98 Honda Civic - Timing belt?

[M. Looney]

I was driving last night on a highway,going about 70 M.P.H., when I noticed
that when I began to depress the gas pedal I would hear slight wine/screech.
As I traveled on, the noise grew louder and the battery light became
activated. At this point I pulled over to a side road. My speed at this
point was about 15 M.P.H,. when I heard a popping/grinding sound and what
sounded like debris being thrown about the engine. I lost complete power and
had to pull over. The battery did not seem to be the problem as electrical
functions continued to work, but when I turned the ignition key nothing
happened. Can anyone tell me what possibly happened, so when I talk to a
mechanic I have some background? Thanks.

 

[Caroline]

Are you trying to confirm the timing belt has failed? If so, then take the
distributor cap off carefully, and then have someone try to start the car while
you watch the distributor rotor. If the rotor does not turn at all, then it's
highly likely your car's timing belt failed.

Unfortunately, it's quite possible the failure while driving did some serious
damage to the engine. This could be expensive.

How many miles are on your car? When was the last time the timing belt was
changed?

If it is the timing belt and there is no other damage, most people have the shop
put in a new water pump at the same time.

 

[Mike]

I was driving last night on a highway,going about 70 M.P.H., when I noticed
that when I began to depress the gas pedal I would hear slight wine/screech.
As I traveled on, the noise grew louder and the battery light became
activated. At this point I pulled over to a side road. My speed at this
point was about 15 M.P.H,. when I heard a popping/grinding sound and what
sounded like debris being thrown about the engine. I lost complete power and
had to pull over. The battery did not seem to be the problem as electrical
functions continued to work, but when I turned the ignition key nothing
happened. Can anyone tell me what possibly happened, so when I talk to a
mechanic I have some background? Thanks.

Check for a possible seized bearing to one of your drive accessories
(Alternator, p/s pump, a/c). Also check the a/c idler pulley. This is the
small 3 to 4 inch diameter pulley used to adjust the a/c compressor drive
belt tension. I had an 87 Civic that developed a squeeking noise (idler
pulley) that had the bearing eventially disintegrate and stopped the
engine from running. Just a lot of black smoke (burned drive belt)
escaping from the hood. The day before it failed, I took it to the dealer
who misdiagnosed the problem, replacing the a/c compressor pulley instead.
Got reinbursed for the tow and a free idler/belt installed when I was
through with them :-o...Good Luck...