Hey all,
Last Novemeber I did a 60K mi service at a shop in my area. The changed the timing belt and couple of other things. Couple weeks later the timing belt got shreded to peices as I started up my car. It turned out that somebody forgot to tighten the adjuster so the belt got loose and then got messed up. I got it fixed for free. Now a new problem has developed. It seems like the underdrive pulley is not balanced or something and is wobbling as it rotates and then whole engine block is shaking. So obviously the car should not be driven till this issue is resolved. The question I have is do you think it could be the shop's fault if they installed the belt incorrectly again or it is a kinda thing which can happen by itself?

Thanks

Roman

Timing belt doesn't go around the underdrive pulley, so I don't think the shop installed the timing belt wrong. Accessory belts (alternator, power steering, AC) go around the underdrive pulley.

If the pulley looks wobbley as it rotates, then either the pulley somehow warped (I don't see how), or it's not tightened enough, or something broke off around that area.

Loosen the belt enough so you can get your hands down there on the UD pulley and try to shake it. It's quite possible that they didn't tighten the UD pulley bolt enough and it is being held in place by the woodruff key. If this is true it is a very bad thing. You have to really crank down on that bolt.

what happens when your timing belt goes? mine is prpobly going to blow up any time soon!!!
Mike

AngryChert: I think you might want to get a compression test done to your engine to see if there was any damage done to the engine when the belt snaped, it could be a cause to the sudden stumble to your engine.


SubaTubaru: I think the subaru engines are all interference fit so when the timing belt snaps your intake/exhaust valves will hit the piston. But I have seen some engine that are interference fit with no problem when the timing belt snaps. But if it snaps at high engine speed you will most likely damage your engine.

Any damage from the shredded belt would have been realized immediately. He said that that happened last november. I would guess that the two issues are completely unrelated, unless of course they didn't torque the UD pulley down far enough, but that's not something that you can prove happened.

Hahaha.. oops.. Thanks for correcting me. I didn't see "November" the first time I read it.

so what DOES hapen when your belt goes? what should i look for? as symptoms
Mike

FYI Subaru engines are NON-INTERFERENCE so the pistons will not hit the valves if the belt gets thrown.
Rich

ok that is not helping me. can anyone answer my question?

If we have NON-INTERFERENCE engines, that means that nothing is going to happen when the timing belt goes. The engine stops without valves hitting against the pistons. So, to answer your question, you'll break down on the road without internal engine damages.

Some engines are INTERFERENCE engines meaning when the timing belt dies, pistons and valves may bump each other. When that happens, prepare to pay a lot of money on valve job and MAYBE a new set of pistons.

Some Subie engines are interference..and some arent...

go figure.

The wobble might be from the lose pulley.

A few people have suffered from the main bolt coming lose. This can ruin the crank if your not careful. Hoefully if it is the bolt, you will only need a new pulley, bolt and woodruff key.

J.

hey,
I opened up the hood of the car an started then engine to see what was happeing. it seemed to the naked eye that the pulleys were aligned but the engine would rock side to side making a knocking sound. Maybe this rocking motion got me confused the first time I looked at it. Would anyone have any clues as to what that could be?

Thanks

Roman

Sounds like you may have just broken an engine, or tranny mount.