Timing belt/chain broke

[BlackIce]

Ok so I drove a long distance to see my girlfriend and as I pull up to her street, my timing belt goes.

I first hear a squeak then the sound of the timing belt slapping around because it got caught in one of the gears at the bottom of the engine. Turned it off in the middle of the road to look at it and saw what happened. I was still able to turn on the engine and put it in gear, I proceeded to drive my car onto her driveway in reverse and turned it off. It had a rubber burning like smell to it after I turning it off.

What's really going on with my car and did I severely damage it by driving it up the driveway?

2006 Mazda3 2.3L Engine

[orGhatcH]

are you talking about serpentine belt? if u can see it from outside of the engine and its rubber then that is it.
actually there is 2 rubber belts, serp belt and ac belt.
you did not damage your engine... 1 is for ur ac compressor and 1 is for alternator I believe.

did a quick search on google and found this. this is not my DIY guide btw, credits to speed3.5: http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123820208-How-to-Install-new-Belt-Tensioner-Accessory-Belt-and-AC-belt

you can sleep at ease now. ;)
note: u should get it fixed soon because if it is the serpentine belt that snapped then your battery wont get charged while ur driving

[stock3]

I would ease off on reassuring OP that nothing bad happened, especially if you don't know what you're talking about. From my experience, it's better to approach these failures with caution, than "don't worry be happy" mentality. The vital piece of information missing here is that the serp. belt drives the water pump.

By the description it seems that the car was just quickly pulled over and just driven up the driveway without the water pump functioning, so the overheat condition is very unlikely. Another vital piece of information would be to know if the coolant temp gauge ever went to the red zone and if it did, for how long?

Another thing to consider, since OP heard a squeak sound first. Followed by the belt slapping around and then felt the rubber burning smell, is that one of the pulleys or the tensioner probably siezed and caused belt failure. So just slapping on another belt may not fix the problem and may end up overheating the engine. Check all pulleys and turn them by hand to see if they spin freely. Or have a mechanic look at it.

[BlackIce]

The engine never over heated. I can't fit my hand to check all the pulleys. I just see the belt is shredded at the bottom of the engine bay. How much would this cost to fix?

I'll be taking my car to a mechanic near my house on Monday. 150km drive back. CAA covers that distance right? Also, my car is kinda low and I have mudflaps on, would I be out of my place if I asked the tow truck driver to put those things under the rear tires to raise it higher off the ground?

[m_bisson]

If you're a 'premium' Caa member I think you get a max of 200km

[BlackIce]

If you're a 'premium' Caa member I think you get a max of 200km

http://www.caasco.com/Membership/Join.aspx?profile=ONT67 Gold gets 200km total per year.

[Slaved]

The engine never over heated. I can't fit my hand to check all the pulleys. I just see the belt is shredded at the bottom of the engine bay. How much would this cost to fix?

I'll be taking my car to a mechanic near my house on Monday. 150km drive back. CAA covers that distance right? Also, my car is kinda low and I have mudflaps on, would I be out of my place if I asked the tow truck driver to put those things under the rear tires to raise it higher off the ground?

Use a flatbed to tow.

Just tell them your car is low and has potential to be damaged unless transported on a flatbed.

[stock3]

The engine never over heated. I can't fit my hand to check all the pulleys. I just see the belt is shredded at the bottom of the engine bay. How much would this cost to fix?

I'll be taking my car to a mechanic near my house on Monday. 150km drive back. CAA covers that distance right? Also, my car is kinda low and I have mudflaps on, would I be out of my place if I asked the tow truck driver to put those things under the rear tires to raise it higher off the ground?

Make sure you tell the mechanic to check all the pulleys.

As far as towing, if your car is automatic, it should not be towed by the rear wheels, otherwise you can tow it however you want, just make sure the tranny is in neutral.

[BlackIce]

Use a flatbed to tow.

Just tell them your car is low and has potential to be damaged unless transported on a flatbed.

