i have a 1988 ford escort that i got from my grandmother.it has 41thousand miles on it.my timing belt on it ri

Question

pped.how much will this cost to fix and is it worth fixing?it seems like when you put new parts in old cars everything starts to break!

Answer 1

When you mean ripped you mean the belt is just torn but still on the car or do you actually mean the belt broke. As far as wheather it's worth it or not that depends on what type of engine you got. If it's a non-interface engine meaning the pistons will never go to the point to touch the vavles then it's worth it. However I'm thinking this is a interface engine which describes most engines. In that case more then likely the piston fully extended and bent the intake/exhaust valves. You will have to remove the cylidner head and replace those compoenets. There could be a possiblity that it damaged the vavle guides as well. So more then likely it's not really worth it and for a ford more then likely not worth it at all...

Answer 2

have the valves check. Some cars have small valve clearance (like honda and acura) and when timing belt breaks the valves bends. Also since the car is old and while you have timing belt change have the seal check for leak and also the idler and there's another one that I forgot the name (mechanic should know). Also while doing timing belt since it's in the way have the water pump check if ok. Labor depends on where you live. Do shop around first for rates and reputable mechanic. More better if you know somebody. For old cards you change timing belt every 50k miles. I would go with original ford belt. The belt should be cheaper for old cars like $50 or less.

To avoid getting rip-off in repairs you have to know how long it takes to have it fix. I think it takes 2-3 hrs for timing belt (not really sure since I have my car fix awhile back). it will be easier to them since it's a routine job. Some try to rip you off if you don't know. The mech I went to use the that auto software for labor rates.

I have an 90 celica and bought my belt online at a toyota site for $28 and other toyota parts (I prefer to use OEM toyota parts). Since I have 100,000+ miles I have to change the ones I mentioned above plus the valve cover gasket and plug seals. I bought the parts to a mechanic and I ended up paying $600 this includes oil change (synthetic). Labor $80/hr. That's the reasonable I could find and the shop is reputable. Some gas stations here charge $90 because car dealership nearby goes to them for repairs of used car to be sold. labor cost really depends on where you live. I heard some place charge $50/hr. So do shop around.

If you buy a car, think of the monthly payment you're going to pay + tax. If you buy a used car who knows if timing belt have been changed too (newer cars is around $100k before replacing belt) and how it was driven by the previous owner and maintenance of the car. also the axles of the car, shocks last at 90k and will start to break down.

At 41,000 miles that still a good car if not abuse and have a regular oil change. Do have all fluids check and also flush the radiator if you haven't, also check the spark plugs and wires.

Answer 3

The reason your timing belt broke is the water pump froze up!I am a mechanic for over 30 years.You should replace both the belt and pump at the same time!Do not do one without the other.I have put over 400.000 miles on escorts they are a very good car.Your cost should be around $200 so shop around and good luck.Rick

Answer 4

Hi. It depends on your area as to what it will cost to fix. Yes it is worth fixing. Some of the answers you got are from people that have HEARD about belts and have no idea what is going on, and others know what they are talking about. A 41000 mile car that has been taken care of is almost as good as new!!

Answer 5

Most time around 200 dollars just for the labor and parts for a belt. I would replace the water pump while I was doing it, due to the timing belt turns the pump and the pump could be bad and caused the belt to break.

Answer 6

You've gotten several good answers.

On Your particular,,it is one which is NOT KNOWN to cause internal engine damage when the timing belt breaks.
Whew!:)

Earlier Escorts were not so fortunate.

Timing Belts are considered ROUTINE Scheduled Maintainence items.

The time/mileage Schedule varies from car-to-car.
Most are between 50,000mi and 100,000,I'd suppose.

Consider that the recommended MILEAGE is based on "Average Driving" which is usually judged to be 15~20,000 miles per Year.

So,,50,000Miles would equal about 3 Years.
Or,,"Change your belt every 50,000 or 3 Years,whichever comes 1st" type of deal.

Your Escort's Sheduled Interval happens to be 60,000miles.
(Or,,an implied 3~4 Years,,,right?)
41,000mi may seem like a Premature Failure according strictly to Mileage.

But by AGE,,it's WAY overdue.
It's lasted ...17~18 Years??!!!:)
Not Too Bad for a "4 Year Life Belt"

TIME and natural decay of the material it's made of has as much of an affect on those kind of parts,,as sheer Mileage does.

Point is,,,The Belt's failure at this stage can be considered NORMAL & EXPECTED.
It's actually way overdue.

Which suggests there's probably Nothing WRONG with the car that would have caused that.
Not much different than tires or battery wearing out,,or oil & filters needing to be changed.
Just "Routine maintenance".

41,000 is WAY LOW mileage,,and it the car was doing good & in good condition otherwise,,
You'd probably have a good solid car to invest the repair $$ in.

One Answerer here who stated he was a Long Time Mechanic with lots of experience,,especially on Escots made a VERY GOOD point.

He said that in his experience with Those cars,,,the Belt Drives the Water Pump also.
And that a fault in the water pump can cause the Belt to fail (if Pump locks up and stops turning).
Makes PERFECT SENSE to me,,,and it should be easy to understand for anyone.

Have that Water Pump CHECKED,,Definitely.

Reason I'm making a point of Confirming what the other fellow said is this,,
Car Mechanics have always sorta lived under a "cloud of suspicion" especially from Customers who dont KNOW the mechanic .
Most Mechanics are LOTS better PEOPLE ( and techs)than old stories make them out to be.

They're Experinced Pros,,,and they know what to LOOK for.
They see or find stuff on cars,,that the OWNER had No Idea was bad/broke/wrong.

And especially when they are working on a Specific Prob,,they very often find additional or related probs.
And even consequential damage or wear to OTHER parts.

