My timing belt broke while driving my car with an interference engine!?!?

Question

My 2000 Dodge Neon's timing belt broke. How do I know if it bent my valves and or pistons? Could it have cracked my head? I appreciate any help.

Answer 1

Try to engage starter. If engine does not turn you are in trouble.  

Answer 2

In your situation, yes, you sure did bend some valves. As far as the pistons are concerned, it would be hard to tell and whoever is doing the work would have to make a determining factor, however I have seen pistons still hold up in a situation like this. I doubt this act itself would of cracked the head. When the timing belt is replaced, the head will have to be taken to a machine shop. They can determine if the head itself is still serviceable, replace the bent valves and any other necessary work. Be advised, it would still be able to run with the bent valves in a lot of cases that I have seen some people just replace the belt. When the valves are bent it is actually the stem, and it can be done in a very barely noticeable amount. Although it should run it probably won't be as well.  

Answer 3

No one can tell for sure till the head comes off.

One other thing that can go wrong is that the cam  followers can be bent or broken. Found that one the hard way, took a head off, rebuilt it, remounted it and puzzled over the way it was running after a 20 mile drive. New followers fixed it.

Answer 4

More than likely you did some damage to the valves.  

Answer 5

You definitely messed up your valves, and until you take the head off you won't know about the pistons. Good luck getting it fixed for less than the cost of a new engine or even another used Neon.