SoCal Driver

I've kept one of my two broken belts and it looks new except where it broke.

Tabor

Did you follow the re-tensioning guidelines? At 1,500 miles, and then every 15,000 miles after that? Did you use the P9201? How many miles did your belts have when they broke?

I am curious since I can't decided whether I should change my belts at the recommended 45,000, or some shorter interval.

Chris_924s

My belts were at least 4 years / 35K miles - I was driving it daily 40 miles a day except for the last year and a half, Now I put a LOT of miles on weekly. When the old belts came off they looked used- but not bad. a 90 degree twist showed a lot of brittle rubber. Very scary.

30K miles/ 3 years for me. no more. It's too cheap to replace the belts and too expensive for valves!!

Techmonkey

I thought you had a 86 engine doesn't that year come with the auto tensioner? Or did they start with the 87?

Matt H

I am almost sure the auto tensioner came with the 87s for the first time. I had mine changed and then drove the car for 4 years and about 40K, still looked fine when I changed it. However, bent valves are never good. I am doing the one in my Turbo before it goes anywhere and I will check it in about a year.
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motoist

Well here's a small development. I pulled the spark plug wires to find that there is oil in the bottom of the number one (farthest from the fire wall) plug recess. I am assuming that the plug is loose because of this, but can't be sure because I do not have a plug socket that fits. anyway, that explains the crappy power, but not the fact that the engine won't turn over. does this change anything?

User 41221

That could be just a failed o-ring on the valve cover, and totally unrelated to what you are dealing with. Then again, maybe not (but for your sake, we certainly hope not!).

You car just quit running, right? Did you check the DME relay and speend sensors? Just asking...

Regards,

motoist

I haven't even begun to look at electricals. I should probably get a service manual or something if I am going to have to do that.

SoCal Driver

Dylan, put your car year and type in your signiture line in your personal profile area. Does help tp remind us which car you have with out having to go to the first message.

Service manuals do help. Sometimes a bit vague.

Jay W

Pull all the spark plugs and try to turn the motor. That will tell you something about hydrolock or not. Also I had an engine (pontiac) that had a spun rod bearing. It would turn about 1/4 turn before the spun bearing would jam and stop the motor. I could turn it backwards the 1/4 turn and the bearing would jam that way. See if yours does this. Could also be the timing chain and if it hasnt broken the head already then you dont want to force the engine around and break the chain and the head. Its easy to get the valve cover off to see the timing chain(work the valve cover bolts slow and easy, they could snap in half because of their stange design).