Need car advice/mechanic stuff

[Heartstorm]

:candle I have a 2001 daewoo and the timing belt broke and the mechanic that it got towed to says the valves are bent to since it is a inter.... something engine, hasn't looked any farther to see if pistons and things are still ok, it will cost a tad over 2000 to fix it, but since it is a cheap little car he says I should not bother to repair it and start looking for another car,
I don't know if I should ? this one is paid for and I really don't want debt, but I need a reliable car and no garentee that this car will last much longer if I have it repaired and if it needs new pistons ? it will cost me several more hundred just if he tears it down more to look and I have already paid 200 so far just to see what was wrong. I think the kelly blue book says it is only worth 3000 in good conditon, :ohno It has 78k on it already, still looks good but the air is broken and so is the stereo but other than that it use to be OK !! Anyone out there that can give some input ???? :pray

[No2Flesh]

If it was me, Id take the 2k and buy a good used car Heartstorm.

Especially if a 2nd opinion verified what the current mechanic said is the problem.

Check this out, read the descrip...same thing happened to this one and he is willing to sell it for starting at $100:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2001-Daewoo-Lanos_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33597QQihZ002QQit emZ120282670822QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Heartstorm]

Well ....I think I know this is what should be done, :ohno Thank You !!!!! At least I do have someone who left a number saying he wants to buy the car for 500 for parts. :sob

[No2Flesh]

A couple of cars I found on ebay in your price range, as examples::wave

93 Mustang Convertible, 63k, 28-30 mpg for 3100:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___1993-MUSTANG-LX-CONVERTIBLE-LOW-MILES-28-30-MPG_W0QQitemZ140249274647QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20Trucks QQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140249274647&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1318

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-Trucks___2000-Kia-Spectra-LOW-MILES_W0QQitemZ270255483552QQddnZCarsQ20Q26Q20Truc ksQQddiZ2282QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270255483552&_trksid=p3756.m14.l1318

[steve53]

What kind of motor do you have in that car exactly?!?
In most motors, if the timing belt breaks the valves should not bend at all. The timing belt controls the timing between the camshaft and the crankshaft. When a timing belt breaks the synchronicity between the shafts gets out of whack. The camshaft, as it turns, pushes the valves open through the action of elliptical lobes. Valve springs allow the valves to close against the "low" side of each lobe. The position of the lobes on the camshaft as they relate to the valves, and as the camshaft relates to the crankshaft, determine when, and for how long, the valves remain open/closed.
When the timing belt breaks the camshaft loses its "place" or timing, (in fact it may not - - and probably won't - - turn at all) the motor won't run because nothing is keeping the valves working in proper sequence. No compression. How did the mechanic diagnose bent valves? He can't run a compression test unless or until he replaces the timing belt.
Whew! Having said all that - - The only scenario I can think of where valves might get bent is where the pistons and the valves operate at very fine tolerances to each other. In other words, a stuck open valve (because the camshaft is not turning) gets hit by a piston at the top of that piston's travel.
Very, very, very unusual to see that type of damage unless something else has also occurred. Most engine designs call for at least some clearance between a fully open valve and the top of a piston.
It is possible that a valve spring or valve retainer failed and a valve got "swallowed" by a piston that then resulted in the timing belt breaking. If that's what happened then you do have a major overhaul to consider.

Whew! Again!

All this is pure speculation on my part not having seen the engine myself. I've had 24 years in automotive and I would suggest you get a 2nd opinion if you don't know or trust this mechanic.

Key questions to ask -
"Tell me again exactly what type of motor do I have?"
Ex: SOHC straight 4, 2.0 liter, DOHC V-6, 2.5 liter, etc.
"How did you diagnose the bent valve(s)?"
"Did you run a compression test?" If he says "yes" to this question, ask how did he do that without replacing the timing belt?
"What are the results of the compression test?"

Good luck!

