Can an accident cause the timing chain in my Dodge Ram 1500 to break?
Asked by uncheels Feb 15, 2013 at 03:21 PM about the 2005 Dodge RAM 1500 ST Quad Cab 4WD
Question type: Maintenance & Repair
My son rear ended another vehicle with it. All the body work is now done, but they are now telling me that
due to the timing chain breaking the engine needs to be replaced. It ran fine right up until the accident. Of
course now the insurance company doesn't feel it was caused by the accident and isn't willing to pay for
this. I feel it must have been rattled and caused by the accident. I need some help in getting info for my
argument. Please help.
Thanks Tom
11 Answers
At what speed did he drill the other car? At 20mph, no, it in highly unlikely that it would push the grille and radiator and so forth in to the timing chain housing and cause it to either break or jump time. Now, if he tagged a car at 70, well, that will. But also, just WHO is telling you that? The body shop?
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
good point dave...why the nerve!!
We're the wrong guys to get info from. No insurance company is going to recognize a repair site as an authority. Try a dealership or large widely recognized repair facility. - -- I would say if the truck was running when the accident occurred and it doesn't run after the body work was done, it is the result of the accident. Insurance rates are going to increase anyways, get all that you deserve.
Get Allstate Insurance rates don't go up because of a accident.
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
get the damned chain serviced. nothing will change.
get a 2nd mechanic to look at it .... does it have compression? Its not the chain if it has compression. Sounds fishy to me. Unless it was a super nasty hit which I doubt cause it would have been totaled
just put a timing chain in it , there fuill of B/S im a Diamler Chrysler tech for seventeen years there pulling your leg man,,,,,,its probably fine to iv never heard of a chain breaking will in a accident sound fishy to me bud,,,,,probably a bad crank sensor and there to stupid and dont know what to do to start it ....
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
to answer your question NO, this probably isn't the case, just was hangin' on the hairy lasters and this event pushed it off the cliff!
migration_judge_roy answered 11 years ago
The timing chain busted on my Toyota 22RE. The timing cover had an oil pump that sorta worked, just cracked off the lip a little bit. Today the 'can of marbles' sound seems to have disappeared, and this old American 22RE engine has lasted. let's hope this Dodge Ram has the same willingness to want to live on after this catastrophic event.
My 02 Dakota small accident barely bent hood. Timing chain or gear broke at same time. 200 k. Probably time for one anyway. 4.7 4x4 4 door. Hit accord in ass. Don't act like u know it all previous comments. New to me too.
