my timing belt is broken, do i need to change my engine?
What is your question?
My car suddenly stopped last week and i got it towed to a mechanic who told me my timing belt had broken and I would have to have the whole engine replaced to fix the car. I got it towed back home and the person who towed it asked me to get a second opinion because he believes that just a normal replacement of the belt should do.
I also want to add that I had taken my car to this mechanic because my engine light was on and he told me that the engine mount was bad, not the timing belt. Is it something that snaps all of a sudden?
Thank you
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Hi, my name is Devin. I am an auto repair expert with the Car Genius team here at RepairPal. So sorry to hear you're having trouble with your RX330.
A timing belt snapping with no warning is pretty common, as the belt is not easily visible for inspection. A broken timing belt can be a serious issue, but whether or not you need a new engine depends on your vehicle's engine type. Technically, the engine in your car is an interference design, meaning that a broken timing belt could cause internal engine damage. That said, it is very common that the 3MZ-FE engine does not sustain internal damage when a timing belt breaks. So, it's very possible that replacing the timing belt could get your car running again. I recommend getting a second opinion from another mechanic to confirm.
If you need more advice, have any other questions about your vehicle, or would like to get connected to a RepairPal Certified shop near you, we have you covered. Give us a call at 877-913-1554, and we will happily help you out!
