Howdy ppl.
Anyone done the timing belt change? I was reading thru the Gregorys and realised it's pretty involved and time consuming stuff - and seems to require some "special tools" as they quote.
Mitsu quoted 390 bux :roll: for the job, belt costing 140 (?) included.
Is it worth the hassle to DIY or just take it in?
If I DIY, is there any "performance belts" on the market. Price.
Thanks

Killer,

Did the whole job myself about 12 months ago. The prices you got quoted seem about right. Its not a job that I would suggest you do yourself unless you have all the right tools and confidence. Heres a basic list of what you will need. Good range of metric sizes of ring open end spanners, Socket set with breaker bar, Vehicle stands, Bottle jack, Torque wrench, Vice,Special tensioner tool or fabricate your own, its $85 bucks from mitsubishi. While not a definitive list its a start. It took me the better part of a whole day. You must be very careful to get the cam shaft timing perfect or else you risk damging the valves which will add up to be big $$$. Same goes for the tension. Too little tension and the belt will slip on the camm sprockets ending the whole show. I was apprenhensive before starting but I spoke to one of the engineers at Gregorys who helped compile the book and he was very helpful. Basically said that if you take your time and follow the instructions to the letter than you should be fine. Dont see any need for a performance belt. What could you possibly do to make a timing belt "perform" ? Try an aftermarket part, chances are it may well be the same brand that supply the genuine article to Mitsubishi. That was the case with the aftermarket belt on my brothers Skyline. Good Luck.
Nigel

i need to change mine too, anyone in Perth feel confident in helping me do this for a carton of beer?

i need to change mine too, anyone in Perth feel confident in helping me do this for a carton of beer?

Mate - i aint even willing to touch this one!!

Manual

that tricky?

I have done loads of these and they are not hard but keep in mind this used to be my trade.

i need to change mine too, anyone in Perth feel confident in helping me do this for a carton of beer?


If you can get someone to help you for a carton of beer, good luck to you. Remember for a DIY job you are looking at a full working day. How much do you think your time and that of another person is worth?

Nigel

a carton of "good beer" lol

I wasnt expecting anyone to do it really but there was always a chance, your time nigel-a six pack :D

i remember hearing somewhere that someone said that you should change the water pump at the same time??? since its cheaper in the long run?

Yer cos aparently when you re-tension the timing belt a lot of them leak

mbquart,

A six pack ! It sounds real tempting, what a shame that your in Perth and Im in Sydney. :D :D

The retensining of the belt in itself will not cause the pump to leak if it is done properly.
The belt change should take about 4 or so hours.

Thanks Nigel/guys

I think I'm too lazy to see all this trouble...... As many agreed, it's not really that complicated as long as one follows the instructions, but it would take most of the day. Sigh.....
I checked the belt visually and it actually seemed pretty new. Surprise - when I bought the car last year, Mitsu actually did all the work on it that they said they had done.... heh. They're not THAT bad after all......
So, I shall wait and monitor it.
Thanks

Timing belts do not give signs of being about to break, the only sign you generally get is the loud bang as your valves go through your pistons.

I got rid of my Laser at 196,000 Km's because I couldn't be bothered with the timing belt and it had supposedly been last done at ~ 95ish thousand km so I wasn't sure how long it had left in it. Sure, the gearbox was likely about to go.. and the engine was drinking oil.. but in the end it all came down to the timing belt.. eheh. Thing is, that car had a non interference engine design so the timing belt can go and it doesn't matter so much.. unless you are out in the desert or something :)

I wouldn't risk it with my Magna but that's cause I really couldn't afford it if things went wrong :)

Hi all,

Has anyone used these "Timing belt kits" such as are sold by Mark IV, Repco etc. They include "matched set of timing belt(s), tensioner(s) and idler pulley(s) in a single package".

I bought a somewhat neglected KS wagon in Dec last year. It was last serviced Oct '96 at 20,000 ks and now shows 85,000. I've serviced the transmission, replaced all filtes plugs leads etc., changed the oil 4 times twice with diesel treatment and it seems very grateful for all the attention.

But...... the idle speed wobbles between 600 and 800 like a subtle "hunt" and while I haven't serviced the throttle housing or injection yet, I'm getting pretty nervous about the timing belt etc.

Repco sell their kit for $196. I think the seals are an extra $25.

Anyone had any experience?

Thanks
John :?:

Mmm, yee, that famous bang.
The manuals and service books only mention "visual inspection".
I have 155 000 on the clock, but no record of it being changed. I assume it was changed when I bought it - cos they (Mitsu) said so....
Reckon I should play it safe and change then? Geezzz - close to 400 bux at Mitsu, but I might know some mechos who might do it for me cheaper.
As I said - I think I'm too lazy to do it my self now.... sigh.
Nope - not under used car warranty any more.
Paying 180 bux for cheap oil change without filter is too much!


Timing belts do not give signs of being about to break, the only sign you generally get is the loud bang as your valves go through your pistons.

yeah i am gonna ring around 2morrow to see if i can get a good quote, a guy at work said he got his changed around 6 months ago, he has a TH too and said he paid around $280-i'll be pretty happy if i can get it done for this price

been doing some ringing and got some quotes

Repco: $399
Midas $280
Mitsu Auto Repairs: $360
Auto Bahn: $382

Obviously Midas is the cheapest but the problem with them was that they didn't go and find cost of parts and do it properly that just said quote "your looking around the $280 mark" where as the other places actaully got my phone number and went and found costings.


Maybe you should give Midas a call around where u r and see how much they say

if Mitsu Auto repairs = Diamond dealer service centre

then I would say go to thme for piece of mind and $360 is very reasonable.

polus as long they give you the gauranntee that athey are using the geneuen parts its all okay

Just a question from wot my mechanics have said this only needs to be done to the early model new shape magna... 97 and back i believe anyone know how true this is...??

Jut, I assume you are talking changing belts, well all cars with timing belts have to get them changed, al beit at different intervals.

yeah the belts is wot i mean but as far is it killing your engine is involved, my local mechanic says they have had the problem with if it don't get done on the 97 model and previous(of the newer shaper) it screw your entire engine.. Wot you know about this??

He is talking about non interference engine designs. My old Laser had a B6 which is such an engine. The pistons and valves do not intersect so the belt can go and things 'should' be okay. Now what about our Magna's? :)