This is probably a better option since i have mud flaps in the back that will grind on the floor and a lip in the front that will also grind if normally towed. Does it cost more or no?

[loki]

Dude you have CAA service and have no idea what service they offer?

Why don't you call CAA

[BlackIce]

Dude you have CAA service and have no idea what service they offer?

Why don't you call CAA

My dad does, I use it through him.

[loki]

He will have to be there with you in order to use the service

Flatbed is not extra

[Hyperion]

He will have to be there with you in order to use the service

Flatbed is not extra

Actually, flat bed is some what extra. If they deem your car to have no reason to have a flatbed there is a charge. In this case, op is on pro kits and has no need for a flat bed.

[soccerboy1491]

The dumb dispatcher told me there is an extra charge for flatbed too but every time I've used it the driver has never charged me.

[loki]

I guess if you call for one for no reason I could see there being a charge. But my car is on swift springs and they needed a flatbed

[BlackIce]

Actually, flat bed is some what extra. If they deem your car to have no reason to have a flatbed there is a charge. In this case, op is on pro kits and has no need for a flat bed.

Why do I have no need for a flatbed? Not letting any part of my car get low to the ground especially when there is lots of snow and chunks of hardened snow on the road. I have a valid reason to request a flatbed...

[Hyperion]

Maybe because of the snow, if you're doing it today, right now. But your car is not really that low, and he can raise the front up which leaves tons of clearance in the back
And just because you want it, is not a valid reason to them.

[BlackIce]

I have mud flaps that are low to the ground in the back. It'll grind on the ground if you lift the front and don't put those wheeled platforms on the rear tires. If it were 20km to a mechanic, ok fine those flaps and survive. I'm not having them grind 150km on the ground at high speeds. It's part of the vehicle and if there is a chance it gets damaged, I can hold them liable for not providing proper transport. They won't take the chance so therefore I have a good enough reason to get a flatbed free of charge. Rally Armor mud flaps are longer than standard ones. My mud flaps grind on the ground when I leave my driveway and when I leave/enter a plaza which has an incline.

[loki]

Let us know how it goes

[MazdaMike02]

Make sure you tell the mechanic to check all the pulleys.

As far as towing, if your car is automatic, it should not be towed by the rear wheels, otherwise you can tow it however you want, just make sure the tranny is in neutral.

You just attacked another member for not knowing what they're talking about. Even though what hes saying is right. Now your saying a FWD car shouldn't be towed by the non-drive wheels? Really? A FWD car has nothing back there...whats going to get damaged? Your not supposed to tow a car by its drive wheels FWD or RWD because the transmission could be damaged. There should always be tow dollys underneath the drive wheels.

[RobertL]

You just attacked another member for not knowing what they're talking about. Even though what hes saying is right. Now your saying a FWD car shouldn't be towed by the non-drive wheels? Really? A FWD car has nothing back there...whats going to get damaged? Your not supposed to tow a car by its drive wheels FWD or RWD because the transmission could be damaged. There should always be tow dollys underneath the drive wheels.

I took it as he meant don't have the truck hook ul on the rear wheels. I.e don't pull it by the rear wheels.

[silverstarmazda]

Ok so I drove a long distance to see my girlfriend and as I pull up to her street, my timing belt goes.

I first hear a squeak then the sound of the timing belt slapping around because it got caught in one of the gears at the bottom of the engine. Turned it off in the middle of the road to look at it and saw what happened. I was still able to turn on the engine and put it in gear, I proceeded to drive my car onto her driveway in reverse and turned it off. It had a rubber burning like smell to it after I turning it off.

What's really going on with my car and did I severely damage it by driving it up the driveway?

2006 Mazda3 2.3L Engine

this part concerns me, this "gear" is probably the reluctor ring on the crankshaft. unless you mean one of the pulley wheels

[stock3]

I took it as he meant don't have the truck hook ul on the rear wheels. I.e don't pull it by the rear wheels.

Yes, that's what I meant. Also, cars with manual tranny, but with limited slip differentials, should not have the drive wheels on the ground and spinning while being towed.