Question for the car guys!

[jackdanson]

My wife was driving her 2001 Escort home and it started to run really rough, she pulled off the road about 1/2 mile down the road and it died.  Now the car makes a nasty grinding noise when you try the ignition.  It doesn't feel like the engine is cranking at all.  Her friend's fiance' said the first time he tried starting the car it made a sound like a coffee can full of pennies...not good I'm guessing.

We got a tow-strap and pulled it to her friend's house and I'm trying to decide what to do.  The oil level was fine and they said it didn't overheat.  Any ideas?  I'm thinking it might be the starter, but that wouldn't cause the car to shut down mid driving would it?  It's got just under 100k miles on it and I don't think the timing belt has be replaced, that's a possiblity I guess.

Any ideas?  Thanks.

[Monkeyleg]

It may well be the timing belt. I'd suggest not even trying to start the car, as you may do more damage.

My first thought was that the car blew a coil pack, but that wouldn't explain the "can of pennies" sound. Valves hitting pistons would make a good deal of racket, though.

[BobR]

"The can of pennies" sounds a lot like a timing belt broke and you had valves and pistons doing bad things to each other. I am not sure of an easy way to check that on a newer car.

This may help. http://www.acuritimports.com/Timing%20Belts.htm

bob

[Declaration Day]

That Escort has a non-interference engine.

[mtnbkr]

Starter engaged while driving (or never disengaged when it was cranked)?

Had this happen with my 4Runner a few years ago, though it would normally disengage after a few seconds.  I rebuilt the started and it has been fine since.  That said, if it did this and didn't disengage, the started may be trashed.

Chris

[Monkeyleg]

That Escort has a non-interference engine.

Just goes to show you how old I am. I'd never even heard of that.

mtnbkr, how would a bad starter cause the engine to stop while the car was being driven?

[mtnbkr]

mtnbkr, how would a bad starter cause the engine to stop while the car was being driven?

If it's constantly engaged with the flywheel (have had this happen before) and causing excessive drag.  My thought is that it failed to disengage and ran along with the engine till it burned out and began to fail.  That's when it caused enough drag to cause problems.  It might also explain why it sounds so bad when trying to start it again.

Chris

[jackdanson]

Yeah, it was the timing belt.  It is a non-interference engine so the mech said it should be fine.  Little slap on the wrist for not keep up maintenance.

[InfidelSerf]

Little slap on the wrist for not keep up maintenance.

you said it was a 2001 model, how many miles? 
I would think a timing belt would be good for 60k to 100K miles

[bedlamite]

you said it was a 2001 model, how many miles? 
I would think a timing belt would be good for 60k to 100K miles

from the first post:

It's got just under 100k miles on it

[Monkeyleg]

Wouldn't a non-interference motor be relatively low compression ratio, as there would be less "squish" at TDC?

[bedlamite]

Not necessarily. It also depends on combustion chamber and piston design, and valve lift, size, and angle.

[Declaration Day]

Not necessarily. It also depends on combustion chamber and piston design, and valve lift, size, and angle.

Bedlamite beat me to it.  I'll add that many interference engines have pistons and valves that barely intrude on each others' space, so the difference is minimal. 

[Gowen]

Yeah, it was the timing belt.  It is a non-interference engine so the mech said it should be fine.  Little slap on the wrist for not keep up maintenance.

Where were these when I lost 2 engines on the same car to timing belts?  I'll never own another Toy Celica because of that.  Within two years, two engines, two timing belts.

[Perd Hapley]

If it's constantly engaged with the flywheel (have had this happen before) and causing excessive drag.  My thought is that it failed to disengage and ran along with the engine till it burned out and began to fail.  That's when it caused enough drag to cause problems.  It might also explain why it sounds so bad when trying to start it again.

Chris

This happened to me a few months ago.  '98 Tacoma

[Declaration Day]

Where were these when I lost 2 engines on the same car to timing belts?  I'll never own another Toy Celica because of that.  Within two years, two engines, two timing belts.

I'm not certain of this, but I believe there are very few interference engines left on the market.  I'm talking about new cars, of course.  When I buy older vehicles I do my homework online to see if it has an interference engine.  IMO an engine that can implode from a broken $30 belt is poorly designed.

[mtnbkr]

This happened to me a few months ago.  '98 Tacoma

Easy fix too.  There are some contacts within the starter that are wear items.  When they wear enough, they stick, causing the problem.  Other than that, Toyota starters are pretty robust.  Do not get a "rebuilt" starter, just replace those contacts and keep going.

Chris