TJ in serious jeopardy of needing transplant

[TeeR]

Come one, come all! Suggestions, comments all wanted and needed.

I am generally mechanically inclined, but this one is left me thinking I'm really not going to get out of this easy.

I was driving the other morning and at the end of my drive-thru pit stop the check gauges lite comes on, discovering engine overheating I pull off and let cool. It never hit the red. I let it cool to a run temp and moved to get near a water source and popped the hood. I realize the belt is loose. My investigation noticed the belt was off the crank pulley/harmonic balancer. Then WTF the pulley was loose. I have never seen a harmonic balancer come apart and I've been turning wrenches for 45 years.

Here's where I went down the wrong decision path. I pulled the belt off and decided to drive it home and change it. I knew I could get home before overheating. I definitely wasn't wrong about that part anyway.

So, here we go.

About half-way home the engine light stated flashing, I started feeling kickback from what felt like crossfire and the engine was fighting itself. I made it home and it would idle (but rough with kickback). I replaced pulley and restarted. Unfortunately, it idles rough with kickback, the higher the load the harder the kickback gets. It's not knocking.

I reset the ECM twice, nothing.

My last thoughts, damaged sensor, damaged plugs, damaged timing chain, or worse case, physical damage to the engine, bearings, crank, etc.

Here's where you come in and tell me you know what the problem is and here's how to fix it.

Updating to include:
It popped codes PO300, PO302, and PO304. So Random misfire with cylinders 2 and 4.

 

[Rickyd]

How far did it get driven with the water pump not spinning? Without water circulating you don't know how hot it got.

I would start with leakdown and compression tests.

I'm not seeing how electronics or timing chain could be damaged by a separated damper and thrown belt

 

[AndyG]

On the balancer comment -

If you ever wrenched on a first year C6 Corvette, you would see a harmonic balancer fail- they recalled over 11,000 produced in 2005.

Also I think my 05 TJR balancer is failing-

Anyway, just random remarks above -

Now to the problem -

Likely the water superheated in the water jacket and galded bearings and /or warped the head or damaged the valves.

Keep us posted. We wish you the best.

 

[macleanflood]

After seeing my crank pulley when I did my timing chain and water pump I'm not surprised and I've recommended replacing that crank pulley... it's one of the few I'd unquestionably fire the parts cannon at.

As mentioned... compression and leakdown test...drain the oil...see what you've got.

I suppose if I was in a hurry I'd pull the engine and transmission, replace the bearings, rings, quick piston hone, new head studs, new head gasket and be checking clearances with plastigauge and straight edges as I slapped it back together.

But that would be the parts cannon approach.

-Mac

 

[Moglocker]

Come one, come all! Suggestions, comments all wanted and needed.

I am generally mechanically inclined, but this one is left me thinking I'm really not going to get out of this easy.

I was driving the other morning and at the end of my drive-thru pit stop the check gauges lite comes on, discovering engine overheating I pull off and let cool. It never hit the red. I let it cool to a run temp and moved to get near a water source and popped the hood. I realize the belt is loose. My investigation noticed the belt was off the crank pulley/harmonic balancer. Then WTF the pulley was loose. I have never seen a harmonic balancer come apart and I've been turning wrenches for 45 years.

Here's where I went down the wrong decision path. I pulled the belt off and decided to drive it home and change it. I knew I could get home before overheating. I definitely wasn't wrong about that part anyway.

So, here we go.

About half-way home the engine light stated flashing, I started feeling kickback from what felt like crossfire and the engine was fighting itself. I made it home and it would idle (but rough with kickback). I replaced pulley and restarted. Unfortunately, it idles rough with kickback, the higher the load the harder the kickback gets. It's not knocking.

I reset the ECM twice, nothing.

My last thoughts, damaged sensor, damaged plugs, damaged timing chain, or worse case, physical damage to the engine, bearings, crank, etc.

Here's where you come in and tell me you know what the problem is and here's how to fix it.

If the harmonic dampener was toast ,tow it home and order one?so you drove it with no belt on it?

 

[LostintheForest]

If I had to guess it was overheated and you have a compression leak somewhere. Oops

[note to self: replace balancer asap]

 

[TeeR]

Yep to all yalls roasts, I deserve them.

For yalls questions, It was about 4 miles. Yes I drove it without a belt. I do in fact know it was a stupid move.

Thanks for the replies. I will check the compression, perform the leak down test, drain and check the oil for surprises.

Forgot to include in my original post. I popped codes PO300, PO302, and PO304. So Random misfire with cylinders 2 and 4. I'm definitely leaning toward a super heat and the blown head gasket direction. I will also update my original post to include the coding.

I've got a lot going on and this will all take a few days, will update when I know more.

 

[Moglocker]

Yep to all yalls roasts, I deserve them.

For yalls questions, It was about 4 miles. Yes I drove it without a belt. I do in fact know it was a stupid move.

Thanks for the replies. I will check the compression, perform the leak down test, drain and check the oil for surprises.

Forgot to include in my original post. I popped codes PO300, PO302, and PO304. So Random misfire with cylinders 2 and 4. I'm definitely leaning toward a super heat and the blown head gasket direction. I will also update my original post to include the coding.

I've got a lot going on and this will all take a few days, will update when I know more.

Yep to all yalls roasts, I deserve them.

For yalls questions, It was about 4 miles. Yes I drove it without a belt. I do in fact know it was a stupid move.

Thanks for the replies. I will check the compression, perform the leak down test, drain and check the oil for surprises.

Forgot to include in my original post. I popped codes PO300, PO302, and PO304. So Random misfire with cylinders 2 and 4. I'm definitely leaning toward a super heat and the blown head gasket direction. I will also update my original post to include the coding.

I've got a lot going on and this will all take a few days, will update when I know more.

You have the good head with an 03 year,but that’s where they crack ,