Please help. Mazda MPV, minivan, 1989, V6, 3.0L, 2wheeldrive, 133,000Mi, autotrans car runs great up 'til now.
Timing belt shredded, changed by local shop. Now when starting off there is low power, gradually builds up speed, automatic trans does not shift up as it usually did, then still pressing gas pedal trying to get up power & speed, RPM’s suddenly shoot up (4500rpm+) and there is a radically hard up-shift. Test drive done by a transmission shop (different place) says, he feels the transmission is not the problem; and that the engine has no power and the transmission is trying to compensate; he said it feels like a little 4 cylinder. Shop who did the work is slow to acknowledge a problem (they reset ignition timing; but no fix). A prior mechanic (unfortunately distant town) says symptoms sound as if timing belt is off by a tooth. He says he’s seen it happen; the car will still run, but poorly just as described. (Evidence is that this is not an “interference engine”.*)
(?)Without disassembling timing cover, is there a way to test/ confirm that the timing belt placement on cogs is correct or not? Thanks, TechKnot
- Some say it is an interference engine, but found on web it is not. I heard no crunching noise when belt failed. Engine seems to run very well at 4500 rpm, once it manages to build up to that speed.)