Maintanance: Timing belt

Moparguy4 · Post by **Moparguy4** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:21 pm

I've read the maintenance section and the owners manual reccomends changing at 102K miles. I was always told for the 4cyl Chrysler engines to change them at 60-70K.

What have you guys been seeing for a good reccomended milage?
My 05 OB is at 72K right now.

Also is the Goodyear belt any worse than the Gates? I read where the Gates is a little noisy at idle. I prefer to get the better quality stuff though.

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:28 pm

My Gates OEM belt isn't noisy at all. And I made it to ~110k before doing the belt... in fact, I just did it on Tuesday (see my thread right below/above this one).

Moparguy4 · Post by **Moparguy4** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:38 pm

I did see your thread. I was curious on the milage, your profile lists it at 55K LOL. I figured you had more.
I saw another thread that mulitple people said the Gates was noisy at idle.....
I will probably go with the Gates when needed. We usually drive about 5-6K a year so I may not worry about it for a couple years

.
I just got the car and I am doing so other maintenacne to it since the last owner put 30K on it in one year. Figured he probably didn't do much but drive it. It's getting an engine and trans oil & filter done and it needs new control arm bushings (went with Prothane). Thought maybe the timing belt too and I be good for a long time.

mopar2 · Post by **mopar2** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:55 pm

Nothing wrong with doing a lil preventative maintenance! Timing belt, water pump, tune up, fluids,etc etc etc!

sidepipe87 · Post by **sidepipe87** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 2:42 pm

I do them right around 100k

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 3:12 pm

Ya... I don't update my profile as much as I used to. And I've swapped clusters two times so I honestly have no idea what my real mileage is

but if I had to guess, it's around ~110k

Moparguy4 · Post by **Moparguy4** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:45 pm

mopar2 wrote:Nothing wrong with doing a lil preventative maintenance! Timing belt, water pump, tune up, fluids,etc etc etc!

I may wait on the timing belt. I'm at 72K miles and 100K won't roll around for a couple years for me. It will take probably 4+ years to reach 100K.

nerox · Post by **nerox** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 7:00 pm

mopar2 wrote:Nothing wrong with doing a lil preventative maintenance! Timing belt, water pump, tune up, fluids,etc etc etc!

Can someone elaborate on what 'tune up' involves?

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Sat Dec 08, 2012 8:29 pm

Tune up is usually a oil change, spark plugs + wires, and air filter. Some take it further with fuel system/injector cleaner and sea foam, not really necessary though.

I did my timing belt at 68k, but only because the tensioner was making weird noises likea diesel engine. I wouldn't go past 100k, that's just asking for trouble.

04R/T · Post by **04R/T** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 6:08 pm

My R/T has 218k miles, done the timing belt twice. First was at 105k and the last at 210k. The first kit from Parts Dinosaur included a Chinese water pump and timing belt, the tensioner was an oe Littens made in Canada. The price was right and these things went 105k no problem. Parts Dinosaurs kits now have USA made timing belts. The second kit was from Rock Auto. It was a Gates kit and of course, had their timing belt. I think the water pump was another Chinese part. The tensioner, again, was made by Littens.

NEON PARABOLA · Post by **NEON PARABOLA** » Sun Dec 09, 2012 8:30 pm

I did mine at 130K lol better late than never

ragek23 · Post by **ragek23** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:53 am

Wow you are lucky. The belt slipped few teeth on my sister's neon last winter and she only has 55K original miles on her 02. he needed headwork done etc.

quicksilvr · Post by **quicksilvr** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 1:37 pm

Changed the original timing belt on my sisters old Neon at 160k miles. It was over due.

On my own personal cars, I see no reason to do it more than once every 100k. But I also know that I use a good OEM water pump, and keep my coolant fresh and clean. Usually the water pump seizing is the cause of a belt failure. That original belt that had 160k miles on it didn't look very good, but it would have probably made it to 200k.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 12:56 pm

I did the belt in my Neon soon after the 100k mile mark. Everything looked ok, but its a small price to pay to keep everything in order. I'm running the Gates part and even 50k miles later, I still get a little bit of noise from it. I drive the car hard enough where if there was a problem, something would have gone horrifically wrong by now. Nobody that's been in my car has even noticed it. If they did, I'd probably just say it's my supercharger.

I think Mat00ES has close to 200k on the original belt in his 2000.