What are the symptoms of a broken timing belt?

[GraceFitz]

The symptoms of a broken timing belt: sudden engine shutdown while driving. If the belt is broken, the engine cannot be restarted, or you may only hear the engine idling without starting. The timing belt is a crucial component of the engine's valve timing system. It connects to the crankshaft and operates at a specific gear ratio to ensure accurate intake and exhaust timing. When the timing belt breaks, the connection between the camshaft and crankshaft is interrupted. Without power from the crankshaft, the camshaft can no longer control the opening and closing of the valves, and the pistons, due to inertia, may bend the valve stems. If the engine is running at high RPMs, the pistons may also suffer from ablation damage, and in severe cases, this can lead directly to engine failure.