88 Celica Timing Belt Eaten!!!! - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Neptune · 04-16-2007, 09:38 PM

I just acquired a "great running" 88 Celica GT-S with a 3S-GE engine.

Well come to find out the water pump was going bad. I took it to my uncle's to have him look at it and that's when I found this out. In the process of driving to Checker to pick up a new Water Pump and Timing Belt, the belt got eaten!!! The water pump froze up and ate a quarter of the belt. Now everyone has been telling me that if this happens the engine is pretty much shot. So I read into it and found out my engine is what is known as a "non-interference" engine which means if this happens the engine should not be damaged. I am very upset right now I hope this vehicle is ok. I am doing the repairs myself and took it apart (first time mechanic) come to find out the idiots who worked on it last used a PHILIPS SCREW in place of a 10mm bolt, wtf!!!! So I had to go buy a drill that would fit in that tight spot to drill it out. I will be heading over there tomorrow to do that and hopefully get a little more work done. What do you guys think, is my new baby going to be ok???? Any other recommendations while I have her apart??

***toyomoho*** · 04-17-2007, 01:34 AM

Should be a non-interference engine, thus no damage done to the engine. Pickup the info to align the cam pulleys when putting the belt on, check idler bearing for wear, crank,cam and oil pump seals for oil leaking.

Neptune · 04-17-2007, 10:50 AM

The only thing that was leaking was antifreeze which we figure was coming from the water pump freezing...

***toyomoho*** · 04-17-2007, 02:30 PM

That would make sense. Check idler bearing, if good install the new belt. Once installed, rotate the engine by hand CW two times and recheck cam/crank pulley alignment. If OK, button it up. Might recheck timing.

Neptune · 04-17-2007, 05:23 PM

How do you manually turn the engine? Turn the two cogs that control the valves? The timing is keyed on the engine right?

Neptune · 04-19-2007, 04:52 PM

Ok, belt is installed, pump replaced, changed the thermostat, now there is water leaking from a hose after the car running for about 10 minutes...Is a headgasket blown?? How can I check, I have heard multiple methods depending on the gasket that blows... Thanks!

***toyomoho*** · 04-19-2007, 05:40 PM

I suggest you not jump to conclusion the head gasket is blown, could be many other issues. There are definitive tests to check for this; one is a test of the coolant for exhaust gases, the other is a coolant system pressure test. Any good shop or radiator place should be able to do this at a reasonable price.

If water is coming out of head gasket area it will be where the head meets the block. As this subject has come many, many times do a TN history search.

As to the leak, first backtrack all your work. There may be a seal or gasket you left off when putting on the new pump or thermostat. There is the water pump and a separate housing it bolts to. The housing then bolts to the block.

Go back and closely look at the water pump area, the housing and steel tubes behind it, the thermostat flange area. Make sure all the bolts and nuts are installed.

Neptune · 04-19-2007, 05:51 PM

The hose that's leaking is on the opposite side of the engine, I will try and find a picture and circle it. I don't think it's related to anything I did at all. It might just be an old hose

Neptune · 04-19-2007, 05:58 PM

I circled the place where the hoses would have been, I'll see if I can get a hi-res camera to take pictures later today...I can't upload a picture...