Dont know if im the only one on here with 70k+ miles on his 02 lancer but , mitsu recomends replacing the timing belt at 60k on our cars, has anyone done this, and is there a how 2 for this, never put a belt on a car before but im sure i can do it better myself than most of the mechanics in town. I should probibally replace the acc belts also, it sounds like a squirrel is dying under my hood.

 

i had an AC belt replaced, wasnt a lot of money at all and had it done at mitsu (no warranty)

 

AC belt is one thing, but unless you've got someone to watch over your shoulder, I wouldn't do a timing belt by myselft the first time. Find a friend who's done a few and have him help you.

 

took me 6 hours my first (and only time so far) by myself at the skool garage. figure it's 5+ hours your first time depending on tools and experience.

 

i have 77k on mine now and i have not replaced it yet. i have a noise when the a/c is on its like a clicking sound, since 30k. also my throwout/release bearing in the clutch is making a clicking noise too. thats what the mechanic told me. other than that dont try to chance the timing belt yourself if you havent done it before. oh yeah when i got my 60k service at mitsu they told me to change my timing belt at 90k...

 

cool cool I know the book says 60k , and heard from a friend that the head had a very low tolerence and if the belt broke it would smash the pistons into the valves and well, ... the end of the head. but hearing 90k gives me a little more time to put it on yet.

 

Being very well versed in VWs, but a noob to mitsu's, Im not sure if these motors are interferrence engines. I can tell you that if you have an interferrence motor (and even sometimes a non-interferrence motor) and you have your timing WAY off because the marks werent lined up right on your belt install, you can end up bending your valves. If there are any work manuals on this car (not haynes or chiltons as they suck), but something like the Bently Manuals for VW, you could do it with a timing light, manual, and patience and by being careful. Worse case scenerio, you cant get it running, or installed, take it to a shop, and you only have to pay half the labor, as you already removed the belt yourself.

DIY is the best way to go if you have the resources and tools

 

the 4G94 is not an interference engine. The 4G63 and 4G69 are though.

 

Even so, you may still want to be careful, Ive known of plenty of people breaking belts on non-interference motors without cams or deck height changed and still bending valves.... guess the manufacturer wasnt too good at determining the clearances at TDC for a piston and the lowest point of the valves.

All in all, it cant hurt to try it yourself if its a non-interference motor, just get yourself a friend whos done general timing belts on 4 cyl engines and a manual and you should be set. It took me about an hour to do one on my old 8v rabbit. Course all timing covers were removed so it made the job alot easier

 

I didnt know that was supposed to be done, my dealer never told me. I am at 97,000.

 

hahaha, yea buddy, you should get that done fairly soon I mean, it COULD last you another 100k miles, but why go through the hassle, every 80k or so is a good benchmark

 

Its going in for warrinty work on manday. I will get them to do it then. How much will this cost. If you say over $150.00 I'm just going to do it myself.

 

Dealer quoted me $400 USD.

 

pffft, I will do it my self. I dont feel like being raped. I prefer doing it myself anyways, I am just lazy thats all.

 

400 from a dealer installed is not a bad price at all, considering most general shops will charge between 400-600 for a Tbelt installed with tensioner