What should you do if your timing belt or chain breaks?

It can feel pretty awful if you think your timing belt/chain has broken. These are just my thoughts on the situation...

[@scottmackintosh194]

Excellent description and so informative cant believe how calm you are about the whole thing, hope it works out in the end. More content for the channel to keep growing.

[@paulfowler2790]

Brilliant video. I am sure this will help a lot of people. Thanks

[@Auto_Funk]

Another great vid Nut Job! Your content is getting better and better... good luck with the repairs :)

[@Nut_Job.]

Nothing to show on the car, just a few of my thoughts whilst I make a plan...

[@ukpkmkk_2]

Always trust the bloke with a British accent when getting information on the internet. I don't know why but it's always true.

[@timhayes7524]

Great vid Nut Job. Really interesting explanation and I hope it works out ok.

[@alanbrand7681]

If your chains breaks....you should ask yourself why did i buy a car with a well documented crappy timing chain...respect for taking bull by horns and fixing it yourself...hope it goes ok

[@ffhjvbuydb78eb]

You know they wear out right?

[@alanbrand7681]

@@ffhjvbuydb78eb i know that everytging wears but chains are a non service item and should last several hundred thousand miles..its just that crrtain makers have chosen to reduce quality and its becoming the case that belts are lasting longer than chains

[@Stop..carry-on]

The French engine in the current Mondeo is an interference engine- but they have designed the engine in a way where only rocker arms break if the belt snaps - so doesn’t bend the valves so the head doesn’t need to come off

[@curtisj2165]

That's a clever design, you may have to replace aii 16 of the rocker arms, but still better than bent valves and/or piston damage

[@TheDaf95xf]

Hi nut job 😄 Your so cool 😎 about the timing chain snapping 🙈 Love the way your dealing with it and hopefully you’ll show how it gets fixed 👍🏻 Well done mate Stevie 😊

[@Nut_Job.]

Cheers Stevie. I’m pulling the cylinder head off this weekend to check out the situation.... my neighbour has been over helping me too. Access in the engine bay is tricky at times. Video will follow soon(ish) 👍

[@off9999]

My sympathies, hopefully you don't need another engine please keep us updated with more quality content thanks.

[@Nut_Job.]

Cheers 👍

[@gregorytosh8372]

Thanks was very well explained now i know. 👊🏾💪🏾 Im trying not to panic 😜

[@markvenables4804]

Excellent words of wisdom.... Corporal Jones couldn't of put it better. Fingers crossed for minimal damage. 🤞

[@Nut_Job.]

😂👍

[@showkathali9214]

Nice explain

[@kttangos2871]

Anyways i Love the being Calm part👍 This old man is learning that. BUT I JUST GOTA KNOW WHAT THE DAMAGE WAS AND HOW YOU FIXED IT😜😜😜

[@FiscalWoofer]

BMW charged me 2.5k to change the timing chain and full service at 90k miles😳 and this was before failure, hope it will be less for you! Great vid! The perils of owning a nice family touring car.

[@alanbrand7681]

FiscalWoofer should have used a recommended private garage..the dealer exists to make money

[@john90304]

Great video

[@robertaccornero7172]

yesterday my Tiburon GT V6 had it's timing belt replaced, after 17 lucky years!

[@kttangos2871]

Ok same boat here but timing belt and it was only a yr old and hydraulic tensioner ok, tensioner pulley ok, idler pulley ok, water pump ok So i have No idea why it broke😐😐😐 and I still owe a lot of money so, i may pull the heads, get them redone or get rebuilt ones, New TTY head bolts, felpro gasket kit and give it a try😐 i dont know a lot about cars but if you research, mark things, stay organized and take your sweet time👍

[@johnhill1421]

Take the car to Thanet Engine Centre to Rebuild they are in Ramsgate get it rebuilt and sorted these guys are great

[@Aut251]

So does this means the valves should be ok then? Hopefully.

[@ulf-dieterkoepp7865]

Interesting. My Nissan Juke died. Mechanics said that my timing chain was stretched a bit. They cut out to the two options: overhaul or imported low mileage engine. At first my heart sank when i heard that my timing chain was stretched. But I didn't scream but decided to first see if they were telling me the truth because they just removed the timing chain assembly cover and did the compression test. Wasn't going to accept the fob story or a scam story. Rather use common sense and see what damage is done there and how much damage is done there. The Nissan Juke timing assembly is really a nightmare.

[@orcvsivstitia7608]

This just happened to me on Oakracoke Island yay! & I live in Maryland. For y'all who are geography nuts..... Oakracoke is more in the Atlantic Ocean than its North Carolina lol.

[@aaronhajzyk]

Sorry to see this mate if I was in your shoes I'd go and get the new complete engine and fit your cleaned inlet manifold and use the spare to do a video on how to remove swirl pots fantastic videos by the way

[@Nut_Job.]

