60k mi. Timing Belt cost

[Nayr747]

Don't know if this is "performance" or not. I called a couple shops and was quoted 470 for JUST the timing belt and nothing else, and 770+ for timing belt, water pump, cam seals, and acc. belts. Just wanted to know if I'm getting ripped off or not. Another shop said $1000 for JUST the timing belt. LOL!

[david-b]

Rip off. You can do it yourself for much much cheaper. Probably will cost about $300 for everything at MOST!!

[Thor06]

Have you been known to swing a wrench? I would just do it yourself. Its kind of a pain in the ass, but its really not hard. Parts are cheap, its the labor they are boring your ass out with. If you cant, I would post up on a local DSM board, I bet someone would be willing to come help you out.

[NateS]

AT LEAST by the parts yourself... I just bought parts for a new head swap. Check this out...
Topline water pump kit $57
OEM timing belt $70
OEM hydrolic timing belt tensioner $74

Replacing the acc. can be a pain in the ass but, I'd rather do it myself than pay someone to do it.

[4g63gst20]

Originally Posted by david-b

Rip off. You can do it yourself for much much cheaper. Probably will cost about $300 for everything at MOST!!

yeah, if you follow the directions on VFAQ.com it'll be easy as pie. but whatever you do, make sure you get the mitsubishi timing belt, timing belt tensioner and water pump.I went with a checker timing belt trying to save about 40 dollars and it cost me 2 sets of valves. NOT WORTH IT,

[Nayr747]

I always thought doing a timing belt would be pretty hard, but maybe I could give it a shot. It's just sometimes I can be a complete retard and f something up bad. I'm gonna check vfaq (didn't even think of that). Thanks guys!

[david-b]

Where do you live? Anyone local?

[Nayr747]

Originally Posted by david-b

Where do you live? Anyone local?

I'm in Seattle. I don't think the people on posdsm would help me... lol. I printed the vfaq but haven't read through it yet. Do I need any special tools? I dont have air tools. But I can buy the cheap ones like the taps. The dsm was the first car I worked on at all so I'm just getting experience as I go. Eh, if I f it up, at least I gave it a shot.

[Thor06]

You will need a special tool to reset the tension, or you can have one made from one of those super long batter tie down bolts. Theres something in the VFAQ about it.

I am so glad I get to do all that shit while the new engine is out of the car. I would probably put my head in a vice if I had to do another in-car T belt job.

[NateS]

You do not need the special timing belt tensioner tool to do a timing belt job. Trust me last one I did I did not use the tool. Just follow the directions in VFAQ. A timing belt job is not hard at all just time consuming and lots of finger work. If I was you I would go buy a Haynes manuel. I printed out the VFAQ pages and ended buying a Haynes manuel anyway.

[Nayr747]

Well I've got the Chiltons manual, and factory service manual. I might just buy the Haynes too. Does it have a better timing belt part?

Ok, well Ive got a couple questions:
1) How much time would it take a complete novice to do it?
2) What to support the engine with? A jack and a piece of wood on the oil pan? Is there any way this could dent the oil pan because I've been lucky enough not to crankwalk so far.

[gthompson97]

for not using a special tool, I've never used one and never will and have done probably 10+ timing jobs on my own car and others.

A timing belt job will definitely be dependant on how good you are with your hands and figuring things out. I know it took me awhile the first time to get the timing correct. I would guestimate with taking everything apart to completely together about 6-8 hours on the high side. I can do it in 2, but I've done it more than a few.

[NateS]

It took me a good day to do it. I supported my engine with 2 two by fours spread out on my jack. It did not dent my oil pan. You just have to be extra careful. If your good at following directions and finger work than it should not be too hard for you but, I promise you will get frustrated at least once...

[defiancy]

If you have never done one, I would advise you to have a friend help you your first time. He doesn't have to be an almighty DSM god, but someone with a good general knowledge of cars and car maintenence, IE someone who has changed a timing belt before. Once you do it once you can do it again easy. But it's one of those things that if you fuck up you are going to end up paying for it.

[Nayr747]

Well, I dont know what to do now. I don't really have any friends that are good with cars. My bro's friends are all mechanics or work at body shops, but I dont know if they'd help me (or f something up), and they all hate mitsu.

On a side note, my gf told me she's past 120k and hasn't changed her belts EVER! As in it's the same belt that they put on the car when it was built, lol. Her mom told me she had over 200k miles on her car before the original belt snapped. Honda must make some great belts or something.