My girlfriend has a 90 Integra that died going down the road on Saturday. I towed the car home and discovered the timing belt had broken. So, I installed a new one. The car starts and runs pretty smooth. However, it doesn't quite run like it use to. It seems like it has less low rpm power, and I also her a slight ticking noise.

I just found out these cars have interference engines. So, i'm geussing a valve or two might be bent. How likely is it to bend a valve on one of these when the timing belt breaks? I'm going to check the compression tonight. I guess that should tell me for sure. I'm hoping that I'm just off a tooth on the timing belt alignment or something (but I'm pretty sure it's a valve).

I don't think it would be too difficult to pull the head. Is it? How much would it cost to replace a few valves, or do a complete head job? The car is running and drivable. What could happen if she just keeps driving it the way it is and how long might it last?

Thanks!

 

the valves most likely bent, Shouldnt be that expensive it all depends how many valves you bent. The head shouldnt be that hard to pull off.

 

head is not hard to pull off. i might be cheaper to just get a new head on ebay or from someone on this site. as a last attempt at luck, i would retime the engine. it may be off by a tooth. did you use the helms manual to replace it?

 

Check your timeing...Its possible for it to have a bent valve but I'd seriously doubt it did if it is still running smooth. If it did have a bent valve one cylinder would be misfireing or the car wouldn't start.

The best way to check would be to get a compression tester and test the compression in each cylinder the numbers should be with in 20psi of each other.

 

Yeah, checked the compression last night, and it was good. So, I took it back apart to check the timing. It turns out I was a tooth off. I didn't have a manual, and the mark on the cam pulley that says "up" really should go counterclockwise of up slightly. I didn't see the two other small marks on those pulleys that are suppose to line up with each other before. Anyway, it's back together and runs perfect now. I can't believe on an interference engine it didn't bend any valves when the belt broke! Lucky!

Thanks for your input
Keith

 

very lucky, but it has happened before to many people. your very fortunate.

 

Fortunate? The Honda gods don't look over just 'fortunate' people. You should eat a pound of dirt to pay homage.

 

:rofl:

 

The timing belt broke on our 86 Accord lx a long time ago. I changed the belt and water pump, and it ran perfect afterwards. No bent valves at all. It also broke at high speeds making a pass. Maybe it was'nt an interference engine. I've never looked to see if it was or not.

 

I was driving a Geo Storm once when the timing belt took a shit. I was on the freeway too. Replaced it and car was back to normal. So I don't know...I guess it depends on the part and if it is going to bend or not.