Honda Car Forum

I went to looked at a 92 vigor. I noticed the timing cover was in two pieces
(at least it looked this way), and the top portion of the timing cover was
missing. The lady said she was not aware of this and stated she has been
driving it for the past year like this......isn't this a bad thing and that
I should stay away? Could dirt, rocks etc get down there to cause major
engine concerns?

Pls advise on this.

The belt was changed at not too long ago.
"Jafir Elkurd" <jafir@nospam.no.spam.hotpop.com> wrote in message
news:vmgkedmc3qro87@corp.supernews.com...
> How many miles are on the car? It may be time for a new timing belt
anyway.
>
> "Telegram" <wlynch@cablerocket.com> wrote in message
> news:3f681f49$0$16182$2c56edd9@news.cablerocket.co m...
> > I went to looked at a 92 vigor. I noticed the timing cover was in two
> pieces
> > (at least it looked this way), and the top portion of the timing cover
was
> > missing. The lady said she was not aware of this and stated she has been
> > driving it for the past year like this......isn't this a bad thing and
> that
> > I should stay away? Could dirt, rocks etc get down there to cause major
> > engine concerns?
> >
> > Pls advise on this.
> >
> >
>
>

Yes, dirt, rocks, etc can get down in there. I once had a VW rabbit that
had just a small gap in the cover. It eventually got a pebble in there and
the belt caught it and slipped a tooth.

Sounds like whoever changed the belt lost the top cover and maybe some other
parts as well . If you buy it, you should replace the cover, which is not
that big a deal. The cover serves no mechanical purpose. It only exists to
keep crud off the belt. If any damage has been done you would know it
immediately on the test drive. The engine either will be very rough running,
or the car will have no power if the belt has jumped a tooth.

Look carefully to make sure the mounting surface & bolt holes have not been
damaged or stripped out. I would run from it if that were the case.

Bottom line - If you are looking for a reason to duck out of buying, this is
a good enough reason. The car has obviously suffered some incompetent
maintenance. If you like the car, the price is right, and this is the only
thing wrong with it, subtract the cost of replacing the cover from your
offer & see if she'll go for it.

On 9/17/03 8:57 AM, in article
3f686d62$0$16181$2c56edd9@news.cablerocket.com, "Telegram"
<wlynch@cablerocket.com> wrote:

> The belt was changed at not too long ago.
> "Jafir Elkurd" <jafir@nospam.no.spam.hotpop.com> wrote in message
> news:vmgkedmc3qro87@corp.supernews.com...
>> How many miles are on the car? It may be time for a new timing belt
> anyway.
>>
>> "Telegram" <wlynch@cablerocket.com> wrote in message
>> news:3f681f49$0$16182$2c56edd9@news.cablerocket.co m...
>>> I went to looked at a 92 vigor. I noticed the timing cover was in two
>> pieces
>>> (at least it looked this way), and the top portion of the timing cover
> was
>>> missing. The lady said she was not aware of this and stated she has been
>>> driving it for the past year like this......isn't this a bad thing and
>> that
>>> I should stay away? Could dirt, rocks etc get down there to cause major
>>> engine concerns?
>>>
>>> Pls advise on this.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>