I've just been given a quote for having the timing belt redone on my 2002 TJ for about $870.

This seems like a lot of money to change an elastic band over.
Anyone know whether I'm being ripped off here?

I've just been given a quote for having the timing belt redone on my 2002 TJ for about $870.

This seems like a lot of money to change an elastic band over.
Anyone know whether I'm being ripped off here?

i think i was charged around 600. The reason it costs so much is not for the part, its the labour. Not sure how its done but ask one of the mech know-hows and they can explain. But as far as i know the labour is a big amount!

Fair enough. From what I can gather the belt itself is worth around $100.. But i didn't think the labour was worth so much.
I had a mate telling me it was only 2 or 3 hours work...

Fair enough. From what I can gather the belt itself is worth around $100.. But i didn't think the labour was worth so much.
I had a mate telling me it was only 2 or 3 hours work...

wait wait....im getting confused, is a cam belt the same as a timing belt?

*edit- you must realise, as im sure magno00, jasonsVRX, magtone, BB or madmagna will correct me - im not a mech know-how....so i dont really know exactly what goes on, but im jsut going from personal exp.

I could be wrong, but I think they're different..

In fact, i'm feeling more wrong as i write this...

Anyone know?

I could be wrong, but I think they're different..

In fact, i'm feeling more wrong as i write this...

Anyone know?


haha man i best leave it too.

If they are online, PM madmagna or magno00 - they know everything about magna's.

G'day,
$870 would be reasonable if they are replacing the tensioners and water pump at the same time.

If they are online, PM madmagna or magno00 - they know everything about magna's.

lol lol

they both no alot... "everything".... thats going to far ...

personally i think madmagna no's ALOT more, from his experience, (especially on the current thread subject) than magna00 (no offence magna00 mate :) )

I got my timing belt done yesterday among other things, bill is getting sent out to me soon, will post up as soon as i know :)

Fair enough. From what I can gather the belt itself is worth around $100.. But i didn't think the labour was worth so much.
I had a mate telling me it was only 2 or 3 hours work...


I think the timing belt comes with a kit, which includes auto-tentioner, cam seals, crank seals. Last time I have look on Ebay, it was somethin like $300. And then it might be a good idea to have a look at your water pump while you have the belt off.

I've just been given a quote for having the timing belt redone on my 2002 TJ for about $870.

This seems like a lot of money to change an elastic band over.
Anyone know whether I'm being ripped off here?
Quite a bit of work involved and if stuffed up you will be looking at 24 new valves. So its worth every penny to get done right!
Err involves taking off engine mount/bracket/cam covers/crank pulley/other pulleys/outer belts/taking belt off lining up cams etc

I was quoted $700 for 100,000k service which includes timing belt obviously. Also oil, oil filter, spark plugs etc. 870 sounds a bit rich just for the belt. Maybe you should look at getting a major sevice so they do other things while its pulled apart.

Also a timing belt is a cam belt, runs from your crank to drive your cams.

Thanks for the pointers guys.

So its safe to assume that they should have done this during the 100,000k service?
It was after that service that they mentioned I should have it done.

And I should have them do the water pump at the same time? Anything else I should have checked or changed while I'm there and they've got it open?

Thanks for the pointers guys.

So its safe to assume that they should have done this during the 100,000k service?
It was after that service that they mentioned I should have it done.

And I should have them do the water pump at the same time? Anything else I should have checked or changed while I'm there and they've got it open?

Thats weird i thought the the main thing in the 100,000k major service IS the timing belt.

I hope my quote included the belt then.

wait wait....im getting confused, is a cam belt the same as a timing belt?

*edit- you must realise, as im sure magno00, jasonsVRX, magtone, BB or madmagna will correct me - im not a mech know-how....so i dont really know exactly what goes on, but im jsut going from personal exp.

cam belt = timing belt

You can get the kit in 3 types, belt only (about 60-80 bucks) tensioner kit, everything needed for a belt replacement including seals, belt, and tensioner bearings, 3rd kit is all of the above but is a whole tensioner.

Expect to pay about 400-500 labour give or take as its not an overly easy task, and is time consuming timing it correctly.

Also reccomended is doing the water pump (saves paying for labour twice if it seizes/leaks) and front main seal (again prevention better then having the thing leak oil everywhere.

Dont need to take the mount off for the 3rd gens tuffy the belt runs under from memory.

Also replace your AC and PS belts while your going, as they need to come off anyways.

I got a dayco branded Timing belt Kit from E-bay for about $170- plus postage. EDITED *** dayum, it was $170- not $1170- ***
This has belt, idler rollers/pulleys, seals - but NOT the Hydraulic Tensioner thing. Was in the last 4-6 months.
Was a NSW-based vendor, a small Auto Parts store that also deals in Ebay space.

