Broken timing chain in a 1995 Mercury Villager, what should I do?

Question

Except that, it is very clean. The mechanic said that just the cost of checking it will be more expensive than the car and the probabilities of having internal motor damage are very high. Should I just take it to the junk yard? Any other idea to get at least a few bucks?

Answer 1

First of all make sure you are dealing with an honest and licenced mechanic who knows what a timing chain is and how it works. If you were not driving too fast when it broke, you may not have done serious damage. Price out the cost of the chain and labour seperately. The total cost should not exceed $1,300.00 including all taxes. If the vehicle is as clean and in the condition you described, it may be well worth the investment. On the other hand don't even talk to any mechanic who doesn't know be looking whether serious damage has been done to the vehicle.

Answer 2

Timing chains do not break. They are literally stronger than the crankshaft or any other part you can name. Even on Top Fuel cars a crankshaft will fail before a timing chain.

What happens is the teeth on the camshaft timing gear wear down and the chain just slides over the gear when you crank the motor.

All you need to do is replace the timing set which comes as two gears and one chain. You might also consider pulling the oil pan to clean out the residure but this is not absolutely necessary.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Having a broken timing chain at times does not cause other damages to the engine, be careful with mechanics that will exaggerate concerning motor damage. Replacing a timing chain should run about $300-500 depending on the motor and how difficult it will be to access the chain.

Answer 4

Its a 95 villager, get a new car.

If im not mistaken, the 3.0L Mazda V6 that they put in the Quest/Villager is an interference engine, if you broke the chain, (which btw, you can on that engine) you broke a lot of other stuff in the engine.

If you put up however many hundred dollars Car X, or Midas, or Joes auto and Gas, you may end up with an engine that runs like crap cause you snapped off a valve, and punched a hole in a piston, that means new engine.

Unless your attached to the car, donate it, or just simply junk it.

Answer 5

If the chain broke while idle,the damage could be minimum.
If you can DIY with a friend ,just dismantle the cylinder head and then decide after knowing the damages.At times you could lucky.Only few valves will be bent.
If u find serious damage to pistons,please get a 2nd hand engine.
Why scrap a nice clean car.

Answer 6

I would run and add in the newspaper.. Someone can fix it for their cost. Cause they know what to do. Put it in the front yard as decoration. Sell parts of it.

It helps to talk to a mechanic who would like to fix it. The mechanic you seen did not want to fix the car. Does not have time for an engine job. Ties up the garage for 2 weeks. All his work is done and out the door at 6pm for that day..

Answer 7

If it's that nice of a car you could probably go to the wrecking yard and get a used engine and have it installed for a few thousand dollars.

Answer 8

Part it out. You'll get more for the parts than the van is worth as a whole. Take it to a junk yard and you get nothing.

Answer 9

there is not a car that i know that has a timing chain in it from 1997 to 2007 but there are some trucks that have timing chains in them one truck is the Toyota . you need to do alot of research

Answer 10

get a new car. knew someone who broke their chain. installed a new one but car still wouldn't work. sorry