Since that always "NEWS" to the CUSTOMER,,,The Shop/Techicians ,,Car Fixin' Biz, in general,,gets a reputation for
"Every Time I bring my car in,,they find a Million things Wrong that I didn't even have any problem with!!!"

To CUSTOMERS,,,that seems like the Shops & Techs are feeding them a line of BS to make extra $$$.

But in REALITY,,it's usually TRUE that they DO find a buncha "other stuff wrong".
They're Skilled & Experienced,,they KNOW what to look for,,and can see things that Non-mechanics would never see.

The Other Fellow who answered about the Water Pump is a perfect Example.
His EXPERIENCE & Skill KNOWS that often times when That Belt fails on Those Cars....To Look for a Faulty Water Pump as a possible underlying cause,,or a contributing cause

The gentleman gave you some valuable advice.
Most Professional type Shops would Know to check any/all devices that influence that Belt,,all the pulleys & rollers & gizmos.

But if You happen to an Individual do the job,,a friend or "home mechanic type",,,they may get the Belt replaced fine,,but NOT be aware to check the other stuff.
Ya know??

So,,now You're armed with More Info and can be a better "shopper" for a Repair service.

One last thing,,for Future Reffernce....

Not many years ago,,almost NO cars had Timing Belts that needed Scheduled Replacement.

In last several years it has become COMMON among the more Modern Cars/Engine Types.

Our "Grandparents" did NOT have to worry about it.

WE Today,,DO...not "worry",,but KNOW.

Going forward thru the Future,,,
WHATEVER car You might have,,,
It's Important to KNOW about that TIMING BELT's maintainence schedule.

It WILL break,,and engine WILL STOP,and nothing fixes it except a replacement.

So you AVOID breakdowns by following the Schedule.
Folks on TIGHT BUDGETS,,,can anticipate the repair cost.
If Ya KNOW it's coming,,Ya can SAVE for it,,shop around for a Good Shop,or Cheap Shop,,or a Capable Individual to do the work.
Beats getting BLIND-SIDED by the break-down and the Expense.
Make Sense?

Also VERY Important to KNOW is this,,
You notice how many folks answered,,,"It will DAMAGE the Engine if it Breaks",,and others who said,,"It Wont damage the engine..".

They're "BOTH CORRECT",,,but Depending on WHICH SPECIFIC CAR

Some cars WILL 100% Definitely be DAMAGED BAD,,it's very Expensive,,Major Damage in most cases.

Other Cars will stop running if the timing belt breaks(they'll ALL stop running),,
But there will be NO Other damage,,just the broken belt.

Got it?
SOME cars,,Horrible Damage
Other Cars,,NO damage.

A person TRULY,TRULY NEEDS to which WHICH "Type" of Car theirs is.

If a car you have happens to be one which IS damaged bad by a broken belt..
You gotta be RELIGOUS in maintaining it according to schedules,etc to PREVENT the belt from ever breaking.
Dangerous Risk to "put it off" a couple months cuz you're too busy,or budget's tight,or just plain procrastinate.
It's a Lesson ya NEVER want to learn the Hard Way.

On the other hand,,if Reliable Sources confirm YOUR SPECIFIC car is NOT knwo to damage itself from a broken timing belt,,,
That's Gotta be a big releif,,,and You wont hafta be quite so committed to Preventing it.
A broken belt WILL make engine die,,but Finacially it wont kill YOU.
You can fudge on the schedule a bit without taking a horrible risk.

You can also Apply That when BUYING a car,,New or USED.
Find Out from ,,,not the Salesman or the Seller--but from a Reliable Service Center or Dealership WHICH TYPE car it is ,,in terms of Timing Belt damage.
The Question to ask is:
" IF Belt Breaks on THIS PARTICULAR CAR,,
will Engine be Destroyed or does it Survive? "

That should be Important part of a Car Buying Decision,,in my opinion.
You can decide whatever ya want,,but at least you'll KNOW facts about ownership & maintainence Beforehand.
In the Bad cases,,it's an UGLY and Expensive surprise.

I'm saying "YOU" alot,,but it applies to Everyone.
We just have not developed the habit yet of KNOWING/ASKING about what type of Timing Belt & it's Maitenace Schedule yet.
Tell your friends& family,,teach your kids,,spread the word!!lol:)
It can save somebody an inconvenient breakdown,,or a serious expense

*On Used Cars,,ya may find a SUPER one someday.
Consider that darn belt situation,,Might be worth just putting a new one no matter what,,so You'll KNOW for CERTAIN where to start the "countdown" to eventual required replacement of the belt.

AutoZone .com ,,of all places,,,happens to have an illustrated Replacement Procedure/Instructions for your particular car,,,if ya wanna take a look.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/11/ec/ba/0900823d8011ecba.jsp

Your lil' Escort is a nice car,,and with amazing low mileage,
You oughta get much good use out of it for quite a while.
All the Answerers who said to Keep Oil & Fluids changed good,,I agree 200%.
that's cheap insurance and will save you a bunch in the longrun,,,even helps on re-sale value when a car is obviously well-maintaned.

Enough outa me now.
Good Luck,Drive Careful,,have fun!

Answer 7

I drive a Honda Beater and it cost about 700 Dollars for that kinda repair... and mine didn't break yet. if it does i would say that it is gonna really mess up the engine.... is it worth it to you?

Answer 8

Fix it. worst case 350.00 parts and labor. Cheaper than buying another car that might do the same thing in a month.

Answer 9

Hey, maybe your Grandma "clocked" the car. I would send the big boys around to see her...........

Just joking!

Answer 10

you should just drive it. a new belt would b good but it will probly go 125,000 miles befor it breaks. thank granny.