Hoping I won't require a water pump, but I'm looking at 200K service so a watre pump might be good insurance while its apart - esp as I dunno if water pump was done at 100K.

The timing belt runs from crankshaft up around both of the camshafts, and dips between camshafts down to the water-pump. Giant rubber-band, keeps your valves away from pistons when tuiming is set right - break a belt, there is huge risk that valves wil hit the pistons - ours is an "interference" motor design.

I'm hoping to pay someone to have mine done at 200K - just seems too big a job for me. Lots of fiddly stuff to get off motor in confined space, plus you need a specialised tool to get tension correct on the new belt.

I got a dayco branded Timing belt Kit from E-bay for about $1170- plus postage.
This has belt, idler rollers/pulleys, seals - but NOT the Hydraulic Tensioner thing. Was in the last 4-6 months.
Was a NSW-based vendor, a small Auto Parts store that also deals in Ebay space.

Hoping I won't require a water pump, but I'm looking at 200K service so a watre pump might be good insurance while its apart - esp as I dunno if water pump was done at 100K.

The timing belt runs from crankshaft up around both of the camshafts, and dips between camshafts down to the water-pump. Giant rubber-band, keeps your valves away from pistons when tuiming is set right - break a belt, there is huge risk that valves wil hit the pistons - ours is an "interference" motor design.

I'm hoping to pay someone to have mine done at 200K - just seems too big a job for me. Lots of fiddly stuff to get off motor in confined space, plus you need a specialised tool to get tension correct on the new belt.
$1170?! Are you serious? Is that meant to be $170? that would sound more like it.

I agree with magna00 completely. Roughly 5 hours labour plus about $200 for the timing belt kit. $700-$800 sounds about right for a good job. $870 is a bit rich, but he might just be covering his ass too.

Yep - edited my post. T'was $170- plus bit of postage. Dayco Kit, which I think aren't a bad brand.

I can be dum, and obviously cannot type well, but please understand I wouldn't pay $1000- extra !!! Please ?

magna00 - from what I'm told by many mechanics the engine mount does need to be removed on the 3.5's but not for the 3.0's.

I got my belt done along with all the seals, water pump and a new drivers side engine mount for about $900 up here in Isa. A good mechanic should be able to do it all in under 6 hours. Basically a whole day's work.

Yep - edited my post. T'was $170- plus bit of postage. Dayco Kit, which I think aren't a bad brand.

I can be dum, and obviously cannot type well, but please understand I wouldn't pay $1000- extra !!! Please ?
Yeah, that's why I suggested it was a typo. All good.

magna00 - from what I'm told by many mechanics the engine mount does need to be removed on the 3.5's but not for the 3.0's.

I got my belt done along with all the seals, water pump and a new drivers side engine mount for about $900 up here in Isa. A good mechanic should be able to do it all in under 6 hours. Basically a whole day's work.

Yep taking the belt off and on is the simple bit theres a lot of fart assing around putting the car up and down on the hoist to get the timing right.

Only times you need to take off the driver side torque stay is if you either 1: replace it, 2: Have a sprintex supercharger, there is space to get it off without removing the mount, its just FT.

$1170?! Are you serious? Is that meant to be $170? that would sound more like it.

I agree with magna00 completely. Roughly 5 hours labour plus about $200 for the timing belt kit. $700-$800 sounds about right for a good job. $870 is a bit rich, but he might just be covering his ass too.

or like discussed he might be going to do a few other things, eg water pump.

that price is about right. the labour is where it adds up, not the "rubber band"

$870 is about right, i forked out about 1000 for all that plus a couple of other smaller things. I would gladly pay 870 for it to be done, its a major service and if you diy and not sure what you're doing then goodbye wallet (and engine)!

I think he was just getting the belt done and not anything else

I usually charge around 1100is for the 100k service complete with belt, water pump, 6 platinums, all filters, fluids etc etc. I do however not have a full on workshop to run and pay for


magna00 - from what I'm told by many mechanics the engine mount does need to be removed on the 3.5's but not for the 3.0's.

I got my belt done along with all the seals, water pump and a new drivers side engine mount for about $900 up here in Isa. A good mechanic should be able to do it all in under 6 hours. Basically a whole day's work.

Does not matter if 3.0 or 3.5, it needs to come off regardless and the belt passes through the mounts on the actual mount bracket. This bracket only takes a few minutes to get off regardless

Can the belt be replaced without the special tools as listed in the Mitsubishi service manual. It doesnt lllok to hard apart from the tools, and its got to be a lot quicker and easier than replacing the clutch i did last month.

