# Guess what went wrong with car, for fun? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 15, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409 "2025-05-15T15:30:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/1 "2025-05-15T15:30:53Z")
Ms. Napier’s 12 year old Toyota RAV4 broke down yesterday. One moment cruising down the highway at speed, then a loud noise, then major clattering noise and immediate total loss of engine power. Pulled over to shoulder, tried to start it and it turned over fine but never caught. Nothing visibly out of place in quick looks under hood and below car. Electrical accessories fine. No smoke or smells. Over the next 20 minutes a small puddle of coolant slowly gathered, but it wasn’t visible immediately and didn’t smell (it was windy). If you care, this car has a timing chain (not belt) and a non-interference engine. I haven’t thought of an explanation that covers everything. It’s at our mechanic’s now and I’m starting to get partial information on what actually happened. I think he’ll figure it all out and fix it, but meanwhile perhaps it’d be fun to guess. We will soon get a definitive answer and perhaps someone here will win the admiration of all for venturing the correct guess. This is just for entertainment. I’m not waiting on the Dope for a solution. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/2 "2025-05-15T15:33:50Z")
Heisenberg compensator on the fritz? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/3 "2025-05-15T15:36:26Z")
Timing chains, or their associated pulleys, can go. Doesn’t have to be a belt. Happened to two of my cars. One minute running, next poof! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/4 "2025-05-15T15:37:00Z")
What kind of mileage? It does sound somewhat like the old timing chain failed issue. I think it was the 80s Camaro where that happened far too frequently and often did additional damage. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/5 "2025-05-15T15:39:53Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Heisenberg compensator on the fritz? How does it work? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/6 "2025-05-15T15:44:36Z")
The [Heisenberg compensator](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Heisenberg_compensator) works around the problems caused by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, allowing the transporter sensors to compensate for their inability to determine both the position and momentum of the target particles to the same degree of accuracy. This ensures the matter stream remains coherent during transport, and no data is lost. If it’s not the Heisenberg compensator, maybe it’s the phase inducer? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/7 "2025-05-15T15:49:29Z")
The correct answer is, “very well, thank you”. To the OP, have you tried inverse phasing? Rerouting the plasma fields through the radio? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/8 "2025-05-15T15:50:20Z")
Yes, and often when they break, they wreck the cover, which may cause coolant to leak. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/9 "2025-05-15T15:51:12Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Timing chains, or their associated pulleys, can go. Doesn’t have to be a belt. Happened to two of my cars. One minute running, next poof! My first thought as well. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/10 "2025-05-15T15:52:28Z")
Timing. Chain broke or sprocket shed a tooth. Thankfully, as a non-interference engine, that (and associated timing case damage) may be the extent of the damage. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/11 "2025-05-15T15:53:18Z")
Hmm, not sure. When I saw “major clattering noise” my first thought was transmission or drivetrain, but I wouldn’t expect the engine to fail if it was one of those. The fact the engine failed and now doesn’t start sort of implies it is not a belt-coupled accessory (e.g. air conditioner compressor, alternator). Sounds internal to the engine. ☹ But that’s based on the limited information you have at this time. Am interested to hear what your mechanic discovers. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/12 "2025-05-15T15:55:19Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > How does it work? Unpredictably. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/13 "2025-05-15T15:57:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > How does it work? Consult the Book of Armaments! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/14 "2025-05-15T15:58:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Heisenberg compensator on the fritz? > [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The [Heisenberg compensator](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Heisenberg_compensator) works around the problems caused by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, allowing the transporter sensors to compensate for their inability to determine both the position and momentum of the target particles to the same degree of accuracy. Does this mean if it’s on the fritz, when you check the speedometer you no longer have any idea where you are? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/15 "2025-05-15T16:01:06Z")
For those who have never heard it: Heisenberg and Schrodinger are in a car They get pulled over. Heisenberg is driving and the cop asks him “Do you know how fast you were going?” “No, but I know exactly where I am” Heisenberg replies. The cop says “You were doing 55 in a 35.” Heisenberg throws up his hands and shouts “Great! Now I’m lost!” The cop thinks this is suspicious and orders him to pop open the trunk. He checks it out and says “Do you know you have a dead cat back here?” “We do now, asshole!” shouts Schrodinger. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/16 "2025-05-15T16:11:30Z")
I also have a 12 year old RAV4 - I’m going with “transfer case”. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/17 "2025-05-15T16:15:01Z")
Water pump shed its impeller. 2nd choice after timing chain. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/18 "2025-05-15T16:18:46Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Timing chains My guess, as well. Timing chains last longer than timing belts, which are typically living on borrowed time after about 60K miles. When they break, your car is dead on the road. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/19 "2025-05-15T16:19:36Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Water pump shed its impeller. My guess is a water pump failure leading to blown head gasket.. Toyota water pumps at that time sucked. I had a 2008 Lexus and luckily I stopped at a friends house before a 50 mile dive in stop and go. I go back out to my car and why is there a trail of coolant snaking its way behind my car and a rivulet of coolant going from under my car down the street? And the immediate failure? That happen during a family trip through Stockton because of a blown head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409/20 "2025-05-15T16:24:53Z")
An engine, in general, will run with a blown head gasket. It will even run “well”, for various meaning of well. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guess-what-went-wrong-with-car-for-fun/1018409.md?page=2)