Stripped Cam Belt

[Green7]

Hello,

The belt on my 2013, 1.6 diesel van has just stripped its teeth. As I am new to ownership of these vehicles I was wondering if the engine is almost now certainly a write off or repairable. Is there any way to check without a strip down. 

The vehicle just cut out at around 15-20 MPH no engine noise, it just died.

Thanks for any advice.

[Kieron G]

I would say cylinder head off and assess the damage. I had similar with 1.8 petrol recently and got away with just exhaust valves bent. Stripped teeth on belt sounds ominous like something locked up

[jj9]

Can I ask, how do you know it has stripped teeth off the cambelt?


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[Green7]

Can I ask, how do you know it has stripped teeth off the cambelt?

I managed to partly remove the cover and can see the belt is intact, the engine turns over but the belt doesn't rotate  

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[jj9]

Yes that's good enough proof, thought it best to ask.

I'm afraid as Kieron said it's a head off job to assess the damage.



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[notsofast]

I'm curious about this situation - am I right in thinking that, unlike other threads where folk have reported a broken cambelt and thus ensuing damage, is it the case that here something within the block has likely seized and the cambelt problem is a result of that (i.e. cause and effect are in the opposite direction)?

[oilyrag]

Maybe the water pump seized? But the pistons will still be going up and down when some of the valves are stuck in the open position, so they may have collided. Sadly head off seems inevitable?

[jj9]

As has been mentioned I would guess a seized water pump.

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[Green7]

Clutching at Straws here but if I am able to spin the engine over by the key and there are no nasty noises, is that a good sign.

I don't have the tools or expertise to do the job myself and I'm struggling to find a mechanic that will take the job on. Most just shake their head and say 'forget it'

Any recommendations in the Surrey area?

[oilyrag]

Without the belt 'attached' then the camshaft is currently stationary and either all of the valves are positioned so that they are probably not in contact with the pistons, either by good fortune, or being bent out of the way or a snapped rocker.
I think that just re-timing and fitting a new belt will be relatively 'risky' - the risk being that some damage exists somewhere in order to strip the teeth in the first place, and the valves may also have suffered.
I live in Ireland but did live in Surrey - a small garage in Coulsdon - Autofix - run by a fellow called Tom was a very honest and reliable set-up. They probably couldn't tow your van in though, but might be worth talking to.