Simply put, NO

If you do it and do not get the belt tension right, you can have a belt slip or have the pressure on your water pump destroy the bearings

I have never installed one without the tool and to be honest never will either

Simply put, NO

If you do it and do not get the belt tension right, you can have a belt slip or have the pressure on your water pump destroy the bearings

I have never installed one without the tool and to be honest never will either


Just out of curiosity, how much does the special tool cost?

I had my timing belt changed along with the tensioners, water pump, a couple of belts and a service. All up it cost me about $950. Money well spent if my engine doesn't destroy itself if the timing belt lets go.

Just out of curiosity, how much does the special tool cost?

I've priced this at several dealerships in the past, and the average cost is about $170.

They can be had from America for about AUD$40, but shipping is the killer.

Got my bill in the mail today for my timing belt done last week.
Was expecting $600+

Buttt..

Labour = $198.01
Timing belt = $100.32
Freight = $8.47

Total = $306.80

All of this = One very happy me :)

Got my bill in the mail today for my timing belt done last week.
Was expecting $600+

Buttt..

Labour = $198.01
Timing belt = $100.32
Freight = $8.47

Total = $306.80

All of this = One very happy me :)
That's the cheap way to do it. Obviously the crank and cam seals weren't done, or the water pump, otherwise the timing belt would have come in a kit and would have been more expensive.

Got my bill in the mail today for my timing belt done last week.
Was expecting $600+

Buttt..

Labour = $198.01
Timing belt = $100.32
Freight = $8.47

Total = $306.80

All of this = One very happy me :)
Wow thats a cheap price!
Lets just hope your cam and crank seals dont decide to leak soon :D

Dam thats a cheap price!
Would be perfect if you weren't keeping the car much longer and just wanted to get out of trouble for a while..

The water pump was only done about 15k k's ago, so there was no need to do that again.
Cam seal was replaced due to a leak as well :)

However the tensioner pulley and idler pulley should have been done as well as these can and generally do fail. While is a good price I would be suspect about the kit if these were included.

You will find the seals would have been done while off as well as they are easy to access when the belt is off.

Labour was good for a worshop, no doubting that

Yes i'm very happy with my new mechanic, he's a really nice person as well as a good mechanic. Old one was bull****, as described in THIS (http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showthread.php?t=64971&highlight=mechanic) thread.

Looked at the thread, that guy must have been a clown.

Just one thing though, timing belts do not have a direction. It is impossible to put a belt on back to front. If you are taking a belt off to replace an item and intend using the belt again, you mark the direction the belt was installed in with some chalk to ensure is still rotating the same way but new out of the box they can go on either way so long as the teeth are in the pulley's. if not they will just slip and engine not go.

The CAS wire would put no pressure on the belt however having said that, if the wires rubbed through the car would come to a halt pretty quickly and would not be good in the middle of an intersection.

Getting the rocker cover out of line was a real effort too as the 6 bolts are very tight in the holes, he must really not konw what he was doing

Good thing you have the car all fixed now

Yes i will never be going back there again, and advising other locals not to if they need to choose.
He was the local RACV mechanic as well, recently losing the RACV name, wonder why :roll:

Sorry for digging up an oldie.

I went to my local Mitsubishi dealer for a Timing belt quote as I have 93000kms up. He told me that they wouldn't do the pulley,tensioner, seals etc at 100000 wait until 200000. Still, he quoted me $750 for the belt change only.:confused: I went around to Automasters who did it for $480 which included extra labour for removing/refitting the LPG converter and a wheel nut to replace one that had gone awol.

Sorry for digging up an oldie.

I went to my local Mitsubishi dealer for a Timing belt quote as I have 93000kms up. He told me that they wouldn't do the pulley,tensioner, seals etc at 100000 wait until 200000. Still, he quoted me $750 for the belt change only.:confused: I went around to Automasters who did it for $480 which included extra labour for removing/refitting the LPG converter and a wheel nut to replace one that had gone awol.

You should definitely get the crank and cam seals done at the same time aswell as the tensioner and pulley. Also look at doing the water pump.

I had my timing belt and seals changed a few weeks ago... as the cam seal was leaking so I had the timing belt changed but..... the cam seal is still leaking every time I drive the car it leaks oil and the oil runs all down under the car its a pain in the bum so I take it back to the mechanic and he chances the cam seal again but after I have driven the car for a day I have a look and I have lost 1ltr of oil and there is oil coming from the plastic timing chain cover, I changed the pvc valve and cleaned the crossover tube from the back to front rocker cover at it was clogged and I have put a few engine flushes through the engine and changed the oil a few times and still no better. My mechanic says that I did not change the oil enough and now the oil is building up too much pressure and is leaking past the cam seal and there is nothing he can do about it I should just overhall the engine which I dont want to do.