That’s a good suggestion thanks. I just want to see the actual damage before I decide the way to go... i find it hard to let go 😫

[@aaronhajzyk]

Hahaha I’m the same with my car I like to know what’s caused the issue and think of solutions to resolve

[@Stop..carry-on]

I agree - given the mileage on the block -and it’s a ex police car - plus it’s a bmw which arnt known for great reliability- I’d go for a recon unit or lower miles salvage engine

[@terry4144]

surely when an engine is running the valves will be open at some point when the piston is at the top also why does the valve spring not keep it closed

[@vt1372]

Hi, i have a question about the adblue system. Did you habe any issues with it ? would be great if you could exchange your knowledge about it because i had an issue with the sensor of the fluid and it was so expensive to fix it. 2000€ because you can not fix the sensor by itself.

[@Nut_Job.]

I’m sorry, this car doesn’t have an AdBlue system so I’m not sure. It sounds like bullshit that it would cost that much, and I would suspect it’s because either a whole big module/system is recommended to be replaced or because it’s a lot of labour to get access to do the work?

[@ynnel55]

So, if a mechanic changed out the transfer case on a 2012 toyota 4 runnerand two weeks later the timing chain breaks, could possibly the fault of a mechanic?

[@oliverschulz5315]

What happened to the Range Rover?? Loved all the vids about your TDV8 :-)

[@Nut_Job.]

The RR is currently my saviour 😁 Since this broke, the RR has stepped up to become the daily driver 👍

[@oliverschulz5315]

@@Nut_Job. IF you do another video with the RR: Would you say a word about driving it short distance? How many kilometers are 'short'?

[@davidandersson7945]

Best is to have an M57 engine.. .. :) naah just kidding, im following you on this one!!

[@Nut_Job.]

😂 great advice! I guess we’ll find out if something this serious can really be ‘DIY fixed’

[@russella7263]

The M57 isn’t immune. My X3 3.0SD had oil and filter changes every 9000 miles, but the lower timing chain still snapped at 115K miles.

[@Nut_Job.]

Ouch 😣

[@pradolover]

Hope it's not too expensive mate just one of those things I guess.

[@frank.l181]

13' Honda Accord 3.5L V6, 30,000 miles. I inspected the timing belt, it looks fine. I talk to several local mechanics and said 10 years is the limit, any opinions??

[@Nut_Job.]

10 years sounds a long time on such an important belt. I’d definitely get it done

[@lezg5071]

Hi nutjob.. I had a dual mass fly wheel and clutch done on my f10 2.0d and literally one week later the timing chain went.. I'm under the impression they are meant to tighten the chain when doin this kind of work.. is this true?

[@Nut_Job.]

Sorry to hear about your failure though - it’s a tough situation for sure! I’m not really sure if that’s what they’re meant to do. There are already 2 tensioners on the timing chains (one accessible on the cylinder head) so I’m not sure if it could really be tightened any more, or even if that would help if the chain is stressed & close to failing?

[@ramfrancisuk]

what about the turbos. This might be a problem if the oil was not reaching them.

[@alanbrand7681]

Ram Francisuk seperate issue

[@threestones9782]

good job. i woundering why don't you take the whole engine out with a engine crane and repair it?

[@kirwanjohn101]

Nut job, what millage do you recon the timing chain on the bmw should be changed at? Ive a 520d f10 with 220k km, I maintain it myself with regular oil and filter changed every 15k km and it appears to be fine but now starting to get worred🤔

[@Nut_Job.]

Well mine had done about that, and apparently the N47 engine (in the 520d) is more prone to breaking.... not sure if the evidence is just anecdotal, but that’s what they say. I’d start planning it if I were you 👍

[@AngelRodriguez-jv6oc]

Mines just skipped on my Audi A4 2009 I think .. it just clicks and crank shaft stuck u think I did damage or some one installed the timing chain wrong ?

[@Nut_Job.]

Sorry, I’ve never worked on an Audi before. I don’t even know if it’s a timing chain or a belt… if it ran before though, I can’t see how it could have been installed wrong? If it only skipped a couple of teeth you might not have engine damage, but if it broke then I think it’s likely.

[@zarrow50]

What was the result of the timing chain failing?

[@Nut_Job.]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/enrbYaKVh6qIr9k

[@gtshelby8937]

how many kilometers you've driven till your timing chain broken?

[@Nut_Job.]

It was about 165,000 miles. That’s about 265,000 km 👍

[@gtshelby8937]

@@Nut_Job. My gosh! Thats really a tough engine😂Mine has the same engine as yours,which runs for only 10k kilometers from now,seems that theres no need to worry about the timing chain for the moment😀

[@curtisj2165]

At least with a front wheel drive car you don't have to take out the engine. Have tried sticking your boroscope through the spark plug holes to look for piston damage?

[@Nut_Job.]

I did try to think of ways to look in there... being a diesel it doesn’t have spark plugs, but I considered the glow plug holes however they are sometimes difficult to remove & also easy to break. Also, the injector holes are just too narrow to go through unfortunately...

