I really don't have any car smarts but I can follow directions carefully. My timing belt broke and I have to get a new one but it's going to cost like $600 for the belt AND labor. So I'm hoping to be able to do it on my own. Any advice or is there a link you could provide to tell me how to replace it? A book to guide me through it?
2007-09-01 10:08:56 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
"...I really don't have any car smarts ..." really made the answer to this very clear. I have ALOT of car smarts, I know how to do a timing belt without instructions, and even I try to avoid doing this job. Parts are cheap, labor is horrible, and the newer the car, the more difficult it is.
If it is a 95 or newer car, bring it to the mechanic. If it is a 94 or older, bring it to the mechanic. This is truly a "penny wise, pound foolish" decision. If you take it all apart, can't get it back together, the mechanic will charge you $1200
2007-09-01 10:32:20 · answer #1 · answered by John Q Harris 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It really all depends on the make of the car, and the engine design. some are relatively easy to put on, others require an extensive front-of-the-motor tear-down to get to it.
Go to a used book store, and most have Chilton's or Haynes repair manuals. See if you can find one for your car. Or buy one online thru Amazon.com. They generally give you generic directions on what you have to take off to replace the belt.
Now, at $600, it sounds like much more than a belt. Did it bend the valves? Because if it did, you will have to replace much MORE than the belt, ie you will need some expensive head work. My wife's VW Scirocco cost $600 when her belt went, it bent some valves. Just replacing a belt shouldn't be that high, so it sounds like you're either getting ripped off, or you have cylinder head / engine damage. Some cars don't take well to the belt breaking, especially at high rpms. If that's what happened to yours, then just replacing the belt is NOT going to fix your car, did you find out EXACTLY what your $600 was going to get you? If not, you need to ask why it's so high, as a timing belt usually isn't that expensive, maybe $200 in the Washington DC Metro area. And this is an expensive area.
So, you don't say what kind of car you have, so can't tell if it's an easy one or not. Good luck!
- The Gremlin Guy -
2007-09-01 17:19:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the car. If it's and 82 Dodge Aries no problem. Anything older than that it difficult. You can mess up your timing, not tension it correctly, break a piston or ring when the new (not put on correctly) belt snaps if the piston is at top dead center. $600 sounds high. Where is the car? I am guessing it was towed to the $600 shop.
2007-09-01 17:17:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,take it to the dealer.If you have a interference engine then you probably ruined it.My Honda Accord was $600 at dealer for water pump,timing belt,balance shaft belt,and the 2 accessory belts.
2007-09-01 17:21:22 · answer #4 · answered by government curruption 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's very difficult to do without knowing what you're doing. Shop around..that sounds a bit high to me. Replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt etc has to be removed to get to it anyway...it's cheap insurance.
2007-09-01 17:13:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A whole lot of pieces have to come off just
to reach the timing belt, and getting it wrong
can trash the valve train.
I'd pick another project for Makee learnee.
2007-09-01 17:33:26 · answer #6 · answered by Irv S 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