86 5KCS Sudden Death

[Burl Vibert]

Steve Sherman wrote:
>
> Thanks to all who offered opinions....
>
> In thinking about it, the water pump takes out timing belt scenario did occur to me, but only
> after I had used the starter to move the car to the side of the road and found the wateer
> leak.  In hindsite, undoubtably not the best idea, but probably no worse than the cranking to
> try and start it I did right after it first died....
>
> I don't recall hearing any odd noises as the engine died.  And I had not seen the source of
> the leak until I was stuck on the side of the road.  The dying was an occassional stumble,
> like one cyl not firing,  that grew worse over the next mile or so.  I would think (maybe
> hope) that a slipped belt would be rather obvious, noise-wise, as valves meet pistons, and not
> such a gradual thing. At least the one other engine that did slip the timing chains, made
> things very obvious and would not even crank, as a valve lodged in a piston.  But time will
> tell here.
>


Yup, you're right, doesn't sound like a timing belt problem the way it
died.  Maybe a fuel problem.  Is the fuel pump running when you crank
it?

Burl Vibert
1987 5kcstq
Kingston, Ontario