tinker6468

Here is the back story - driving to work last week, hear a really strange sound (one of those "what the F is that, that doesn't sound good). Pulled over, took a look, nothing so decided to drive back home and get my spare car.

As I got it into the parking lot, I left it running, opened the hood to take a look again. While at idle, the motor just died. Wouldn't start again. Tore it apart this weekend and found that a water pump bolt came loose and dropped into the crankshaft gear, chewed up the gear (the noise I hear) and shredded the belt.

Was very lucky I was not driving when it snapped, but was only at idle. I am thinking this saved me, since the motor did not turn over after the break preventing the pistons from hitting valves.

Pulled the head and I don't see any valves bent open. What are your thoughts? Is it possible since it was at idle and stopped so quick I avoided damage? Thanks.

David.Norton

I've seen it happen, it was on a Honda, and it was also idling at the time. I would turn the cams over by hand while you have the head off and make sure everything is moving properly, if it is put it back together, you dodged a bullet.

4Driver4

Unlikely but possible. Get a new belt on there and do a leak down test to see if your have any issues. You may get lucky, but you may need to pull the heads to replace some valves. If there are bent valves, sometimes they are confined to one head.

uberwgn

You see this same scenario frequently in the TDIs. The belt brakes, valves impact the pistons but don't appear to have suffered any damage only to fail after the engine is repaired and causing major damage to the block. Engine is typically a write-off.

The Wise Man will give strongest consideration to valve and follower replacement (based upon mileage).

Huskerbob

Look carefully at the pistons for any evidence of little smiley faces that the valves would make if they contacted them.

AudiNut87

yeah do a comp test, only way to know for sure. anythings possible, i sure as hell wouldnt go and replace valves randomly ...

4Driver4

leakdown>compression