maybe the timing belt?

let me just start by saying that if this is the wrong forum to post this in i am sorry, but i posted the same thing in the general help forum and got no response. I have never seen anything like this before and my machanical skills are limited so i need opinions from people who know what they are talking about and i figured that this forum would be a good start.


let me start my stating that my car as far as i knew needed a new balljoint on the right tire as well as a tie rod i'm not sure which end. It also had an exhaust leak where the down pipe met the cat. For point of reference i have a 1999 gs eclispe. my car also made some annoying whining noise from the accesory belt area. I'm still not sure what it is.

with that out of the way heres what happened. i was driving home from work and just about three blocks from my house the car broke. I came to a stop sign stoped and the put the car in first and started to go. I gave it alittle to much gas so it was a quick take off but i didnt burn the tires at all.

LUOD CRACK, LOUD POP, Motor sputtered alittle.

I pulled over turned the car off and checked my oil, checked my belt, looked for fluids, checked the tires.

The oil was low and dirty but is was in there, belt was tight, didnt see any fluids on anything or under the car, tires seemed to be being held in place firmly.

So i turned the car back on and now i'm STUMPED. idle's normally, clutch worked, drove straight, but was making all kinds of loud noises.

the motor was really loud sounded like the exhaust came apart but i checked under the car and there was'nt any smoke coming outta anything. The whining noise from the belt area was considerably louder then normal and seemed to being making a scraping noise too. when i drove it the three blocks home i heard metal scraping on metal noises.

so i turned the car on again today and it starts but it sputters to life, once on though it idles normally. after listening to it again it seems as though the noise is primarily coming from behind the block on the left side , where my timing belt is. its making so much noise though its kinda hard to tell exactly where its coming from so thats just a guess.

i am wondering if maybe its a blown gasket or a bearing of some sort or if it has something to do with the timing belt.

well thats the story how it happened. I just wanted to have some vauge idea of what this might be for when i some how get it to the mahanic.

-thanks