timing belt.
- liconhomeie
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timing belt.
'05 neon SRT-D. been doing a lot of readings on these forums the past few days. heard a lot of people saying there timing belt crapped out. most of them seem to be the pre-'03 models at about 100k. i have 122k on my SRT-D. haven't noticed anything telling me the timing belt is going. still runs perfect. i dont really have the proper jacks/ stands to do the replacement job myself or i wouldn't be asking this i would just do it my self. but since a shop is going to charge me anywhere from 600-1000 bucks to replace all that stuff is it something that i need to worry about with my engine? or can i blow it off until i can afford to comfortably blow 1000 bucks on something thats not broken?
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- sidepipe87
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As long as you're ok spending bigmoney to rebuild the head, or buy a rebuilt one, sure, drive it until it snaps and destroys your valves... That said, no, it isn't a good idea to let it go you're pressig your luck as it is at that mileage. I'm not sure what "signs" you're expexting to see before failure, but you'll have none other than the car dying on you while driving if it snaps while driving. A Gates timing kit (belt, water pump, tensioner) isn't much over $100. If you're mechanically inclined it can be done in 3-6 hrs with hand tools. If you aren't pay a shop or a local to do it for you... Better safe than sorry.
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- liconhomeie
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Then buy the tools. I'm surprised you don't have a jack or stand. It's cheaper. The worst part of it all is that it requires patience. That's about it. I'm thinking you won't spend more than $300 for everything. When you have about 9 hours to yourself, spend that time changing the timing belt and possibly waterpump, too.
For what I understand, a person has to unbolt the engine mounts, which requires the engine to be on a jack so it doesn't fall down and out of the Neon.
HOW TO: viewtopic.php?t=11028
For what I understand, a person has to unbolt the engine mounts, which requires the engine to be on a jack so it doesn't fall down and out of the Neon.
HOW TO: viewtopic.php?t=11028
- renegade83
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A cheap wal mart floor jack/stands will do the job. You don't need a high dollar jack to lift a neon, let alone the engine.
You can "rent" the harmonic balancer puller from most chain parts stores for a refundable upon return ~$75. When I got a decent one I just kept it. Have used it more than a few times since, so it has saved me at least the $75 in time and travel.
But for most, there is no reason to keep it. The water pump isn't really an option, as a percentage of the time, the water pump is what takes out the belt. It is the same amount of work to replace anything behind the timing cover, so you may as well do it all at once.
The accessory drive tensioner/motor mount plate is up to you if you want to spend for a new one. It is not as bad as changing the timing components, but still requires the jack and lifting/lowering the engine to change.
You can "rent" the harmonic balancer puller from most chain parts stores for a refundable upon return ~$75. When I got a decent one I just kept it. Have used it more than a few times since, so it has saved me at least the $75 in time and travel.
But for most, there is no reason to keep it. The water pump isn't really an option, as a percentage of the time, the water pump is what takes out the belt. It is the same amount of work to replace anything behind the timing cover, so you may as well do it all at once.
The accessory drive tensioner/motor mount plate is up to you if you want to spend for a new one. It is not as bad as changing the timing components, but still requires the jack and lifting/lowering the engine to change.
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
- renegade83
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- sidepipe87
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Gates timing belt set $118 shipped
If you really don't have a floor jack...
Harbor Freight low pro floor jack $90
They always have 20% off coupons
or stands...
Harbor Freight jack stands $25 Again, %20 off coupon
Rent the puller for $75
AutoZone Chrysler harmonic balancer puller
Sooo $118+$72+$20 +$75 = $285
-$75 after rental return. $210 is what you're out plus your time
If you really don't have a floor jack...
Harbor Freight low pro floor jack $90
They always have 20% off coupons
or stands...
Harbor Freight jack stands $25 Again, %20 off coupon
Rent the puller for $75
AutoZone Chrysler harmonic balancer puller
Sooo $118+$72+$20 +$75 = $285
-$75 after rental return. $210 is what you're out plus your time
PM me for your 00+ PCM SKIM/VIN flashing needs. Neon PCMs Plus
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I paid less than $30 for the jack that I brought to Carlisle, I have had it since 2007. I think they may be $40ish now at Wally World. So you could still knock a few dollars off that. It is a low profile type, but weighs more. IIRC it is also 2.25 ton.
Of course a nice lightweight jack is tempting....
Of course a nice lightweight jack is tempting....
Bill
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCMOlha Koba, a psychologist in Kyiv, said that “anger and hate in this situation is a normal reaction and important to validate.” But it is important to channel it into something useful, she said, such as making incendiary bombs out of empty bottles.
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
2021 Forester
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- renegade83
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For me the water pump failed right after paying $500 to have the rear engine mount and trans mount replaced...a week after to be exact....then when replacing water pump etc I was kicking myself in the ass after realizing how easy it would have been to just do it myself.Donkeypuncher wrote:And for the love of god, replace the rear engine mount while it's all apart. It seems like it always fails soon after people do their timing belt.
I just did mine on my 01 in about 3 days, working a few hours each day, and I had to do the timing belt twice beause my 30K old water pump started leaking.
So many neons so little time.
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- sidepipe87
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not sure where the comments about water pump and tensioner are coming from, but it's a given they need to be replaced and are all included in that $118 Gates set.
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- liconhomeie
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ok guys. ive decided to go ahead and change it myself. i went over to the pawn shop next door and got me a 3 ton jack and stands and a torque wrench.so now i have all the tools i need. but my next question is.what replacement parts(belt, tensioner, pump) are going to give me the best durability? i dont care so much about performance, but sometimes high grade performance parts will last longer. everything ive had to replace in my car so far, ive always gone high end. i really want this car to be around for awhile.and its already got 122k miles on it.
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- sidepipe87
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sidepipe87 wrote:Gates timing belt set $118 shipped
PM me for your 00+ PCM SKIM/VIN flashing needs. Neon PCMs Plus