P.S. - It is very rare (or was when I was in the business) to have a timing BELT used on a motor designed with possible valve/piston interference. Usually only saw that with timing gears used. Timing belts should be replaced every 60,000 miles or so as a preventive/maintenance measure. Even so, if you have a motor with valve/piston interference (it's possible from what you said in your post???) unless the belt broke at high RPM's I would not think that major damage would have been sustained to your pistons (maybe small nicks on a couple). Replacing a few bent valves is relatively easy for an experienced mechanic.
R&R valve cover
R&R cylinder head(s)
Replace valve(s)
Replace timing belt

R&R = Remove and Reinstall

[Heartstorm]

This is what it says on the invoice I paid so far,
Found sheered teeth on timimg belt, removed right front wheel and misc covers, tear down front of engine for access to belt. while bringing timing marks around for belt replacement found engine having no compression due to bent valves at time of timing belt failure.

I was going about 40 mph when the car died, I coasted until I could get off the road.
Here is the estimate

remove and replace head gasket ( labor ) 450.00
timing belt remove and replace ( labor ) 187.00
part .head gasket 201.59
timing belt 63.00
exhaust valve (4) at 20.86 83.44
intake valve (4) at 18.33 73.32
machine shop labor to replace valves and check for warpage 300.oo
coolant 15.00
head bolts 99.80
labor diagnose 37.50
labor lube and oil filter 75.00
ac /belt 17.89
alternator belt 21.65
tow 75.00
Total 1.838.63:ohno

[lostsheep]

This engine is an interference engine. What that means is when the timing belt breaks the piston will come up and hit a valve. I just looked it up.
I respectfully disagree with one of the other posters. Most cars today ARE interference engines. If the belt breaks your gonna damage the valves.
However there are times (rare) that an engine that is interference will not bend the valves when the timing belt breaks.

Where do you live? If your close to Pittsburgh Pa I can help you. I am an instructor at an automotive tech. school. We take in outside work for NO LABOR CHARGES!! Only down side is students will be doing the work.

Paul
P.S. If you have any other questions feel free to ask

[lostsheep]

This is what it says on the invoice I paid so far,
Found sheered teeth on timimg belt, removed right front wheel and misc covers, tear down front of engine for access to belt. while bringing timing marks around for belt replacement found engine having no compression due to bent valves at time of timing belt failure.

I was going about 40 mph when the car died, I coasted until I could get off the road.
Here is the estimate

remove and replace head gasket ( labor ) 450.00
timing belt remove and replace ( labor ) 187.00
part .head gasket 201.59
timing belt 63.00
exhaust valve (4) at 20.86 83.44
intake valve (4) at 18.33 73.32
machine shop labor to replace valves and check for warpage 300.oo
coolant 15.00
head bolts 99.80
labor diagnose 37.50
labor lube and oil filter 75.00
ac /belt 17.89
alternator belt 21.65
tow 75.00
Total 1.838.63:ohno

I missed this post. Everything here sound legit, except for the outrageous price for lube oil and filter.
The fact that they put a belt on it and found no compression tells you what we already suspected. Your valves ARE bent.
The head bolts must be replaced due to design. They are one time use bolts. (called torque to yield bolts).
The alternator belt is gonna be off anyway to get to timing belt.
All valves should be replaced. The head should be checked. It mujst have a new headgasket, coolant etc.

You know what... I'm gonna check labor times for you....I'll post them for you.

Paul

[lostsheep]

The labor time to do the head is 6 hrs. The labor time to do the timing belt is 2.5 hours. So if there labor rate is 75$ per hour. There are exactly where they should be.
In my opinion, the car is worth fixing. You cannot get a good car for 1800$.
Every car I have ever bought I have had to put a min. of 500$ in parts into it. Keep in mind I don't pay labor charges so you get the idea.

[Heartstorm]

:) Thanks Lost !!!! I live in Az though ........ darn !!! I am still trying to decide about repair, I guess what confuses me is the mechanic since he is the one that said not to repair it because the blue book is about the same cost of the repair, but then I would not have car payments, If I don't repair then I have car payments that in this economy worries me. I am looking at a 2003 Rodeo Izuzu, payments would be ony 220 a month for 3 years but I don't know if that is a good car, My little daewoo got 36 mpg !!! This one gets only 21. I just don't know .... I'll just keeping asking the Lord for wisdom and direction and try to listen, Which is hard since I am now so distracted by worldly things :ohno