Mechanical query on a Navara

[terravista]

My mechanical background is not special but I am not in complete ignorance of it, and I need to know the feasibility of a problem.
A family friend bought a turbo diesel automatic Navara about 7 years old used with 180 000km on it 7 months ago and has a 12 months suspect warranty.
Driving from Rocky to Briseis last week, got to Gin Gin about 250 km, stopped and rested and on restart the check engine light came on. Car was running fine no overheating and fluids all good so they kept going.
400km later it was still all good.
Next morning it started but made a fuel starved noise for two seconds and was then fine. Nomechanical metal noises.
A code reader said the starter motor was the cause of the code.
Car started again fine and was taken to the shops and stopped.
Now it won't start, just get a clicking noise from the starter.
RACQ guy does not know why just that the engine won't turn. Warranty mechanic has diagnosed a jumped tooth on the timing belt and serious internal damage from piston meeting valve encounter.
My question is "is it possible to jump a tooth between stopping a sweet running engine and not being able to even turn it over on a restart"
Thanks
Ian

[Jeepers Creepers]

If what there saying is correct, its possible for a timing belt to, not so much jump a tooth, but more than likely stripped a tooth or three and bung the cam timing out.

First thing is to see if the engine can be turned over by hand and this may require the injectors coming out too, helping allow it to turn, if at all.

Some engines, can strip a timing belt with no damage and the 2 litre Cortina/escort engine comes to mind if it occurred at sensible revs.
Some engines however, a stripped belt means all sorts of hurt and pain, valves being the main bit, as the pistons can sometimes just be cleaned up and usually the hit to the wallet can be, shall we say, character building.

Find yourself and good diesel mechanic, assume the position and hang on. (two good bourbons may help with this bit)

[edz]

A long shot could be possible the starter is jammed on the flexplate ring gear due to both being worn ..   Or as Kev said.. Id be pulling the Timing belt cover / injectors and having a look see and try winding it over by hand [ dont force it though ] .

[doc evil]

Give the guys at QDAD in Goodna a call...... (07) 3381 9200.....they are fantastic.
Dylan (if Dylan answers the phone, say you know Adrian with the patrol) is extremely knowledgeable and will give you the good oil on what is what.

[chester ver2.0]

A long shot could be possible the starter is jammed on the flexplate ring gear due to both being worn ..   Or as Kev said.. Id be pulling the Timing belt cover / injectors and having a look see and try winding it over by hand [ dont force it though ] .

You can sometimes leave the car in gear and gently push it back and foward to unstick the starter

[Jeepers Creepers]

not if valves have hit pistons you won't.

[BBull]

If the fault code is starter motor I would first pull it out and have a look. If it is just clicking it may just be a stuffed starter. Look at the simple stuff first. Don't go pulling timing gear apart if you don't have to.
I would check battery voltage to make sure it is not flat either.

[Mitch92]

What model navara? The 2.5L models were a timing chain not timing belt. May be a minor difference but i know i would want my mechanic to be talking about the correct parts.

[Craig Tomkinson]

Hi Ian, If its the 2,5lt turbo intercooled D22 or D40 that motor is notorious for timing chain troubles at around then ks, if your motor was not serviced regularly, But he would of heard the chain getting raterly and noisy, But having said that its an auto the fly wheel that the starter engages to is very thin so yes it could of jumped a tooth and jammed the starter, Id start there lots cheaper, Craig   

[terravista]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Apparently it does have a timing chain, but it seemed weird that from a drive to the shops, a few seconds idling to go to Park and turning off, whatever went wrong was between the stop and attempted re-start.
I would have thought teeth jumping would have been out of the equation.
Cheers.

[Craig Tomkinson]

Like I said pull the starter out and see, as if its the timing chain they are dear to buy and replace if he pays someone to do it, Craig

[#jonesy]

Is it covered by the warranty?

[terravista]

Is it covered by the warranty?

Still waiting for the alleged mechanic to determine what is actually wrong.
Two scans have both indicated the starter motor, the local warranty mechanic thinks valves had a relationship with the pistons.
The warranty, if the warranty is not a typical bogus scrap bit of paper, has a maximum repair cover of $4 000 and I think the mechanic will fill that in with a shaky hand.
When we find out more I will add to this post in case others get the same trouble.
Thanks

[terravista]

Supposedly a.locater guide wrapped around the cog and has cracked the cam and bent some valve stems.
Talking multiple thousands for a rebuild.
Still doesn't sound feasible to me in the circumstances.