What should I get serviced on my car? I went to get an exhaust leak fixed and was told that I should have my timing belt changed and they could do it for 120 for just the timing belt. To have the water pump changed and all belts it would run 200. Should the rear shoes/drums need replacing about now? If I were to just have the timing belt changed, how difficult would installing a water pump be? What else should I check?

 

Waterpump is simple, just need the pump and gasket and change your fluid at the same time. Also a little permatex gasket maker would help. I would definitly check the rear brakes..... the drums could be cut if thier in decent condition. Have them change your idler pulley where the timing belt is and also I would change the idler pulley where the serp belt is. They tend to go after a while. Check the pcv valve, that can get clogged. Change the thermostat for the coolant. Flush/change coolant if have not done already. spark plugs, spark plug wires, check for o-ring leaks on the valve cover(basically oil where your spark plugs are.) Tranny fluid...... Just throwin out some thoughts. Dont know what you have done already.

 

run a fuel injection cleaner not the stp one bottle does it all kind but the the 3 step ones where you add it to the the fuel tank the and to the intake mani. or just go to a jiffy lube or something they have them for around 50 bucks since we have a intank fuel filter this is what the dealer told me to do

 

I paid $383.40 two weeks ago to have my timing belt, waterpump and the 2 other belts involved with the timing belt changed.

The price they are quoting you is great.

Mine includes all parts and tax.

WADAD

 

PS - if anyone wants to source the belts and get it done privately, here's the part numbers and AllData price listing.

Serpentine - MD373622 - $47
Alternator - MD373620 - $19
Timing - MD186376 - $61

Water pump - MD309756 - $112

 

Thank you

 

Let me tell you some waterpump expierence. If you use gasket sealer only use a teeeny tiny bit to tack the gasket in place so it does not fall when you are trying to bolt the pump on. Just a dot at opposite ends. The gasket needs no help from a sealer if you scape the surfaces flat.

 

yeah thanks also

 

From what my mechanic told me the water pump should be changed when it looks like it's leaking. The water pump at the dealerships is very expensive go get one on the net for about $40.00 or at a local NAPA store for $48.00

 

Well your mechanic must not familiar with the mitsu waterpumps. Change it with the timing belt or suffer the consequences basically. The consequences being a leaking shaft seal on the pump and you have to pull all the belts off again including the timing belt to change the pump. They are all garbage any DSMer will second that. The dealer pump is the best but expensive. NAPA's is about the only other one that has proven reliable on the DSM side. The water pump is a timebomb set to go off about the time the timing belt would go off if you left it on there.

 

would rather do it twice? do your water pump with the timing belt always. it is a common practice. do it while you are in there.

 

Hmmm thx for the advice. The mechanic that told me that was a guy from Mitsu service.
Maybe they just wanted some more work = $$$.
I will take your advice and get both done at once. And what about the idler pulley???
When should it be changed and how much is it?

 

Idler pulley goes at the same time as everything else. I heard one on a Galant about a year ago that was howling at 104 something thousand. Belts were changed at 67,000, water pump around 90,000 but the idler was not changed ever. If that goes it is the same as breaking the timing belt.

 

You're welcome. I'm at 55k, so I was researching all these for myself. Always nice to share. And nice to have AllData at work.

 

Alternator - $19
Serp belt - $47???

Are these two mixed up?