1992 Honda Civic ... broken crankshaft !!! ?

It may be that the tensioner on the timing belt was put on too tight! Check it at a different shop, they should be able to tell, the new belt may have snapped.

[quote:864af64d23="kiki mann"]Engine Mechanical problem
1992 Honda Civic 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 110000 miles
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What would cause the crankshaft on my 1992 Civic to break? !!

history: bought used in 1999 w/ about 70k mi; car is 5-spd manual gently driven about 6k miles per year with regular oil changes and maintenance; in Apr. 2007 replaced timing belt & water pump; about 3 weeks ago I took it in for state inspection & tune-up; shop said they would adjust the timing belt since it had been replaced recently.

*** 2 weeks after service -- the crankshaft broke -- inside the case ***

note -- I was not driving the car at the time -- the driver claims the car went "eeeewwwwww-clunk!"

Questions: is it possible that something could have happened during the "timing belt adjustment"?

Does the crankshaft bolt have to be loosened and re-tightened for this adjustment?

Is it possible to damage the crankshaft, crankshaft seal, harmonic damper, etc.?

If not damaged during service, what else could have caused the crankshaft to break?

PLEASE help if you can -- i can't afford a new car now, and can't even afford to have to replace an engine that was damaged during service ... (or I probably would be driving something newer thatn a '92 car).

thanks, many thanks , and THANK YOU in advance![/quote:864af64d23]

if the crank broke, it wouldn't be because of a belt adjustment, if it didnt damage anyting put a new crank in it ( could have bent valves also)

someone dumping the clutch could have broken it

Thank you, Merlin.

Ok - so I definitely know that the timing belt broke.

The shop claims that "something else" caused the timing belt to break -- like the crankshaft broke first.

But if I understand what I think you are saying is that the timing belt broke FIRST -- and somehow it got all jammed up and caused the crankshaft to break?

Please let me know if that is what you are saying ...

And thank you, Buzzsaw -- but what does "dumping the clutch" mean -- what happens when you do that?

[quote:d7ecdb649c="kiki mann"]Thank you, Merlin.

Ok - so I definitely know that the timing belt broke.

The shop claims that "something else" caused the timing belt to break -- like the crankshaft broke first.

But if I understand what I think you are saying is that the timing belt broke FIRST -- and somehow it got all jammed up and caused the crankshaft to break?

Please let me know if that is what you are saying ...

And thank you, Buzzsaw -- but what does "dumping the clutch" mean -- what happens when you do that?[/quote:d7ecdb649c]

spinning the front wheels - dumping the clutch, something a young person might do, if the belt broke first it could have hit the valves and then broke the crank if it is broke, like Merlin said. also if the belt broke it probally bent the valves, I would say its alwful tough to break a crankshaft

ok Buzzsaw -- I got what you mean - like doing doughnuts - only with the front wheels. So the car was going about 35 in 3rd or 4th gear on a city road - kinda hard to do that with a honda in those gears - but it could of happened I guess ...

but yeah, the timing belt and the crankshaft are both broken -- apparently the crank broke off inside the case. So I don't guess I can say this could happen because the mechanic didn't adjust the belt proper, right?

If it was a new belt! If it's a belt with high mileage, it should not have been adjusted!

Merlin - I sorta follow, but I'm a little lost here - the timing belt was (supposed to be) new - it was put on in April 2007 and had about 6K mi. on it.

What I'm really looking for here is someone -- ANYONE out there -- to tell me the answer to this:

IF the timing belt broke FIRST (before the crankshaft broke) while the car was moving in 3rd or 4th gear at about 35 - 40 mph -- COULD a broken timing belt cause the spinning motor to jam itself up and break the crankshaft?

This is what I REALLY need to know -- is there some way you can get back to me on this real soon?

THANKS !!

Could have...check the valves, if you have several mashed ones then I would say yes...

Merlin - thanks - that's a good point - I will check that out

[quote:f272a7612f="kiki Mann"]Merlin - thanks - that's a good point - I will check that out[/quote:f272a7612f]

Honda's have interference motors, what is meant by that is, if the t-belt brakes it comes in contact with the valves bending them, it is also possible to bend connecting rods from the valves being pushed into the pistons or even brake the crankshaft, they could have like merlin said tightened the belt too tight and caused it to brake

Thanks buzzsaw, that makes a whole lot more sense when you describe how that could happen. I just guess I'm wondering how I could prove it was the t-belt's fault - seems like either way the damage would look about the same

[quote:e636067821="kiki mann"]Thanks buzzsaw, that makes a whole lot more sense when you describe how that could happen. I just guess I'm wondering how I could prove it was the t-belt's fault - seems like either way the damage would look about the same[/quote:e636067821]

yes after I reading all the post again I see that we, as in me and merlin, wasnt being vary clear. Sometimes we take for granted that we know what were talking about, but as to the person were talking too, doesnt.

well give it your best shot, moan, complain, do what it takes, cause your motor is pretty much gone. The shop adjusted the belt when they should have left it alone

also you need to look in there and see if something else didnt lock up like the new water pump or a idler pully something in that aspect before pursueing this

Thanks again, buzzsaw - it just took me a few times through to get your point. Also that's a good point about another pully locking up - how would I check that - just go see if they still spin or don't spin, I guess?

Thank you all for your support - I'll sure do my best to make sure they do what they're supposed to - but I'm kinda losing confidence in these guys. You won't believe what I got told yesterday - they said they could replace the motor - I guess it's a short block or something - they said they would use parts off my old engine -- and GET THIS! they said that since my timing belt was fairly new they would re-use IT!!! First they told me it had broken! Even I know enough to know if it didn't break it probably got pretty messed up when the crankshaft broke!! These guys are really starting to scare me now ... and to think I let them adjust the t-belt in the first place !!! I gotta get my car out of there before they killl it (or me) !!

ANyway - thanks for all your help -- I'll let you know if it gets any crazier - I might have a few more questions ... thanks

[quote:2afecbf3a0="kiki Mann"]Thanks again, buzzsaw - it just took me a few times through to get your point. Also that's a good point about another pulley locking up - how would I check that - just go see if they still spin or don't spin, I guess?

Thank you all for your support - I'll sure do my best to make sure they do what they're supposed to - but I'm kinda losing confidence in these guys. You won't believe what I got told yesterday - they said they could replace the motor - I guess it's a short block or something - they said they would use parts off my old engine -- and GET THIS! they said that since my timing belt was fairly new they would re-use IT!!! First they told me it had broken! Even I know enough to know if it didn't break it probably got pretty messed up when the crankshaft broke!! These guys are really starting to scare me now ... and to think I let them adjust the t-belt in the first place !!! I gotta get my car out of there before they kill it (or me) !!

Anyway - thanks for all your help -- I'll let you know if it gets any crazier - I might have a few more questions ... thanks[/quote:2afecbf3a0]

I would get it out of there, its going to have to be a long block the valves are going to be bent

yes just check if they spin or bearings will be missing easy to spot