When you change the timing belt do you have to change the cam seals?

Question

i have a 1997 dodge intrepid 3.5 engine v6 and i have been having some problems first the check engine light came on had it checked at auto zone and it said o2 sensors so now i have had all 4 o2 sensors changed and i noticed that oil was leaking lightly when the mechanic was changing the sensors and he told me that it was the cam seals! but he changed the timing belt in march so i wanted to know if he was supposed to change the cam seals also? He also told me that i have a bad cradle mount! what is that?

Answer 1

When changing the timing belt most mechanics will change the cam seals also. If does not make sense to change them later especially when you're in the same vicinity.

Answer 2

Timing belt change does not mean to change the cam seals at the same time. Not a bad idea but not needed in many cases. It may be the seal was not leaking then. Cradle is in some cases what your engine is attached to so it don't fall out of the car. Some are a U or Y shaped bracket that resembles a cradle for your engine to sit in. The rubber mount pads get compacted and hard to let the engine vibrate and move too much. Also allows a lot of noise to be transferred to the body of the car. Motor mounts is the more common term.

Answer 3

First things first you told him the camshaft seals were leaking and he did not replace them when the timing belt was done? Should have could have would have? The front motor mount is sometimes called engine cradle mount. Slap that mechanic! Get him to go back in for free if you hame him replace the motor mount

Answer 4

Timing belt is a totally separate job from cam seals, in fact you wouldn't necessarily even see them with a simple timing belt change.

I have no idea what he means by cradle mount, but the best way to find out would be to ask him. "What is it, and is it dangerous?"