96 Dodge Stratus 2.4L

[ryane27co]

I own a 96 Dodge Stratus 2.4 L. The timing belt went out while going 45mph. The mechanic says that it is a interference engine and that damage could have been done. He wants like 400 down to just put in the new timing belt, but the engine could still be shot. I also need a water pump for it also, but we should be able to tell after the belt is put in..Is this engine a interference or non interferece engine. I have heard both actually! Is it worth the gamble? I am not exactly rich..thank you please help!!!

[rhandwor]

I would pull the valve cover and look for problems. A timing belt should be around $250.00 installed.
I would talk to a machine shop they will tell you in a hurry. They can give you an estimate. These 4 cylinders are easy to do a belt on you could do the belt yourself. Then do a compression check. The damage depends on speed when it broke. You may also have a bad pulley in the system.
The last interference engine I worked on was a Volvo 6 cyl. and every valve was bent. This cost around $700.00 at the machine shop.
If the motor is an interference engine buy a scrap yard head and get a valve job. Call junk yards and check with a machine shop. Have your mechanic give you a quote to R&R the head and and a install a new timing belt. Buy the head and pay the machine shop your self as he will mark up all parts.