Ran out of gas and now won't start

[soonercruiser]

Agree with Crewzin! The timimg belt was probably the problem in the beginning. The car would crank fine, but just not start.
91K? Yup, that's why there are a lot of posts that talk about considering changing the timing belt and water pump at 80K!

[CREWZIN]

Originally Posted by soonercruiser

Agree with Crewzin! The timing belt was probably the problem in the beginning. The car would crank fine, but just not start.
91K? Yup, that's why there are a lot of posts that talk about considering changing the timing belt and water pump at 80K!

Thanks Frank, but that was QuicksilverDon who pointed that out, BUT I agree 100% and Denise, almost everyone gets away without having any other internal damage done when the timing belt breaks. Now, after saying that, if your husband was at full throttle racing some ricer down the road, then you might be in trouble.

[Gracie512]

He was actually in a school zone on his way to my sons play, so I hope he was behaving.

I am going to get it checked out and will post back what the outcome is. I am praying you are all correct and it is ONLY the timing belt.

Thanks so much. I appreciate your input.

Now I am off to tackle my next mechanical problem and fix my washing machine.

Denise

[CREWZIN]

Denise,

If you haven't gone yet. I'm not going back through the previous posts but in case nobody told you, there's certain other things that should be done along with the timing belt with the kind of mileage you have.

It takes the mechanic about 5-6 hours in labor to change the timing belt. That's your biggest expense (labor) so with the mileage you have, the water pump, serpentine belt, alternator belt and tensioner should also be changed while the mechanic has everything apart. It's about $200-250 in parts including the timing belt but if your keeping the PT for a couple more years, well worth it.

Thank about it.

[Gracie512]

Originally Posted by CREWZIN

Denise,

If you haven't gone yet. I'm not going back through the previous posts but in case nobody told you, there's certain other things that should be done along with the timing belt with the kind of mileage you have.

It takes the mechanic about 5-6 hours in labor to change the timing belt. That's your biggest expense (labor) so with the mileage you have, the water pump, serpentine belt, alternator belt and tensioner should also be changed while the mechanic has everything apart. It's about $200-250 in parts including the timing belt but if your keeping the PT for a couple more years, well worth it.

Thank about it.

Thanks! I will jot all this down and take it to him. He already has my car, I just need to give him the go ahead. This is in perfect timing with my tax refund darn it!!

[DIYPTGUY]

How much is everyone paying to get the drivebelts changed w/labor? I've heard anywhere from $900 to $1200. Is this about correct? Mine has $81,000 miles currently and I hate the thought of looking at a $1200 maintenance bill! My manual says to get it done by 100,000 miles. Should I aim to get it done at 90,000? And can someone here do it for me and save me lots of $$$???

[CREWZIN]

I'm at 97K and I bought my own parts on-line ($273) and found a reputable mechanic that I've been using for other work and he wants $550.00 to put them all on (Timing, serpentine, alternator belts, water ump and tensioner).

I talked to my local dealer, who was hesitant about putting owner bought parts on, but said they would without a guaranty for $800.

[soonercruiser]

Yes! Sorry! It was QSD!

[Gracie512]

It never ends.

My car is still dead and at the mechanics. Because of the feedback I have received from many people including members on this board, I told him last week to just go ahead and just change the timing belt. He really hesitated, because he still thinks the valves are bent. I am not sure how he knows this at this point. Anyhow, he tells me that he can go ahead and do an air compression test to see if the cylinder (I am guessing) is leaking. He calls back at the end of last week and says it failed the test and asks what I want to do now.

Meanwhile my husband was talking to another mechanic today and he says that these compression checks are not an exact science with these issues, especially if they are not done right. He added that he would be suprised if the valves were bent..............this kind of engine, yada, yada. (UGH!!) He asked my husband if he was doing 90 when it broke? See where this is going? He said that if he was working on the car, the first thing he would do is replace the belt.

I am having my car towed home from my mechanics today. I do not have $1400 to fix an engine that I am not sure is as damaged as he thinks it is. I have always been given a diagnosis on my car when it had issues, and there were never any maybes, or what ifs about it. It was fixed and ran great after. But now I am being faced with a $1400 repair chalk full of maybes an what ifs.

This is making me so crazy, and I don't know what to think of it all now.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks!

Denise

[quicksilverdon]

Get that car from the first mechanic! He is scary. How can you do a compression test without the valves operating? The valves can't operate with a broken belt, because the cams won't move. Ask him that - no, better not - he'll make up some crap.
Stop in auto parts stores and ask around for a good, reasonable mechanic.