I was on the freeway when it happened doing about 60 MPH. It's not pretty. Looks like string cheese when I pulled the timing covers off.

Scenario:

1998 A4 AFC 2.8L SOHC


What should I check, valves, etc? Am I screwed and need to replace a bunch of items while it's apart because it's likely a big fat broken mess?

Anyone have a full write-up of a situation like this that I can read?

I'm really tired and frustrated this is happening right now, can you tell?

 

hahahha highway speeds and broken timing belt.

google new engine

 

yeah, you're pretty much screwed. you can try replacing the whole top-end, but it would probably be cheaper, and easier just to buy a new engine. It would also be even cheaper to buy a beater and save up for something decent.

 

At 60 mph chances are you have bent valves. You could pull the heads, but by the time you swap out bent valves, shave the heads and buy head gasket kit, you could swap for a used AFC. And, there is always a chance it did more damage than just the valves.

So I'd buy a used AFC, and if you don't know when the timing belt was done on that one, do it before you drive it any where.

 

I would put my money on new pistons as well. I bet they're nice and tattooed up.

 

How long had it been since the timing belt was changed? As others have stated, you may be looking at replacing the whole engine.

 

just curious what was your mileage on the vehicle and last known timing belt change, if ever?

also curious what it sounded like when it happened, like was it loud or anything or did it just quit running?

i have a 98' 2.8 with 140k, no known timing belt change, with blauparts timing belt kit sitting in the trunk LOL, knock on wood.

 

As Red Forman would say...... DUMBASS!

 

Sometimes they're just a little nicked up and no big deal. Here's an AHA I bought where the t-belt had snapped. Note the hole a broken intake valve made in the bottom of piston #2. Threw this one away.

 

ouch... i've done mine twice because i seriously don't ever want to feel that pain... i got my car at like 45k and i did it then because this was 6 years ago, and the car sat for a while and it looked lightly cracked. then i blew the water pump around 100k so i did the whole thing again cause i was already in there. the thermostat i replaced then went 20k miles later, so i just squeezed it in without touching the timing belt. so at 125k, i feel safe. that sucks though... if you're driving around and you're wondering if its going to snap, change it before your car is a paper weight. its just a couple hundred bucks, a day's work, and a 12 pack, maybe 24 if you have a friend helping lol