So, on Thursday night I was pulling out of a driveway of a gas station and I felt a snap, then my car shut off and wouldn’t start back.

The engine tried to turn over but sounded very weak. So I called CAA and when they arrived the gentleman driving the truck seemed knowledgeable about cars and said he could tell if it was the timing belt by how it sounded when I tried to start it. So, I tried to start it and he concluded that it was the timing belt so I had it towed to a mechanic.

Today the called me back saying that “I need a new engine”. I was shocked and said how do I need a new engine, what happened? He then stated that “while running tests on the engine, it seized up, therefore there has to be something wrong inside the engine and I need to replace it.” I then asked him if indeed the timing belt had snapped and he said he doesn’t know because he hasn’t opened up the engine.

Now, something seems a little fishy here. I’ve heard of engines and valves being damaged when timing belts snap, but I was driving at less then 5 km/h when I heard the noise and it shut off. And, if the timing belt didn’t snap, could I just blow a motor like that?

Car is a 1997 Acura CL 2.2, has 208,000 km’s on the engine. I bought it used at around 200,000 km’s on it. Not sure if the timing belt was ever changed. (Now assuming it wasn’t)

 

We are in america I have no Idea what the exchange rate from km's to miles is

 

Who is we? Every person on this board is from the USA?

208,000 km's = 129,244.94949496 miles.

 

no he's just being cocky.

 

My quad swallowed its exhaust valve one day when I took it out to go riding. Hit the button and then -clunk- wouldn't turn over anymore. Sat there puzzled wondering how I could have seized it just by trying to start it.. had oil and all. Took it apart and the valve somehow got wedged in the cylinder sideways. What I am getting at is that they should probably take it apart and see wtf is going on.

 

I agree, that if it can happen, it will happen. My thing is that its hard to believe a mechanic if he says that he hasnt even opened it yet.

 

A damaged valve could freeze the engine.

I had the timing belt become disconnected from the camshaft (keyway fell out,...long story), and knew valve or piston damage was possible. I had a borescope (fiber optic inspection tool) done of each cylinder through spark plug opening and found no piston damage. Had cylinder head pulled, reworked and reinstalled, and all was well. Expensive, but cheaper than a new engine.

good luck