I got my timming belt changed today on my 03 Es with 75,000 miles on it!!! Went to O'brien mitsu in atlanta ... got there at 7am and left at 12:30 pm yup 5 hours ...LOL they charged me $300 which I think is a fair price.. CAr worked fine when I went it and worked smoother when I left...

As some of you know I am into audio mainly... so my only upgrade to come is an optima yellow top high amperage battery....

I am the guy in the grey lancer who plays the music at the 1st thursdays meet at the varcity in ATL...

I may post some pics soon.

 

50k more miles and I will be able to do that!!!!

 

I got mine changed while rebuilding the engine. $300.00 seems like a really good deal. Other places wanted about $500.00 for that job.
A good idea is to get a camshaft gear done and the water pump at the same time as the timing belt.

 

So I have heard but ....eh....I did not want to spend more than $300 and I dont drive fast ever so I expect my camshaft gear done and the water pump to last till I am done with the car...LOL

 

Wow, that IS a good deal. My local dealership quoted me over $700 for the timing belt and water pump. What really pissed me off is that was after I had already dropped it off to have "all the belts replaced" which had an initial quote of $300. How the guy didn't realize that ALL meant ALL, including the timing belt, I don't know. I'm gonna have to shop around now. I'm not spending $700 on a friggin belt.

I hate you.

 

mine was a little over 500 at Rick Case Mitsu. i had all of the other belts changed too along with the water pump.

 

Do not EVER EVER EVER replace a Mitsu timing belt without changing the waterpump ay the same time. Its a ticking bomb and Mitsubishi knows it, I attempted it on an 02 Galant and BOOM right off the bat leaking from the shaft seal. I didn't ask and I got smoked. Ask the dealer parts counter guy, any DSM owner or anyone that is familiar with Mitsubishi maitenance. When you take the load off the pulley and put it back on. (Take the belt off and put it back on) you stress that shaft seal and now its a waiting game.

 

About what mileage should tht belt be changed? I'm at about 95k right now...

 

I have to get my changed as well.. but i've heard arguments on when you need and should do it

Good to know about the water pump!

 

ASAP. Don't mess with that thing. The don't gradually get worse they just go POP and you are hosed. You have mileage and age on that belt working against you but at least there are not temperature extremes in VA, unless you live in the mountains, but then you would be riding a goat and drinking homebrew til you wet yourself...

 

about every 60k miles. so you are well overdue.

 

They say to change it at 60,000 miles but I did it at 75,000 to save money and I never drive hard at all.... I heard a story of a guy with an 04 audi A4 with 100,000 that did not change the belt on time and it poped on the freeway and his engine is toast now.

$5000 engine gone

 

I heard about that and was told that that was on the older moadel cars (before year 2000) and such...

There is no way I would spend all that money to change all that crap on a car with only 60,000 miles on it..

Luckily you dont need to lift the whole engin up to change those other things , only the timeing belt requires that!

 

Napa Parts List

Standard Alternator belt $11
Standard AC Power Steering Belt $21
Hi Perf Timing Belt $65
Waterpump $68

$165 in parts and an afternoon of work keeps you in business for 60,000 more miles. $.00275 per mile to not worry about the car. Money well spent.

 

It's either a new timing belt around 60,000 or a new engine shortly after. If you park in a garage every night, you can probably make it to 80k or even 100k, but other than that, I wouldn't bet my engine on it, especially if you live in areas with major climate changes. I live in Sunny CA, and I fully expect to see a rotting belt coming out of my Lancer. Too bad they don't use timing chains. The most crucial part of your car and they have to make it out of rubber to save what, a pound?