As I was pulling out of my driveway today, my car made a loud POP sound- as if a part or gear dislodged or broke- just as I was shifting from R to 1st. The car was stopped and it was a normal shift without agression. There has been a rumbling/muffled sound from under the hood at idle- I assumed this to be due to a failing/wearing timing belt- so I thought that my timing belt may have snapped. The engine, however, was still running and there wasn't any smoke or scents from the car, nor any on-board warning signs. I immediately turned off the car and pushed it back on to my driveway and have not started it since. I have been driving all week with a few symptoms- a squeaky suspension in the front, the muffled sound at idle, and a louder muffled sound akin to the sound of an exhaust leak (I think)...also, the shifting seemed a lot rougher.
I have no expertise with cars and even less with mine in particular. All I did was to check the 2 belts to see if there is noticeable damage. They seem to be just fine; they are firm and apparently not torn. I am stumped about what to do and how to go about this. I am hoping to avoid towing it to a shop and paying for service, esp. if it is the tb. (The belt needs to be doen anyway so I will likely buy a kit and do it asap). Is it possible that the timing belt could have failed without any noticeable damage to it? If it did fail, could the engine still run-AT IDLE? I understand that it may not be the belt itself but one of the accompanying accesories that may have failed...has anyone who experienced a failed belt had a similar experience with theirs?....does any of this sound familiar??
I know the description is very vague but it just happened and I won't be able to take a better look at it until tomorrow evening...what else may it be, if any of this sounds familiar? The noise came while I tried to put it into 1st gear- btw I was not able to push the lever into 1st against the resistance- and sounded like it could have been a gear itself. Also, the car jerked a little when the noise came. Please help with any information...I am desperate. Thanks again.

 

If the timing belt or tensioner failed on you, it's very unlikely that your car would continue to run as it should. More likely, you'd have valve salad. Take a look at your accessory belts, motor mounts, exhaust hangers (one of mine broke on me awhile back with a similar pop), and brackets and mounts in general - specifically those around the moving parts of the engine. You may have had a clamp or a bolt snap off somewhere.

 

Is it likely that it may still be driveable?...to the shop that is? I just don't want to have the engine running if there is a chance that the timing or something else critical may be offset. But like I mentioned, after the pop it ran -@ idle- as usual.
BTW thanks for the tips, I will check tomorrow morning for bolts and belts and will check the exhaust line as well.

 

How could I check the valves?? I am ordering an ecs tb kit and will do that anyway become its time for it. I will also be adding an apr snub mount...which other engine mounts should I be looking for??
Also, is the "accessory belt" mentioned in the ecs kit the same thing as the serpentine belt?? (If not, is there one included)?.
LASTLY, what is the likeliness of this being transmission/drivetrain or gearbox related?? what could I look for to check for that?
Thanks again to all.