?,?

Question

One source says when the tijin belt go's, the pistons HIt the top of the block and shatter* Is this true?

Answer 1

It depends on a few things. If the motor is at a low speed chances are there may not be damaged parts or a smaller amount of damage to less parts. The higher the rpm, the probability of damage greatly increases. I've seen timing belts and chains fail and nothing has gone wrong, all the way to rods going through the block, cylinder head damage, etc. It depends what is going on internally in the engine when the failure occurs.

Answer 2

To answer your question about what happens when the timing belt goes, depends on the engine. There are basically two types, interference and non-interference. An interference engine is an engine whose piston rises far enough to be able to touch a valve if it is open. A non is just the opposite. If a belt breaks on a non interference engine, then you are correct, not too much engine damage will occur. But it the belt breaks on an interference engine, then what happens is the piston slams up into open valves and really makes a mess... usually it means a few new pistons and a new cylinder head. Now the only way to tell what type you have is if you take the head off and check clearances.

Hope this helps.....

Answer 3

oh i love this question,i answer it daily (i am auto service advisor) first there is no top to the block ,there is a cylinder head bolted to the block that might seem like a TOP.but i digress-the answer to your question lies in another question,is the engine you are talking about an interfearence or non-interfearence engine (with an interfearence engine the valves are pushed off their seats enough to go BELOW THE PISTONS TOP DEAD CENTER OR TDC-so when/if the timing belt breaks it will HAMMER THE VALVES SHUT.on non-interfearence engines the valves never go below this line so if /when belt breaks you are only faced with emmbarassment and a tow bill AS THE CAR WON'T BUDGE_LOL!now how do you find out which one you have?well most if not all hondas are interfearence,usually the higher the performance the more likly it is that you have one of these-but whene in doubt call the DEALER not your buddy -and NO you can't LOOK at the belt and tell if it is going to break or not,RULE OF THUMB REPLACE AT 90K OR WHEN DOING A WATER PUMP.HOPE THIS HELPS

Answer 4

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RE:
If a car's timing belt snaps while running, will that destroy the engine?,?
One source says when the tijin belt go's, the pistons HIt the top of the block and shatter* Is this true?

Answer 5

that depends on the engine...some engines are not "interference engines" that is if a valve is open the piston can hit it.
the damage is done by a valve,either intake or exhaust being open and a piston comes up and hits it bending the valves usually but sometimes breaking the piston or head by busting out the valve.
alot of damage but still repairable
you don't have to take the head off to see. simply put on a new belt and do a compression check...or see if it runs....you can try to start it as soon as you got the belt on, the tentioner tight, and before you put everything back together. but don't run it more than 15 seconds.if it runs continue putting it together...if it doesn't then tear off the head.

Answer 6

Not necessarily, but it won't be pretty. The timing belt is what connects the camshaft to the crankshaft. The Camshaft is what controls the valves. It's possible that the pistons can shatter, but it's more likely that valves will bend. Regardless, it's not good, and the engine will need serious rebuilding.
Manufacturers know approx. how long they will last. Since you typically can't inspect them to determine wear, it's best to change them at the recommended intervals, even though it's not cheap.

Answer 7

The values could in fact make contact with the pistons, not the block. Today's engines the tolerances are much tighter for various reasons, one being pollution control.
At what RPM the failure occurs and how fast you react can make or brake the situation.

This happen to me with a Honda Civic several years ago.
I was doing 35 mph and was accelerating when it happen and the engine stop running. I put the car in neutral fast and coasted to a stop. No damaged to the engine.

Answer 8

It depends, I have had broken belts in the past and had not motor damage. On one the belt broke and put a rod through the side of the block. On another I had a valve crushed by a piston and other valves were bent.

Answer 9

The timing belt in my wife's car went a few years ago, and it killed the engine.

Answer 10

Most times it will only bend the valves 1 out of 10 times you might get lucky and not bend anything. but the other nine time you do damage and always to the valves. On rare ocassions you can damage the piston, very rare. But if it busts while driving remove the cylinder head and check for bent valves.