[@salmanmalik3252]

You have no match Continue to help thanks

[@DKSE123]

You'd better hope it's not interference

[@carlosbah4623]

My FIAT punto timing chain broke, the engine totaled...the repairing was more expensive than the car itself. FIAT never again

[@dopiaza2006]

Let's be honest though, on a FIAT, running out of washer fluid could be more expensive than the car itself.

[@barrymichaels2663]

Just remember, if it's got pistons or tits it's gonna be expensive.

[@Nut_Job.]

😂

[@dopiaza2006]

Timing chain is at the back due to EU pedestrian crash protection regulations. Crazy.

[@kws1957]

My timing belt broke once, I reinstalled a new one and the engine was running pretty well even so...

[@Nut_Job.]

My neighbour actually said that happened to him with his VW Passat. Unfortunately this definitely wouldn’t have run because 2 cylinders would have lost compression (3 bent valves ☹️) That’s really lucky mate 👍

[@kttangos2871]

Was it non interference engine?👍

[@kws1957]

@@kttangos2871 my engine was a diesel so it was an interference engine with a slightly bent valve...

[@kttangos2871]

I put a timing belt on and turned it over by hand- will start it tomorrow 👍 crossing fingers😐😐😐

[@wilsoncedeno741]

Am I the only confused here.... timing chain is inside the motor and timing belt is outside the motor I guess these are 2 different things...my accord 2015 has timing chain slippin and l crankshaft problems ...I could drive it but for moment I loose power I will accelerate and my car feels like is in neutral ...took it to the dealer told me I had a bad air sensor(bullshit) try to charge me $700 for a clean up....me thinking they know what there doing it I decided to pay even though I already had it done with my personal mechanic....after I picked up the car at the dealer it kept slipping and I took it back cursed at them and got my money back ...there diagnose was timing chain inside the motor is broken etc or out of place loose I really don't know...they wanted to charge me 2500 to get it fix ....my mechanic told me is just better to replace the motor (my motor has 291,000) the weirdest of all is that I had no engine check light in any moment..so I dont know what to do? Helpp😅

[@kimbird6554]

this is a bad design by bmw only having a single chain drive . i am sure these engines are built in china .i believe there is a douplex chain mod. out there on the net . i can not see any advantage of having the chain at the back? only a money winner for bmw .as it is far more expensive to change . mercs have gone the same way .i can not under stand why they have not gone the electric valve systems . does away with camshafts and drive trains .makes the engine smaller and lighter .as far as i know koenisegg that use this system, have had no problems .?

[@Nut_Job.]

I totally agree - I think electro/pneumatic cylinder valves would seem the obvious way to go, but I’m no expert... I think someone told me it was apparently for weight distribution (the backwards timing setup) 🤷‍♂️

[@BigJayKay]

Tried fixing my bmw...ended up learning the whole genome code of mechanics. Am sure there's still a lot more to learn and my bmw will still have other issues! Moral of story: Don't buy bmw if you are either not rich or patient.

[@skym399]

Just get straight to the point... wtf

[@alancobbin1310]

Replace it before it happens or make sure you buy a car with a freewheel engine lol

[@Nut_Job.]

😉👍

[@alancobbin1310]

Nut Job you got quotes for recon or 2nd hand lump yet?

[@AndyK.1]

Being the chain is in the rear of the engine I guess the engine needs to come out to service it. It was meant to last in that position.

[@alancobbin1310]

Andy Kirwan that’s the chance you take with an ex police 530d unfortunately as even though they have been maintained well and driven hard the 3-4 day turnaround time to change the chain is maybe too long for them sort of vehicles to be off the road that’s why you see and hear of the vehicles having new lumps at bmw because they run them until the turbo or chain goes which normally destroys the engine ,little tip when looking on eBay at ex police bmw diesels,only buy the ones that have had new lumps .

[@Stop..carry-on]

Andy Kirwan some would say it’s pure arrogance or total Naivety on BMW’s part to place a serviceable item in such a poor location.

[@jeffl1944]

Buy a new car

[@marlonbennett1321]

Hi lm sure my chain snapped whilst parked do you think that would destroy the engine N47 115k rattle on start up

[@Nut_Job.]

If the chain snapped then it won’t run at all. If you try to start an engine when the timing chain has snapped then (if it’s an ‘interference engine’) you will have damaged valves etc. in the cylinder head.

[@Nut_Job.]

Btw, a rattle on startup is often a sign of a loose/worn chain. If the engine does still run but you get a slight rattle upon cranking then I’d get the chain replaced asap.

[@marlonbennett1321]

@@Nut_Job. lve only had mine 2months so new to bmw's and the infamous n47 engine.apart from the rattle on start up it ran ok but yeah I should of changed it straight away now lm expecting a rather larger bill.

[@Nut_Job.]

It is unfortunately, a rather large job to fix it after a snapped chain ☹️

[@ulf-dieterkoepp7865]

​@@Nut_Job.correct