It's been a while since i posted here, but i thought i would let you guys know what has happened with my car. Well, about a month and a half ago, i was out with some friends who were drifting. I wasn't doing anything, but later on i got so hyped i wanted to cruise around. So i went through the course and was just riding, but i said screw it and punched it. Back tires came loose, which was alright, I had control. Well, I hit a pothole and the fronts came loose. 4 wheels spinning=no control. I understeered into a huge rock in the mountain. Well, killed the front left rim and some steering parts. about 2 weeks later, fixed all that myself, and was riding again. Well, about 2 weeks ago, I was going camping on a beach with some friends and was riding down the road. All of a sudden, engine blew, or so I thought. Finally got the car back home, and was so pissed with all the problems I have been having with the car and didn't even want to look at it. Just gonna sell it. Well last night I decided to take a look and all that happened was the timing belt came loose. the tensioner moved and the belt is loose as hell. So, timing is off, i thought i could just get a new belt and time it and be good. Started to do some research and found that the 4g63 is an interference engine, meaning the pistons and valves share the same space, but not at the same time, unless the timing is off. Well, i haven't looked yet, but i'm willing to bet i lost a bunch of valves and probably a piston or 2. What do you guys think my chances are? There's no way I will find a new engine nor the parts for cheap. I can't afford new stuff. What should I do?

PS. I'm in japan and drive an evo III, so it's a little different here.

 

Someone back me up, but I think you can slip a cam tooth or two and be ok on a 4g63? Change the belt and tensioners, get everything back in time, and do a leakdown test. You will know if any valves are bent. The engine problem is your fault for not maintaining the timing belt, dont be mad at the car.

 

He'd be very lucky if there is no major engine damage. Bent valves and a broken pistons are more likely. You will need a complete overhaul.

 

Like Scottybob said, if it didn't slip much, you may be ok. Put it back in time, turn it over a few times and listen(unhook coils), then do a leak down test.

 

Negative guy, The timing belt is fine and I do maintain it. It just slipped loose from the accident. I'm not mad at the car. I'm just pissed at all that has happened to it. Here, let me give you a list.

Feb 2003: bought the car
Feb 2003 a week later: Almost get it impounded, cuz a friend wrecks his car and the cops cruise by and think we were racing. On top of me bumping a curb (That was my fault)
Mar 2003: Some lady decided not to look coming out of a parking lot and runs into me. Kills my entire left side (somehow never had a car problem while the side was messed up)
July 2003: coolant system breaks and has to be replaced (turned out to be minor)
Oct 2003: hit oil cooler on something and breaks. new replacement is 700 bucks, so i go 2 months looking for a used, finally catch a break and get a dented one for 20 bucks.
Jan 2004: run the car into a mountain
Apr 2004: car is fixed, but the timing belt issue.

Yeah, a lot was my fault, but I've had the car a year and have spent like 12 grand on this damn thing. I can't afford it and am stressed to the limit with it. There are also a lot of little minor things that have gone wrong with the car. Thanks for the help, I am going to fix the belt and check the car out. If the engine is done, i will be geting a new car. Everything I have read says that if the timing belt goes, the engine is pretty much gone. I would be lucky as hell to save it. But we'll see. I'm not pissed, but don't assume what you do not know Scotty.

 

Cool part about living in Japan is Evolution I-V's are pretty easy to come by and priced well.....I would sell if I were you and buy another.

 

u sure its not the intercooler pipe?

 

Hold on, I dont possibly see how a collision FOUR months prior could possibly cause a timing belt problem, unless something got pushed into the valve train area. In which case it is sill your fault Anyway in 20 yes twenty year of dealing with broken cars daily I have never seen a timing belt failure on properly maintained parts.

In my post I tried to provide you some usefull information on how to fix your car, with a little dig at the end. The joke for the benefit of the other readers of the thread. I'm betting that everyone who read your post had the same first impression I did, which was "gee, this guy doesnt seem to care much for his car" any way F'it if you cant take a joke. Plus your original post sounds very critical of the EVO. Bad luck is not the cars fault.

Anyway, back to trying to be helpful. If the belt is still turning the cams, especially if the engine is still running (implied in your first post) you have a very good chance of being OK.


P.S. you have a used very high performance car. Things are going to break. If you cant afford it or dont want the hassle, then its not the car for you.

edit: Post Post Script, you have to change all the tensioners, pulleys, guides, etc. to do a proper job on a 4g63.

 

i would say that if it skipped 3 teeth or less you would be ok also. (i have done 3 with no damage in the past). the valves might have not even touched the pistons. i would say, the only way that you are truly going to know is by taking the head off & having it checked out. even if you took the head off & looked at it you would never know. i have done it so many times in dsm's that i could probably do it blindfolded. find a reputable machine shop & bring it to them if that is at all possible for you.

 

Well, what happened was the car was sliding while the wheels were countersteered and only the tire smacked the rock. The car sat for 3 months until i could find replacement parts. I didn't notice the cam gear cover was cracked until after the timing belt issue. When fixing it, all I and others noticed was the broken steering parts. After driving for a week again the timing belt jumped one day.

I'm not putting the blame on anyone or anything. I am just pissed at how much has gone wrong with this car without me treating it bad or not maintaining. I know how to take car of a car and I do.

Maybe I took your comment the wrong way. I just didn't appreciate the attitude when I come here for help and guidance as I have done for others.

I understand that. It's not that I can't afford it or dont want the hassle. It just seems like every couple months something happens to the car and it is out of commision for months. I could understand if I drove it like a bat out of hell all the time, but most of the time it is just a way to work and back. I am just to the point where I can't take all the problems and going without a vehicle all the time as I can only have one car here. It's just stress getting to me what with the car, work, and everything else. And yeah you are right, maybe i can't afford it all. military pay isn't all that great. But I do appreciate the help. I will fix the timing and see how it runs. If i detect anything unusual, the engine may come apart or I will part the car out. So maybe if anyone on here is looking for evo III parts, give me a holla. I only have 8 months here and will PCS back to the states so it's not like I will have the car much longer anyway. Thanks

 

That is the truth. I bought an RX7 and boy I love it but all the trouble it has put me through is hell.

 

yeah, i love the car and would do anything to keep it running and have it forever, but i can't deal with it. Maybe I'll save up and get an 8 when i get back to the states.

 

if you leave in 8 months what are you worried about? isn't the decision made for you?

 

maybe bring back an evo 5 or 6 . can you bring the evo 3 back with you to the states? i thought evo parts where easy to get in japan? how 'bout a new 4g63 swap, maybe to get rid of this bad carma you think you got going? hey it might work!

 

Slow down,

this has happened to me many of times.

The evo 3 engine is the same as whats in the eclipse GSX, eagle talon etc.

Odds are your block/pistons are fine, odds are your head is toast, the valves are most likely bent to crap, perhaps your pistons are scored or even scared

if the pistons are severly scared i would suggest you replace the entire engine

if they are just scared a little bit you should be fine with just replacing the head

step one)
take the head off the car

get a re-manufactured or JDM head from a 4G63 turbo, replace the timing belt components with new stuff

throw it back together and you should be fine

best of all if you do the labor yourself you can fix it for under $1000 easily

more like $500-750 if you can get a head for a good price