Hi All, three days ago, I started hearing a soft noise at about 1/6 engine speed coming from the top of the engine (3.5 DOHC) and if I touched anywhere on the top of the engine, I could just barely feel it too. Today while driving home from vacation, about 30 miles from home, there was a soft thunk and the car died. It turns over just fine, but does not fire.

The car has 206K miles on it and is still in very good shape so I don't want to junk it. Could this be a cam timing issue? Is this common? When do I go to find out how to fix it if it is timing issues?

Luckily I have the week off and can drive my wife to work and come back and work on my LHS.

Thanks in advance. Dennis.

 

take the cover off and take a look

 

Yep, that is what I am doing this morning. It was late last night when we got home and thought I'd ask here first. Just got the Haynes manual out with a cup of coffee.

 

Just got the plates off and yep, the belt is toast. I just talked to the parts guy and he says this is an interference motor and might have problems when the belt blew. How can I tell if 1. these are interference motors and 2. if there is anything wrong because the belt blew. Thanks for your help. Dennis.

 

install the new belt and start it up if it wont start or feels like its missing or have a check eng light with a misfire code then u bent some valves.

 

Thanks CT. I had the idea last night to bore scope the cylinders first so I am off to HD to buy a bore scope. They are not that much and I will be able to see right into the cylinder and can see any marks of the piston.

I also figure it might cut my work in half if only one side has marks. I won't need to take the good head off.