I have a 1997 Dodge intrepid, when i crank it over it just cranks and then backfires.?

Question

One day i took my cousin to the hill for sledding the car was running fine, no problems. When i got back in it a half hour later i turned the key and it just cranked and cranked then backfired but not from the exhaust. from the front of the car.

Answer 1

This is a typical symptom that occurs with a damaged timing belt. Often, at startup, there is a great deal of load on the engine and it is common to strip some of the teeth on the timing belt near the crankshaft. Then, the camshaft will stop turning and the valves and pistons will then be out of time with each other. What will happen then is that some of the valves may be in a down position into the cylinder, and the crankshaft will spin and push the pistons up where they will contact and bend some of the valves. When this occurs, any intake valves that are open will allow any combustion that takes place to explode into the intake instead of the exhaust, hence the backfire through the engine rather than exhaust. If this is indeed the problem, the head will have to come off, the bent valves replaced, and new head gasket and timing belt installed to correct this problem. I would also recommend replacing the front engine camshaft and crankshaft seals as well as the water pump, thermostat and spark plugs along with the wires. Make sure the throttle plate and air induction system is cleaned of carbon build up as well. A job like this, at a professional repair facility will probably be in the area of about $1,800, and should carry at least a 1 year 12,000 mile warranty on parts AND labor. At my ASE Blue Seal rated facility, our guarantee is two years, 24,000 miles on parts and labor. I recommend finding a Blue Seal rated facility in your area on ASE.com. This elite certification is given to only 3-4% of the top shops across the nation.

Answer 2

Sounds like a timing chain/belt jumped a tooth, or the distributor is cross firing...

Answer 3

Sounds like a fuel line issue......try some dry gas in the tank when you are near empty then put the gas in......yo could be getting moisture somehow in the fuel......

Answer 4

replace the timing belt your car is out of time

Answer 5

Broken timing belt..
Bummer for you.

Answer 6

shoot the poor thing,put it put of its misery