Hi, I know I'm not the first to ever post about a broken timing belt, and mostly likely not the last. Granted there are fewer of these on the roads now a days. Anyhow, as the title states I had my belt brake while I was slowing down to a traffic light. Sigh, this happened last year so had time to let this all sink in. Now going back to my situation, I got a bore scope camera and went down the spark plug holes and it looks like I have had some contact between the piston and valves. It's hard to say if it looks too significant or not. There luckily is no chunks missing from the piston and no valve chunks floating around. I've had one person who's said just put a belt on it and there's a chance it might work it's way back to normal after some clanking. As I've never dealt with this before i'm not sure if I should just pull the head and work to replace the valves since there's at least 2 or 3 that have touched in some way.

Any thoughts on what my next steps should be?

take the head off and take it to some machine shop that they can check it out. it needs resurfacing anyway when you take it out

get new valve seals when youre there

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Honda Prelude 1997 2.2 VTI

...meanwhile in Finland http://www.preludezone.com/members-r...7-2-2-vti.html

If you still want to keep your prelude, I would put a belt on it and give it a shot anyway.

If it works out ok then you'd have some time and options.

If it does not work out then you know for sure that its toast and then you could rebuild if you want to or do a swap.


How many miles do you have on the engine? just curious.

Thank you for this post.

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Resuscitate.

Hi, thanks for the replies. I have 106,000 kms or 66,000 miles, so obviously i'd like to keep her running for a while yet as she's just barely broken in.

I agree with type, unless you check every valve and verified they’re all straight and the pistons are actually good I wouldnt just slap a belt on it and try to run it. I don’t think small gouges in the pistons would affect compression but I wouldn’t risk a piece breaking loose and floating around the cylinder but that’s just me. Better safe than sorry. Just pull the head and make sure.

This is almost a year old since the last response... But for anyone who comes across this thread. H22's are interference motors only in vtec. Ive had 2 timing belts damaged while driving and caused the mechanical timing to jump. If you werent in vtec when the belt broke, fell off, stripped cogs... You will be good retiming the motor amd putting a new belt on. I recommend a new tensioner as well.

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^ thats just stupid advice. You should always inspect your head that is there some damage - atleast compression and leak tests for valve damage

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Honda Prelude 1997 2.2 VTI

...meanwhile in Finland http://www.preludezone.com/members-r...7-2-2-vti.html

That is not at all stupid advice! If you see no damage under the valve cover to the rockers or cam bridges, etc. then put a new belt on it and go. Can't hurt and beats the **** out of pulling a head on an engine that is one of the hardest to work on that Honda ever made.

Pulling the head and inspecting for damage is a helluva lot easier than a motor swap....

Just sayin'. And it would be a great chance to put in a new head gasket.

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God's Not Dead

Of course not doing any inspections and tests is stupid idea after belt broke

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Honda Prelude 1997 2.2 VTI

...meanwhile in Finland http://www.preludezone.com/members-r...7-2-2-vti.html

Agreed

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God's Not Dead

Just had my timing belt snap for a second time- first time was an 89 lude and I was on the freeway. After I slapped a new belt on the car sounded like a lawn mower- had to rebuild the head. My 98 just had the same thing happen, but this time all the valves were intact. When it snapped I was making a left handed turn in second. Guess it all depends.

I would personally wiggle the rockers while each piston is at TDC. if there is way too much play then the valve is probably bent.