I buy a Magna TW 2005 105k kms without logbook. The previous owner said the timing belt has been changed. I opened the upper plastic cover and looked - it's look like new.

But when i have my car checked by local mechanics, he said i need to change - it very important to engine. He quoted 1200$ for change the timing belt, timing kit and water pump. And he added many things need to fix - coolant system, brakes, steering ( i not remember all ) - and $2500 for everything. OMG. Its more than a haft of the price i bought the car, so i dont do it.

But because the timing belt is very important, i want to check it whether it need to changed or not. Any one has experiences of checking, not jusk look ? And if it need to changed, what about the cost?

I think you are being taken for a ride here by the sounds of things. Get a second opinion. DONT tell the second person what the first has stated, just book in for a service, state you were told by the previous owner that the belt was done and if you can even contact the previous owner and find out where it was done as would not have been that long ago

A TW with only 105k would be very rare to need what you have stated ie steering etc etc.

The look of a belt is nothing to go by. If you take the cover off and can see the writing on the belt and is not genuine then you know 100% has been done but just because it is black and clean could be the original, timing belts do not crack and degrade like traditional fan belts do.

Oh and $1200 for a belt and pump, that is a rip as well, for that price here you would get a complete 100k service including coolant, trans flush, brake flush, all filters, service, spark plugs etc etc.

Sounds dodgy.


Where do you live mate? If its in melbourne then maybe madmagna above can take a look at it...?

He lives in Sydney. I have seen the OP's car and the cam belt is original.

OP, you need to change the belt, cam seals and crank seal. If it were me, I would leave the water pump and change that at the 200km service. The water pump is unlikely to fail on a tw before 200,000km. Your choice though. The water pump is difficult to get at and is easier done at the time of replacing the timing belt.

Brake pads are absolutely ratshit although I didn't notice anything wrong with the steering, although the power steering belt is original. The mechanic may be referring to that. Alternator belt is a goner.
Cooant needs to be changed as part of the usual servicing procedure as well as oil (which we have just done) and front and rear bank spark plugs. Your transmission will also need to be looked at and might need to be flushed.

He lives in Sydney. I have seen the OP's car and the cam belt is original.

The back of the belt runs the water pump, if the writing on the belt is still good, the belt is fairly newish, surely?

All I can say is: Ah, the joys of buying a Magna @ that km without a log book to see what needs doing. lol

It still has the writing on there but it is heavily faded with lines indicating wear through it. It looked much the same as my old te that was just ready for a new belt.

That's pretty conclusive. New belt needed.

The car last service was 90k kms. I had the bill of last service-about $550. But i lost it and now cant see what have been changed :(

Do you remember the name of the shop that did the service? Might be worthwhile giving them a call.

No. So i need to change timing belt, other things dreggzy said. How much the estimated cost? (New parts or from wrecker) More than my car worth :) i buy this car $4000 1 month ago.

The cheapest place to get parts from is from the USA believe it or not. Because the cars were sold there as Diamante's the parts are easy to get and damn cheap compared to Aussie Prices(sorry mal).

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1428252,pgname,Engine

The cheapest place to get parts from is from the USA believe it or not. Because the cars were sold there as Diamante's the parts are easy to get and damn cheap compared to Aussie Prices(sorry mal).

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1428252,pgname,Engine

Pseudo Economic Logic?

Why be sorry, people are welcome to get unknown parts from the USA at their own risk, have seen quite a few failures thus why I refuse to fit supplied parts these days.

No. So i need to change timing belt, other things dreggzy said. How much the estimated cost? (New parts or from wrecker) More than my car worth :) i buy this car $4000 1 month ago.

Servicing costs and running costs have nothing what so ever to do with the value of a car bow that car just purchased or having been owned long term. Call these items consumables if you will

Servicing costs and running costs have nothing what so ever to do with the value of a car bow that car just purchased or having been owned long term. Call these items consumables if you will

Dreggzy said he could help me to check everything but he not have free time now. And the local mechanics told me that i had it fixed immediately or it will broken and everything ends.

And he advised me it's better to buy another car :)

....and not a Magna :))

....and not a Magna :))

Alarm bells anyone ......

Alarm bells anyone ......

Yep lots of alarm bells, the mechanic knows this person knows JS about cars and is taking the poor bugger for a ride

....and not a Magna :))

Do not use this mechanic, he obviously lacks a clue when it comes to Mitsubishi.

K-Mart did my timing belt for a better price than anyone else I called (I'm in SA). Try them.

im getting water pump, all seals, timing belt, timing pulleys tensioners , and assory belts for 1100ish

I buy local because CBF buying from overseas. Been getting a few genuine Mitsubishi bits lately. At least that way I have somebody to make accountable if all goes pear shaped. If I ever installed a timing belt from overseas and it turned out to be a dud, there is trouble. Spark plugs, accessory belts and the such are fine from overseas because if they break you are on the side of the road in a bad mood but a broken timing belt means bent valves and thousands worth of potential damage. I would rather dish out the extra $50 or so to buy local.

No. So i need to change timing belt, other things dreggzy said. How much the estimated cost? (New parts or from wrecker) More than my car worth :) i buy this car $4000 1 month ago.

You can't buy these parts from a wrecker. New parts will have to do. That way you get the peace of mind that your car will be largely trouble free until you need to do it all again.

I buy local because CBF buying from overseas. Been getting a few genuine Mitsubishi bits lately. At least that way I have somebody to make accountable if all goes pear shaped. If I ever installed a timing belt from overseas and it turned out to be a dud, there is trouble. Spark plugs, accessory belts and the such are fine from overseas because if they break you are on the side of the road in a bad mood but a broken timing belt means bent valves and thousands worth of potential damage. I would rather dish out the extra $50 or so to buy local.

All very good, but Mitsu doesn't make it's own cam belts. Anyhow, if that expensive dealer belt goes pear shaped on you, they will simply blame incorrect work by the installer. Warranty on work done only applies if THEY supply the belt and THEY fit it in THEIR workshop.

. . . . perhaps you are saying a Gates belt from a dealer at $80 or more in comparison to a Gates belt from overseas at $40 is twice as good?

(I used to think dealer parts were the bees knees - after all, they are expensive - until I bought some CV boots @ $30 each that didn't last. The $15 aftermarket ones that replaced them 12 months later did well. )

(WAY OFF TOPIC THERE, Max!)

OP, feel free to buy your parts wherever and find a mechanic to install them, or get a mechanic to supply and fit the parts. It's the joy of buying a used car, they were about $32K new, you got yours for $4K. You must expect some expense at getting it up to a reliable standard.

Finally, i have my timing belt changed today. When the belt came out, it seem to be at good condition. I also change the engine mount on right hand side - it completely broken (after change, the engine not make vibration any more when accelerating at slow speed). I also have drive belt changed - it nearly gone (a guy at Mitsubishi dealer told me the alterator belt and ac belt is not the same - made me confused but a asked Dreggzy to confirm).

The mechanic charged me $250 for labor, timing kit he bought $268 (Dayco). I bought Engine mount $141 (Repco) and Drive belt (Mit dealer) $30. So $689 for it and now i happy with my car.

Thank all of you for your advices.
(I have picture of old timing belt, engine mount and drive belt but i not know how to post).

Glad you are getting the car sorted.
Posting up pictures requires you to upload them to a website like Photobucket, then put the link to the picture in a post. Probably not worth the effort as most of us know what old belts and a broken engine mount look like. lol

Now i looking for a seatbelt buckle. The cover of buckle on passenger side broken. I came some Mit dealer also Repco, supercheap auto but they not sell it. Where can i get one?

Fe which seat