After having an oil pump failure and noticing that a sign of that was a oil along the inside of the timing belt, i decided to leave the upper cover off to keep a close eye on that. Well two days ago i got extremely lucky. I was pulling away from a stop sign when I heard a loud crack instantly followed by the CEL. I drive with a scanner so i pulled the codes and attempted to clear them, no such luck. I pull over at a gas station and hop out to check, there was literally a whole in the timing belt where a rock or some other foreign debris had passed through. While waiting for a tow I put the car in gear and rocked it over to check the timing, two teeth off on the crank holly crap!. I got so lucky the belt didn't snap and the car didn't jump farther off and wreck valves.

No doubt the cover will be there after the new belt is intsalled, flame away for me leaving it off.

 

I have see many cars who had it off mostly as they don't fit with most aftermarket cam gears without modification and I was always a little worried if something got in there it be over with.

Glad it didn't cause your belt to snap man

 

Man you got pretty lucky.

You live you learn.