Questions and Answers

1997 Dodge Neon Timing Belt Estimate Q. Recently the timing belt on my car broke and took out 1½ cylinders. I was wondering if this is common and if so how often it might happen? I would mainly like to know if I'm being taken for a ride for being a woman, if so it would not be the first time. I own a 1997 Dodge Neon, it has a four cylinder SOHC, automatic transmission and 170,000 miles.

Any info you can tell me would greatly appreciated. I would also like to know if you could give me some kind of estimate on the damage it would take to fix.

Thank you,
Stacy

A. Gee Stacy. When I take a women for a ride it's usually out to dinner, the theater or a movie, a walk on the beach under the stars and maybe a midnight snack.

If the timing belt broke at 170,000 miles, you got your moneys worth out of it. They usually are replaced every 60,000 miles. Your engine is an Interference type engine. That is to sat the pistons and valves occupy the same place in the combustion chamber at different times. So when the timing belt breaks, it will cause engine damage.

An estimate on repairing the damage depends on the extent of the damage. At the very least the cylinder head would have to come off and the bent valves replaced. That would run about 8 hours for labor, $12.00 each for exhaust valves, $7.00 each for intake valves and about $75.00 to $100.00 for a head gasket set. Figure about $50.00 for fluids and filters also.

So in the neighborhood of $750.00 to $900.00 would be the ballpark. If the damage is more extensive, such as broken valve guides or shattered pistons, then the cost would be more.

Oh, and the next time you want to be taken for a ride, call me.