Any ideas what I should do? as I cant keep on driving this car as its leaking all over the place its a 1998 3ltr magna

I used 4 ltrs of tru-blue engine flush and ran it for 40mins at idle and the oil was a little dark but nothing too much.

should I try the green mitsubishi oil? or have i already stuffed the cam seal and need to change it again?

The crankcase shouldn't be building up pressure, unless the motor is VERY worn. The PCV system is "sucked on" by the engine intake, the crankcase should always be running at negative air pressure. Check the other hoses of the PCV system. There should be another hose leading to the air intake. If you cleaned out the front hose, it is also likely the spigot into the rocker cover is blocked. Remove the rocker cover and see if you can blow/suck air through the spigot. Use a piece of wire to clean it out, full of crap I bet!

I know the 3L gen 2 engine can do this, but pumps oil out the oil filler cap instead if the PCV hoses and spigots are clogged.

Trying different oils won't make any difference.

Once you get the PCV system working the cam seal should be ok and not need replacing.

HINT: find a mechanic who actually knows what he is doing . . . . .

Thanks madmax I will have a look.

Yeah I will try to locate a good mechanic hard to find one :(

I will update you after I have a look

Contact this guy
http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/member.php?u=18

Excellent mechanic.

There are many factors involved here and could be other external factors not anwered such as how many k's on the engine, when you cleaned out the PCV did you also clean out the inlet manifold tracs where the PCV feeds into. You cleaned out the cross over pipe, did you remove the rockers and clean out the baffle chambers as well.

I am more than happy to look at it for you if you wish

mal


I had my timing belt and seals changed a few weeks ago... as the cam seal was leaking so I had the timing belt changed but..... the cam seal is still leaking every time I drive the car it leaks oil and the oil runs all down under the car its a pain in the bum so I take it back to the mechanic and he chances the cam seal again but after I have driven the car for a day I have a look and I have lost 1ltr of oil and there is oil coming from the plastic timing chain cover, I changed the pvc valve and cleaned the crossover tube from the back to front rocker cover at it was clogged and I have put a few engine flushes through the engine and changed the oil a few times and still no better. My mechanic says that I did not change the oil enough and now the oil is building up too much pressure and is leaking past the cam seal and there is nothing he can do about it I should just overhall the engine which I dont want to do.

Any ideas what I should do? as I cant keep on driving this car as its leaking all over the place its a 1998 3ltr magna

I used 4 ltrs of tru-blue engine flush and ran it for 40mins at idle and the oil was a little dark but nothing too much.

should I try the green mitsubishi oil? or have i already stuffed the cam seal and need to change it again?

my car has around 300,000km on it I have not used the car much as it leaks I hope to get a chance to pull the rockers off this weekend just have not had the time due to kids and work, Where about are you mal?

Not to answer questions for him or tell too much but he is in the eastern suburbs of Vic

i also asked a local mitz dealer who said no need for the tensioner on a 3.5 till 200ks.no mention of water pump either.my awd is at 106 ks and is getting done in the next 2 weeks as i thought it was done at the 105k service...oooppppsss.lol anyways i was quoted around 150 for the kit from mitz.

sell the car while you can, this happened to me is not worth to fix. but thats just me.

my car has around 300,000km on it I have not used the car much as it leaks I hope to get a chance to pull the rockers off this weekend just have not had the time due to kids and work, Where about are you mal?

If you want to contact me, my details are in the Mits-Fix section

You dont sell a car due to an oil leak BTW, that is just crazy. If you like the car fix it and continue to enjoy it and the many more years it should be able to give you

$800 is pretty good you should do a bit of reaserch before you start complaining about prices. My car was away for almost two days and i was charged $1400 if you go to mitsubishi dealer they will start at $2000.
I was shown what they have to remove just to get to the timing belt also they will change the plaitum plugs that will be about an hour just for that.

my bloke just quoted me 300 including kit for the belt change and seals only.

my bloke just quoted me 300 including kit for the belt change and seals only.

very cheap. sounds too cheap actually

nah good mate.good mechanic and i put heaps thru him so i get good prices.

I was quoted $1500 for a new timing belt, spark plugs, and to change my valve cover gaskets... ridiculous! Good thing I found a friend that would do it for me for free. Took him a combined 12 hours to do everything.If you're going to take the time and money to do that might as well change other things along the way for example other belts.