Is a 2.4l Chrysler cirrus motor zero tolerance when timing belt breaks?

No, a 2.4L Chrysler Cirrus engine (referring to the Mitsubishi-designed 2.4L engine common in that era) is not zero-tolerance when the timing belt breaks. While a broken timing belt is extremely serious and *highly likely* to cause significant internal engine damage, it's not an absolute guarantee of total destruction.

The extent of the damage depends on several factors, including:

* Valve design: Interference engines (where pistons and valves occupy the same space) are more susceptible to damage than non-interference engines. The 2.4L in the Chrysler Cirrus is generally considered an interference engine, meaning a broken timing belt will likely cause valves to bend or break when they collide with the pistons.

* Speed at the time of breakage: A broken belt at high RPM will cause more severe damage than one at idle.

* The condition of the engine before the failure.

While the likelihood of significant damage is very high, it's not impossible to have *some* degree of repairable damage. However, repairs are likely to be expensive and may not be economically feasible compared to replacing the engine.

In short: While it's *highly probable* major internal damage will occur, calling it "zero-tolerance" is an oversimplification. The damage is almost certainly going to be extensive, requiring major repair or engine replacement.