Hey Gang,
I have an 02' Hyundia Accent with a 1.5. My car died last week when i pulled in my driveway and would start up again, later we found it to be a bad timing belt. From what I've been reading and hearing I might have an "interference" motor.

Being a computer nerd and not knowing too much about cars, my day and neighbor came over the other day and we ripped the engine apart to find a timing belt with a row of missing teeth. The valve cover is even off right now. I got a new belt, but the guy at the autostore told me I might have an be screwed if i have an interference motor. So I'd like to know if I (we) should even go through the work of replacing the belt and putting everything back together, knowing that it could be an interference motor and have to rip it apart again.

Does anyone know how to tell for sure or not? Let me know if you need additional info.


Thanks in advance for any help.

Sorry but it is an interference motor. If the belt broke while running the valves are probably bent. Do a compression test and/or a leakdown test on each cylinders to be sure.

That's what I was afraid of....


Thanks for your help.

Just an update here. Since my car was an 02' it was still in fairly good shape I decided to try and fix it.

We riped the valve head off and brought it in to a small engine repair shop to get rebuilt. $600 dollars later we put the new head back on with new gaskets, bolts, ect...My car now runs again!

:banana:

the moral of your story....don't neglect the timing belt change interval :whistling: