What is the quickest way to determine if the timing chain is broken? My car does not start (after a sudden stop on the highway) and I have tried changing fuel filters, pump.....the timing chain is all that I can think of.

If the timing chain is broken, Is it difficult to fix.

Thanks, Goodmite

Did it stop suddenly or die slowly?

If the engine will turn over, take the oil cap off, put someone in the car and crank the starter, if you see the camshaft turning, the timing chain is not broken.

If the timing chain broke, start looking for a new car. A top-end rebuild is needed as this is an interference engine, the valves will be bent from the pistons colliding with them.

You may have noticed some amount of rattling, if the timing chain was on its way out. They make noise just before they go, then it is a sudden stop (and clank as the valves collide at highspeed with the cylinders). Also, while trying to crank your engine, it will sound irregular (uneven) and unusually slow (as no valves are oppening/closing).

If this happened you could have: bent rods, damaged cylinders, damaged pistons, bent/broken valves, damaged sprockets, broken parts being sucked into your still fiercly spinning turbo destroying it, etc. etc. etc... Hope it's not this. Throwing a chain is much more deadly in a diesel because the clearances are so much more exact than a gas engine.

Hope this helps & hope it's not it. Just as another thought, I don't know many MB diesels that throw a chain, considering how hefty they are. Probally fuel injection related (most likely) but not sure.

ATLD

In response to those who posted replies:

Thanks, The car died suddenly while driving on the highway. Second, the symptons sound similar to what the second reply indicated, ie uneven cranking, etc. I will pull oil cap to observe if camshaft is moving in order to determine if timing belt is broken.

Thanks, Goodmite