Engine noises then engine dead - Thoughts appreciated

[frood]

Vehicle: 1993 Subaru Legacy Wagon AWD 2.2 NA
Oil changed every 3000 mi or less (no kidding)


Hi gang. Well, I've noticed for a couple of months now some mild squeaking/chirping from time to time coming from the engine somewhere and it's been getting progressively more frequent. Usually when cold, but sometimes when idling)

Was driving home when it started happening again and again, tried to get it up the hill near home and it died on the way up. Here is what I can tell you:

-When the car died, it did so when the skritch/skreek noise was bad, then nothing.
-Before the engine cut out, the car was firing/running perfectly, as always (except for the odd noise)
-Did not overheat, no caution lights beforehand
-Tried restart, engine cranked, but would not even try to catch
-while cranking, the 'check engine' light lit up at regular intervals (like one light every 2 turns or so), as though it lost track of something that should have said "here I am!".

Now, I -bet- the timing belt toasted itself. But WHY would it toast itself? And what was the skritching/squaking?

Should I be thinking seized water pump destroying timing belt? Camshaft bearings and seized cam? Could bearings in a belt tensioner seize then destroy the belt?

I read the 1992 2.2 is a non-interference, how about the 1993?

Any gentle words of reassurnace would be appreciated... =)
Cheers,
Chris, Pittsburgh PA

[JasonGrahn]

last time i heard a loud chip/skreetch noise before an engine died was back when i had suzuki samurai. somehow the oil pickup line became clogged and the engine was receiving no oil - engine siezed.


If you want to check if the timing belt snapped, pull off one of the timing belt covers to the right or left of the crank.

[Tleg93]

Engine was still cranking...probably not siezed up. Well, maybe it's the alternator.

[Legacy777]

Please only post one thread and in the correct forum. I'm going to close this thread, so all conversation can continue in the other forum.