Signs of broken timing belt?

So I started a thread here before I had all the info:

http://www.aveoforum.com/forum/f82/a...03/#post160779

Upon further inspection and more thinking, I came up with this...If you remove the oil filler cap, I believe you can see the lobes of the cam shaft, correct? And if the timing belt were properly in place, the cam shaft would spin as you cranked the engine, correct?

If my above assumptions are correct, then I'm going to venture and say the timing belt broke, because the cam doesn't move at all. All seem right?

I already searched this forum for a "how-to" on timing belt replacement and it seems pretty straight forward. So I'll dive in once I know that I am tackling this correctly.

Thanks again guys.

If the timing belt is broken, then you will have valve damage at the very least. You can also see it under the cover as well if it did break.

ARGH...because the pistons wold continue to move for a short time, but the valve train would not, correct? I don't have access to the car right now, but I'll can you see under the cover without starting to move things first?

Usually when people have the timing belts break, the valves suffer damage like that, but normally everything else is fine. The pistons can sometimes suffer damage as well, but not often. When was the timing belt last done? It may not even be broken, you would know if it broke or not by the sound. Have you checked the coil pack/plugs yet as well? Fuel pump is another thing to check if the belt is not broken.

But again, how many miles ago was the belt changed?

Not sure if the belt was EVER changed. It's my fiance's car and I've haven't been "in charge" of maintenance for the entire time she's owned the car. She's got 134K on the clock now. Can you check out the video and see if that's the "sound" you refer to?

Aveo No Start - YouTube

I meant the sound you hear when the belt breaks :D, have you seen the car again or will see it soon?

did you say if the crank pulley is spinning when you try to start it? the high pitch spin sounds like the starter does not engage to spin the engine. but its just a video, so i dont know how "loud" it is for you.

Rabbit: I believe the crank spins, as when the key is turned, the belt does move across all the other pulleys. In a parking lot, I really couldn't see the crank. I was also thinking the starter, just based on the sound, BUT that doesn't explain why is just died in traffic.

Hunterooo: As far as the sound, I wasn't in the car when it happened, but she said it sounds like something "came off." She thought it was the serpentine belt, but that's still in place.

Just take the timing belt cover off and see if its all there yet.