[Mr. Z.]

Greetings,

I had the timing belt fail (less than two years old- Ever Green brand). After opening up the cover, I can find no apparent reason for the failure...other than it being a crappy belt. When the belt broke, the engine died, so I'm hoping there was not valve to piston contact...it happened while coasting at very low speed. Is there an easy way to tell if there was damage without removing the head?

The FSM states to not turn the cam or crank independently of each other, however I need to align the "E" Dot on the cam gear and the Dot on the crank with the "arrow"...so I need to turn the gears independently of each other. Is this a potential problem?

Cheers

 

[turboguzzi]

hope is good.... regretfully ASFAIK, the 16V is an interference motor, so damage could have happened.

once its all back together with a new belt and timed, then yes, a compression test will tell you immediately if valves are leaking (due to being bent) in one cylinder, lower reading compared to the others.

if the pistons are midstroke, no problem turning the cam as the pisotn crowns are far form valves. problems can arises if two of the pisotns are near TDC. take out the pligs and wiht a long screwdriver you can tell if you are near TDC.

 

[Mr. Z.]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't hear any loud noises when or before the engine died.
So hoping there's no damage. I'll complete a compression test after it's back together.

The gears moved freely and are aligned properly, and the rotor is pointing to #4, so that's good.

I ordered an AC Delco Gold this time around.

Cheers

 

[2013GV]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't hear any loud noises when or before the engine died.
So hoping there's no damage. I'll complete a compression test after it's back together.

The gears moved freely and are aligned properly, and the rotor is pointing to #4, so that's good.

I ordered an AC Delco Gold this time around.

Cheers

You won't hear any noises, the valves bend first revolutionof the crank, no compression and the engine stops. Align marks, fit new belt then compression test. I'm not hopeful unfortunately. You can easily bend calves just turning it over by hand if the timing isn't correct

 

[Bex]

The 16v is not interference.

 

[2013GV]

The 16v is not interference.

Good news for the original poster, here's hoping it fires straight up

 

[Mr. Z.]

Thanks everyone!
As usual, this forum this the best!

The cost of the belt is worth compression testing my beloved Tracker.
(The wife loves it as a daily driver!)

Cheers

 

[aquanaut20]

If you want to check before you roll it over with starter, a cylinder leak down will do that..

 

[Mr. Z.]

Thanks for the reply.

Perhaps I can borrow the leak down test gear from my local O'Reily's, Sadly, I only have the compression test gear in my garage.
There is Harbor Freight that moved in near-by recently...

Cheers

 

[turboguzzi]

The 16v is not interference.

I hear you, and i dont even have a G16B and never had a timing catastrofe in my +40 years of wrenching, but this is a FSM paragraph that many have seen:

"After timing belt is removed, never turn crankshaft and camshaft independently more than such an extent as shown in figure." (90 deg either side of the alignment marks) "If turned, interference may occur among piston and valves, and parts related to piston and valves may be damaged."

Thats why i added ASFAIK...

so you say its simply a carry over text from the car applications that have more compression? or is it because some actual personal experiecne with snapping a belt and living to tell the tale?

 

[Bex]

I hear you, and i dont even have a G16B and never had a timing catastrofe in my +40 years of wrenching, but this is a FSM paragraph that many have seen:

"After timing belt is removed, never turn crankshaft and camshaft independently more than such an extent as shown in figure." (90 deg either side of the alignment marks) "If turned, interference may occur among piston and valves, and parts related to piston and valves may be damaged."

Thats why i added ASFAIK...

so you say its simply a carry over text from the car applications that have more compression? or is it because some actual personal experiecne with snapping a belt and living to tell the tale?

In the 30 years of the 16v Tracker, Sidekick, Vitara, etc., and the myriad of forums that are involved with these trucks, as well as the number of times timing belts have broken at speed with the 16v, there has not been one instance anywhere, where there has been engine damage. The 16v Suzuki CARS are interference. The trucks are not. Of course, a rule of thumb is to treat all vehicles as though they are interference.

 

[turboguzzi]

🔼 Good for Mr. Z!!!!

 

[Mr. Z.]

Thanks again...

Turbo, that was the paragraph that got me worried as well, and prompted the thread.
Bex's gem of wisdom is heaven sent...so glad to hear!

I'll update after my parts arrive and the compression or leak down test is complete.

Cheers

 

[aquanaut20]

You can do the leak down without replacing the belr.

Set the pistons mid stroke, secure the crank (so it does not rotate) you can then rotate the cam to close valves without interference,,
Install test equipment in plug hole and rotate , watching the gauge for indication of holding pressure. if a valve is bent/leaking pressure will no build.

FWIW, I have in the past modified a compression gauge and shop air to do the test, Just T the air from a regulator into the compression tester.

 

[Mr. Z.]

The new belt is installed, and the Tracker is back together.
Compression test completed on cold engine and no oil added to cylinders.
#1- 185psi
#2- 195psi
#3- 185psi
#4- 180psi

I couldn't find my notes on compression number from when I first bought the rig, so nothing to compare these to at the moment.
I didn't hear any scary sounds from the engine.

Thoughts?

Cheers

 

[Bex]

Considering that I believe the compression in the new engine would have been somewhere around 199psi, your numbers look very good.

 

[Mr. Z.]

Great to hear!
That's what it looked like to me as well.

I'll report back after initial fire-up.

Cheers

 

[2013GV]

Id be very happy with those numbers on a cold engine. Let us know how it goes after it's started.

 

[Mr. Z.]

Initial start up went off without a hitch.
Checked timing with "freeze" jumper in place...on the money.
Checked ignition timing...on the money.

The Tracker is back in action!
Thanks for all the help.

Cheers

 

[2013GV]

WOOHOO !!!