Beware, [words].

Just looking to see if you guys can give me some info or something. Anything can help.

My wife was driving her 2001 Honda Passport on the highway this morning and everything started shutting off on her, she heard some bad noises, and coasted to the side of the road.

I thought it was the alternator because when I got to her, the battery light was on, and when the emergency blinkers cut on, the lights in the car dimmed (to me, indicated a weak battery). When you tried to start the car, everything went black (no lights).

Had it towed to a local shop to check the alternator, and they said that its not the alternator, and that they thought it might be the timing chain. Since they are just a tire/brake shop, they gave me a reference to someone who could take a look at the engine and go further with it.

Im waiting to hear back from the new place, but how screwed am I?

If the timing chain broke, I know enough to know the engine could be completely hosed. Whats the average cost for a rebuild or replacement?

Any info/thoughts you guys can give me, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

1/22/2008 9:46:06 AM

how many miles.
timing belts dont just snap unless you've got high miles.

sounds like a battery prob.

but the fact the car shut off seems like alt. problem.

get them both checked. i wouldnt worry bout the belt. but if it did break, you might as well buy another car. the motor is gone.


[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 9:59 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 9:55:47 AM

+1 for battery/alternator

Your timing belt snapping has nothing to do with not being able to at least turn the engine over. Smaaaaaaaaall possibility that your alternator belt snapped and was no longer charging the battery. In that case, you can still jump the car to start it but it'll shut down once you pull the jumper cables off. It will be obvious if the belt snapped (it will probably be missing) and you won't need to do the jump test. I'm just saying that's how it would work

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 10:04 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 10:03:38 AM

ill give you $500 for the passport.

1/22/2008 10:16:03 AM

Im still thinkin its the alternator, but we will see when the mechanic looks at it.


Thanks for the replys.


If it is the engine, ill probably end up parting the shit out from my back yard on Craigslist .

1/22/2008 10:56:23 AM

you can do it yourself.

jump it and disconnect the neg. terminal.

1/22/2008 10:58:35 AM

^ great idea ,

and its not hard to figure out if its a timing belt, take the oil filler cap off, crank the engine, and see if the rockers are moving

1/22/2008 11:28:12 AM

Ok, i got a call back, and the guy said it is definitely the timing belt.

He is going to put a new timing belt on it, but said he cant tell if there is valve damage until he puts the new one on and gets it cranked.

1/22/2008 11:43:22 AM

^ yes you can, pull the valve cover and roll the cams over to see in any valves are stuck or dropped

1/22/2008 11:45:17 AM

you know a timing belt job is going to be like $500+ right? better doublecheck that mess

again, with a broken timing belt, you will still be able to turn the engine over. Meaning, your starter will still engage and your engine will go chug-chug-chug-chug-chug but won't start/fire. Of course you might lose all your valves in the process, but timing belt is not consistent with your original story


^only if it's rocker arms and not cam-on-bucket or whatever.

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 11:50 AM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 11:45:46 AM

lol.

its an interference motor. you will be lucky as hell if nothing happened.

dont let him pull your chain. get it. although its a belt. anyways.

he could do more damage if say there is minor things wrong.

tell his lazy self to check the right way

1/22/2008 11:47:54 AM

Quote :

"He is going to put a new timing belt on it, but said he cant tell if there is valve damage until he puts the new one on and gets it cranked."

get your car the hell out of that shop and take it to someone who knows what they are doing

10 min with a borescope will tell you if there is any damage, which there likely will be a bent valve or two, so figure $500-800 for a head job too

1/22/2008 1:31:40 PM

^thats cheap as hell if he bent pistons/valves.

Take that shit to the Dealership. Figure $700 for the timing belt if thats the case.

1/22/2008 1:35:55 PM

Quote :

"Take that shit to the Dealership"

1/22/2008 1:37:54 PM

Well, the car is fux0red.

Looks like we will be trading in a non working car for something else.

Fuckin a.

1/22/2008 5:30:33 PM

how many miles did it have

1/22/2008 6:13:22 PM

110k

Ive got a guy willing to give me $3200 for it without the engine, so I think i might take that and cut my losses. Thoughts?

1/22/2008 7:54:57 PM

TAKE THE $ ANDS RUN!!!!!!

1/22/2008 8:58:58 PM

sell this and buy a non-minivan

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 10:25 PM. Reason : ]

[Edited on January 22, 2008 at 10:25 PM. Reason : ]

1/22/2008 10:24:39 PM

Just curious, why did you wait so long to replace the belt?

[Edited on January 23, 2008 at 12:15 AM. Reason : Also could have eaten a transmission.]

1/23/2008 12:14:51 AM

don't buy a mexican car next time

1/23/2008 9:02:02 AM

Quote :

"you can do it yourself. jump it and disconnect the neg. terminal."

For fuck's sake, don't do this.

1/23/2008 1:44:34 PM

i think my other advice of lighting it on fire may be better

1/23/2008 2:01:34 PM

isn't the Honda Passport really an Isuzu?

1/23/2008 2:12:54 PM

Quote :

"Just curious, why did you wait so long to replace the belt?"

seriously

what the fuck where you thinking?

1/23/2008 3:19:46 PM