Nova timing belt

[MartynC]

I went to start my nova up this morning, and it was bout to start and all of a sudden it started turning over really quickly for about 5secs so leg go of da key. Looked at my engine and didnt see nothing tried cranking it over agen for bout 2/3sec and then noticed my timing belt had snapped the first time. Will i have ****ed my car?

G reg with only 36,500 miles aswel :(

[Matt2107]

I normally always change the timing belt every 30-40 thou just to be on the safe side.... thats pretty gutting though... hope you get it sorted.

[MartynC]

do you think I would of ****ed it? if i was driving and it broke then yeh i woulda thought i woulda ****ed it. but it wernt moving when it broke.

[_JH_]

if it happened while turning it on the starter, it's unlikely to be damaged.

What engine is it? Some, like 1.2 carb, are 'Valve safe' and that would mean definitely no damage.

[Adam]

Put a new belt on, time it up.
And turn the key.

You might get lucky.

[craig green]

Tell us what engine it is & we may have a more accurate answer.

The issue is whether the starter cranked the engine over & pushed the pistons up into any valves that are left open.

If this happens you will suffer bent valves & possibly cracked valve guides, not to mention damage to the piston crowns & maybe worse. Not cheap!

[Saloony]

Whenever i buy or sell a car i always put a belt on for piece of mind.

The 1.2's cause damage. 1.3's and upward are safe from damage unless its a 1.5d.

[diablo007]

i think u got that one slightly mixed up there mate

[MartynC]

its a 1.4 8v carb sr, so am I safe then?

[_JH_]

no, but it doesn't mean there's any damage. As mentioned, if it happened while turning it over on the starter motor you may be fine. Fit a new belt, they cost peanuts, and see what happens

[MartynC]

Ive got myself a new belt. Just need to get it fited. Is it true you can get it timed up so the valves stay open abit longer or is that just bull**** lol

[Saloony]

i think u got that one slightly mixed up there mate
No i didnt, mate.

[Adam]

Ive got myself a new belt. Just need to get it fited. Is it true you can get it timed up so the valves stay open abit longer or is that just bull**** lol
No, fit it back on with the timing marks correctly aligned.

[Saloony]

After fitting. Pleased with yourself on having the marks all lined up properly, turn the engine through 360 degrees with a spanner on the crankshaft (not the cam) if you go a further 360 you'll get an idea on compression. You'll feel some resistance then it'll free, then resistance then free and so on. Lump it back together and hope for the best when turning that key.

[carnoisseurcraig]

1.2 are "safe heads". My old 1.2 snapped. I threw on a ?9 belt and she was off.

Stick on a belt mate and see how you get on. No point talking about it. If its got zero or little compression then you know you have bent valves. Buy a second hand cylinder head, skim it, new gaskets and head bolts and your done.

[Saloony]

1.2 are "safe heads". My old 1.2 snapped. I threw on a ?9 belt and she was off.

Stick on a belt mate and see how you get on. No point talking about it. If its got zero or little compression then you know you have bent valves. Buy a second hand cylinder head, skim it, new gaskets and head bolts and your done.

Autodata says overwise.

[carnoisseurcraig]

ah well, i got super lucky then and snapped the belt at TDC

And yet i cannot win the lottery.

[Saloony]

You do get the lucky sods about... Like one fella with a redtop, rollers collapsed and sent the cams out by 4 teeth a piece... Put a kit on and **** me sideways if it didnt start up first flick.

[carnoisseurcraig]

typical. He can pick my lotto numbers this week than. Jammy sod!!

[Saloony]

He would if he wasnt in Thailand seeing to his new rent-a-wife...

[_JH_]

Autodata says overwise.

I'd check that again or actually take one apart in the real world. 1.2 carb Nova engines are valve safe.

[Stuart]

saloony is "right" in that auto data says taht the 1200 isnt safe. BUT having had a 1.2 engine well measured to work out what max lift i could get at TDC with an aftermarket cam i found i could get just under 5mm of lift on a head that had, had nearly 2mm taken off it.

now the 1.2 cam lifts less than 5mm iirc... therefore its safe init :D

[Saloony]

I'd check that again or actually take one apart in the real world. 1.2 carb Nova engines are valve safe.

Ooo Handbag.. ****ing Tart.

[_JH_]

Yawn lol