Hey guys, I'm thinking about buying a 96 Grand Voyager w/ a 2.4L that has a broken timing belt for real cheap. My question is will this motor be screwed because of the broken timing belt or not. It still cranks but thats about all I know. Any info will help. Thanks.
StandOnCliff
09-20-2008, 12:51 PM
This depends on if it broke while it was running or not. If it was running down the road and broke it most likely bent a valve or two. Putting a belt back in and trying to start it would tell you so. Compression check after belt replacement would also let you know. If it's pumping under 100 psi you have a bent valve most likely. Pulling the head to replace a few valves is usually the worst case scenario. Uncommon is for the piston breaking when it hit the valve, but it is still possible. Again pulling the head is the only way to know for sure.
fastguy6921
09-20-2008, 10:55 PM
It was idling when it happened. So i'm assuming that your telling me it is an interference engine and the timing belt could have toated the whole engine?
StandOnCliff
09-21-2008, 12:07 PM
The engine most likely isn't toasted. It will however probably need the head removed to replace a couple valves. If it was idling when it broke it may not have bent any. If it did, it would most likely be just a bent valve and not push a hole into the piston. The advantage to this is that chrysler vehicles are notorious at blowing head gaskets anyway. You can however tell if it did, without putting any money into it first. Pulling the valve cover you can do diagnosis. It's still hard to do without a belt because the cam doesn't turn with the engine. It can be done though. Turning the engine a little bit by hand and using a wrench on the cam bolt to turn by hand. The idea here is to try to keep timing lined up as your turning both. The rockers when they are in the full up position should all have the same play to them. I don't personally do mine this way. I put the new belt on, then do compression checks. Personally if it was me I would purchase it, if this was the only thing wrong with it. It would cost about $100-200 total depending on what is replaced at the time. I always suggest when doing a timing belt to do the water pump. A head gasket set and around $7-10 for each valve and the cost of some sensor safe silicone. When your done it should be a very dependable engine and should be oil leak free from the head up. By getting it running, if it was cheap enough, you can't lose money as long as you can do the work yourself.
dlm4ut
09-21-2008, 10:44 PM
What little info I gathered from other posts and sources is that not all 2.4 engines are interference.
2.4 Mitsubishi Engines with VIN code "B" are interference
All other 2.4 liter Engines with VIN code "X" are non-interference.
It seems that the 96 2.4 was a non-interference unlike some 2.4 engines in the early 2000s based on one source of timing belts.
You might check some of these source yourself.
Hope this helps.
dlm4ut
fastguy6921
09-22-2008, 04:12 PM
Thanks alot guys. I'll check the vin code and maybe it will be the non intereference one. Either way I think I'll buy it. He told me I could have it for 400 bucks and everthing else is in excellent shape. If it works out I'm prob gonna trade it or seel it for a nicer v6 version though. I appreciate the help. Auto zones web site lists it as an interefence engine.
