Broken Timing Belt.

[Cartmansnuts]

Hi guys,
So I'm driving along minding my own business when my engine dies on me. I figure it may be the timing belt, but my 03 cruiser only has 73,000 on the clock. Anyways, I tow it to my mechanic who tells me its the timing belt (What a guess!) and tells me its gonna cost $900 to replace the belt and water pump. He also tells me that it could have bent some valves which would cost $1700 to fix. Anyone here been through this and am I getting ripped off? I know the 2.4 is a non-interference engine, so it saved the engine from total ruin, but is the valve bending thing right?
Thanks
Chris

[SCBluePT]

$900 is about right for the job.It is possible that the valves could be bent but very unlikely.

[Cartmansnuts]

Thanks, that takes a weight off.

[CREWZIN]

Yes, out of the hundred or so that came to the forum with a broken belt, only 2 (used to be one till just a little while ago) had any internal damage so the odds are in your favor.

[RaineMan]

It's a "non interference" engine... the odds of valves being bent is pretty darn low.

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by RaineMan

It's a "non interference" engine... the odds of valves being bent is pretty darn low.

Non-interference doesn't mean the valves are safe. They can still hit each other when the cams are spinning free without the timing belt. Usually only happens when the belt breaks at high speed. The non-interference means the valves can't hit the piston tops when that spinning happens.

http://freeasestudyguides.com/interference-engine.html

[Cartmansnuts]

Thanks for all the info guys. I just got off the phone with the Mechanic and he tells me everything is looking good, he just needs to fill it with anti freeze and let it idle down.

[cruserdad1976]

make sure he used HOAT or ZEROK G-5 thats what you really need in the car

[Candyman]

Hey Guys,

Yep, sounds about right on cost as has already been said. Day before yesterday my Wife came home and said my PT was making some noise like a bad belt. Same first thing popped into my head as well, and sure enough.

So she is in for a new timing belt, water pump, motor mounts, power steering pump, and so forth. First time ever having to do anything other than general tune ups and so on so I can't complain one bit.

[Dino]

I was talking to guy with an 02 the other day and we starting talking PT and I asked him how many miles he had on it, and he said 149k and I asked him where he got his timing belt done and I got the deer in the headlight look. He had no clue, I hated being the bearer of bad news. So why do you think some guys can seem to go and go and others break at 73k?