I recently had a coolant leak, and had my water pump and timing belt changed as well (gaskets seals etc). When I got the car back it ran great for about five minutes. I started to hear it get rattly and by the time I got it home, it was shaking and rattling like crazy in low RPMs, and I could barely accelerate (misfiring and I clearly didn’t have all my cylinders) I called to mechanic and told them the car wasn’t running well, that I thought it was the timing belt, and that they needed to tow it. They are currently trying to charge me for the tow, and another three hundred dollars to change a bunch of “blown gaskets and seals, and my plugs and wires” in my engine. They claim my spark plugs are corroded (spontaneously apparently since the car was previously running beautifully). I believe all this damage was caused by a botched timing belt replacement, but I’m unsure how to procede. HELP!!!
It would be helpful if we had the Year/Make/Model of vehicle.
Doubt it’s the timing belt…per-say.
A timing belt either works or it doesn’t. There’s a chance it could have slipped a tooth, but the symptoms you described don’t sound like a timing belt.
Now to get to a timing belt they have to remove a lot of things and put them back properly. Drive belts for one.
Plugs and wires are NOT going to be affected by changing a timing belt.
An article in our local newspaper a week or two ago…Says that the number of complaints have risen drastically against most of the trades you deal with (mechanics, carpenters…etc). Could be that their business is down they’re trying to make up the difference some other way.
Can you better define which blown gaskets and seals they think requires replacement?
Have you kept up with your 30K/60K/90K services? When were the plugs last changed (mileage)? Wires every changed? Are they saying you blew a head gasket?
Knowing year/make/model/mileage of car would help greatly.
I have previously posted my feelings that people just don’t realize how many things are involved and how easy it is for things to go wrong when you get you timing belt changed. Pick your mechanic carefully,I consider this major work albiet service work.
I’d bet it IS a timing belt problem
Your comment is in reference to my post? in what way?
[quote]I’d bet it IS a timing belt problem/quote]
Want to explain that?
Like JHK said, knowing the ID of your vehicle would be nice. Also, was the work done at a dealer or independent?
It MAY be possible someone is try to duck responsibility.
IF the engine WAS running properly before the timing belt replacement its likely NOT because of dirty plugs, etc.
Without more detail of the repair job, I’m going to suspect the timing was off when the new belt was mounted. That would account for the misfiring.
Anyone can make a mistake and it is possible one may have been made here.
Mike,
I’m curious, why do you think the misfiring may not be due to a slipped tooth or something else to do with replacing the timing belt?
If the crank was moved before the replacement belt went on, the timing would be off, correct?
Granted, the OP did say the engine ran good for about five minutes. (A manner of speaking?)
I guess I am going to have to answer yes to that,I do need a explaination,are these replies to me or the OP?
It would help to know the make of car, mileage, and the definition of “by the time I got home”. With rattling developing after 5 minutes the OP should have wheeled around right then and there and headed back to the shop rather than drive this unspecified distance home.
This is a tough call since there is a lot of unknown info. It could be something else but it’s also pretty coincidental. Clarification of “blown gaskets and seals” would help, but that also sounds a bit suspect.
If there is any doubt as to the credibility of what you’re being told you should try to find someone who is mechanically inclined and have them drop by the shop for a look-see to find out exactly what is going on.
Something to consider might be this. If the car in question is distributor equipped maybe the timing was advanced too much after the belt change. After 5 minutes of engine warm-up time and the ECM possibly making electronic adjustments to advance the timing even more maybe the rattling is a severe pre-ignition rattle. Driving the vehicle on home like this could have killed off the plugs at a minimum. As to gasket/seal or engine damage that’s an unknown from my perspective.
What’s to explain. The engine lost power, started missing and backfireing, and making noise, all symptoms of a slipped timing belt.
Yeah all is clear technicaly but why are you making replies to my post about how problems can come when timing belts are replaced,reply to the OP not to me.
First off…it’s very very rare for a timing belt to SLIP…They break…
Second in order for it to slip…it means that when they put the belt on…they didn’t tighten the tensioner correctly. If that’s the case…then the belt would keep slipping and NEVER EVER start or run.
What’s to explain. The engine lost power, started missing and backfireing, and making noise, all symptoms of a slipped timing belt.
They are also symptoms of a serious coolant leak into the combustion chamber(s), blown head gasket and a host of other possibilities. You could make a fortune if you can provide unquestionable diagnostic services over the internet…
I never made a diagnosis,it was you that made a diagnosis,all I said was people don’t understand how many things can go wrong when they put their car in a garage for timing belt work. You two (Mike and Turbo) are really off on a tangent here.
OldGuy…Re-Read the posts…Get back to me when you actually understand what’s being said.
I’m curious, why do you think the misfiring may not be due to a slipped tooth or something else to do with replacing the timing belt?
If the crank was moved before the replacement belt went on, the timing would be off, correct?
Granted, the OP did say the engine ran good for about five minutes. (A manner of speaking?)
Then the car NEVER would have run right CORRECT…The OP said the car ran fine for a while…then it STARTED to have problems.
I NEVER said it wasn’t something related to the timing belt…In fact if you RE-READ my first post I specifically said that replacing a timing belt there are other things that the mechanic could have screwed up…There’s a lot to pull off just to get to the timing belt.
I am back to you and I have no idea if you have a problem with me with something I said or didn’t say. Just spell it out what kind of problem are you having with me? We can leave the cryptic responses for another thread,what is the problem here? good or bad right or wrong what is the issue?
You two (Mike and Turbo) are really off on a tangent here.
You need to calm down and READ the posts. Emotion is getting in the way of comprehension. My post was directed at the person I quoted- EllyEllis. I was actually agreeing with your position.
My first question (after my post about trouble comming after timing belt replacemrnt) was asking Elly who his post was directed to since it was linked to mine by a reply. Then Mike jumps in with his question/statement that I had no idea what he was referencing to. Why did Mike jump in my question to Elly with his nonsense post? All I have been doing is asking who is takling to who and what question they want answered or explain to me what is going on. Why did Mike have to jump in at all? what was his point? thats all I am asking.