I have a 1999 Millenia with the 2.5L engine. It has been doing this jerking thing when the engine is cold but, ran fine up until yesterday. As I turned in my street it lost power but continued to run so I drove it the very short distance to my house where it died in the drive way. It would crank and idle fine but die back out after about 5 seconds. The mechanic tells me it's broken timming belt and he says it could have damaged the valves and pistons. What's the chances of this being a BIG deal? I'm just looking for some similar stories and how it all turned out in the end. Or any advice at all.

 

First off, if the engine still runs, even a little, the timing belt is not "broken". That said, it could very well have slipped a tooth or two and that would cause the exact problem you are now having.

Long story short,it sounds likeyour current timing belt has been in there for a long time, and as such, DO NOT drive the car again until it gets replaced. Period, full stop, the end.

As for any permenant engine damage, that is a difficult thing to diagnose over the internet. If (as I suspect) your engine is an interference engine (i.e. the bottom travel of the valves is lower than the top travel of the pistons), then there is a good chance that your engine needs to come apart for some significant work, however, for engine damage like that to happen, usually a belt failure more significant than a slipped tooth or two is necessary (said another way, I would say that you have a better than even chance of being back on the road with a new timing belt).

Keep us posted.

 

Well, somthing that I wasn't clear on was the fact that the mechanic said that the belt broke this morning when he tried to crank it. We really didn't know what the problem was so he had to crank it to diagnose the problem. He said it turned over for a while and finally hit a few times and then he said it broke. I have a really good mechanic that has been doing business for a very long time. I'm just hoping that the members on this site that know these cars inside and out can offer any advice or insight for this problem. Like I said I have a VERY good mechanic, but he's not a Millenia specialist like some on this site. Thanks!

 

It's not an interference engine so breaking the belt cannot cause internal engine damage.

 

Cool, thanks, that is good to know.

kfx4001442, tell your mechanic to throw a belt on there, replace any buried mechanicals (like the water pump for instance), and call it a day. [8D]

 

That is GREAT to know! I would like to thank everyone that helped out on this thread. Maybe I'll get some sleep tonight after all! Thanks so much! I'll keep you posted on what happens and if anyone else would like to throw their two cents in...Feel free! This thread is far from over!

 

The Millenia is back on the road with a new timing belt and water pump! Thanks for all the help. You guys are the best!

 

Glad to hear that it all worked out.