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i have a dodge neon that had the timing belt break on me

Sent to Car Experts December 30 04:11 AM

i have a 1998 dodge neon that had the timing belt break on me ,i replaced the belt and the car started but it will not stay running or if i can get it to idle it idles real rough,if i push on the accelerator it runs smooth,when i pull the plugs i have black soot on 3 of the plugs,could i have bent the valves when the belt broke or is this a ignition problem with the soot being on the plugs,could it be the plug wires or the coil not giving enoug h spark to the plugs please help

                                         &nbs p;                            thanks

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $8
Answer
December 30 10:18 AM (6 hours and 7 minutes later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
This engine is an interference fit engine. Meaning that if the belt breaks the piston will come in contact with the valves. The best way to check it is to do a compression test or a cylinder leak down test. Usually new valve and a valve job will take care of it. It is rare to have piston damage, but it could occur. There is also the possibility that a connecting rod may have bent, but again this is rare.

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autodoc_2000 -- Auto Service Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 928 Car Accepts
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December 31 2:56 PM (1 day and 4 hours later)
         
Reply to autodoc_2000's Post: if the engine has a bent valve that would cause the engine to not stay at an idle and would also cause the black soot on the spark plugs ? also when i have the car in park and accelerate the engine there is no miss the engine runs smooth it just wont idle
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
December 31 3:15 PM (18 minutes and 58 seconds later)
         
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autodoc_2000 -- Auto Service Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 928 Car Accepts
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December 31 3:23 PM (8 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
one more question if my compression is good could the problem be a sensor and it just is not showing up because the check engine light is not on so if i did a diagnostic test with a scan tool would that show a bad sensor also when i check the timming marks the piston is at tdc so if the belt was off a tooth would the timming mark be off

                     thank you
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
December 31 3:31 PM (8 minutes and 16 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

It could be a sensor but if it worked ok before the belt broke it would be very unlikely. It wouldn't hurt to check for codes. The piston can be at top dead center and the cam be off a tooth. If ther was any slack in the belt when it was installed it would be enough to throw it off. Recheck the marks there should be a mark on the crankshaft and one on the cam. Here are the timing marks unless you have the dual overhead cam.

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autodoc_2000 -- Auto Service Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 928 Car Accepts
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December 31 5:22 PM (1 hour and 50 minutes and 56 seconds later)
         
ok so i did a compression check and had good compression in 3 cylinders and no compression in one cylinder, broken piston?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
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December 31 5:38 PM (15 minutes and 28 seconds later)
         
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autodoc_2000 -- Auto Service Technician -- 98% Positive Feedback on 928 Car Accepts
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