| Subject: | Engine won't start |
| Question: | 1991 Eclipse, 1.8L,
standard (216,000 milces on speedometer) The engine was running, but while idling there was a sudden "crunching" sound and it died. I thought the timing belt had broken or slipped, because when I tried to start it, it back-fired through the intake. I have checked timing (ok), valves are operating, have fire and injectors are emitting pulses, but it still wont start. If the balance shaft belt broke, would this cause it not to start? |
| Answer: | Herschel, Your car should still be able to start with a broken balance shaft belt, but you would feel a LOT of vibration in the steering wheel. If the car won't start at all, that is a different problem. Your problem may be a busted flywheel. That in turn may have also distrupted something in your transmission, but it's most likely that it may have taken out your starter as well. Have you flywheel and started inspected to start with. The 1.8L emgines were SOHC engines, which aren't as prone to catastrophic
timing belt failures as the 2.0L, DOHC engines. But, it's possible
that your car threw a rod. If a piston or rod has broken off in your
engine, you will loose compression, which can prevent you from starting
your car. If the flywheel is not the problem, you may need to have
the head rebuilt. |