Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Varying quotes for Timing Belt replacement..

Hi guys,

I was driving home yesterday when the car stalled and refused to start again. The tow truck guy was cranking on it pretty hard, making me nervous, trying to start it. Anyways, so I had it towed to a Goodyear Service place and they said that the timing belt went and quoted me $1,100 to repair. I found out that the valves are not bent, the head dosen't have to come off. A couple of other places, smaller garages around here, are quoting me $300-$400. If the valves are not bent, and all I need are the belt, tensioners, pulleys, spark plugs & wires (from the tow truck driving cranking to start it), and possibly a water pump while they are down there, which estimate should I believe? Thanks very much for the help, I did a search but want to be sure my car is OK.

Thanks,
Dylan

WHAT ENGINE DO YOU HAVE?
THE I4 IS A NON-INTERFERANCE ENGINE

wow I just got this done

I had these parts replaced:

and I have the bill right here:

timing belt 51.27
timing componets 174.41
valve cover set 35.41
"shop supplies" 4.67

parts came too...265.76 + 15.95 on tax
TOTAL 281.71

Labor:

R+R Timing Belt + all componets 220.00

for a grand total of $501.71

$1100 sounds steep. I got the timing belt prophylactically changed when I got my Mystique at 65k miles. The work was done at a Ford dealership: $550, incl. labor and the "need" to change the tensioner pulley. And this is in Ma$$achu$ett$, too.

Thanks for the help guys. Its the I4 Zetec, DOHC. I got it towed to another garage, a small one. On my instinct it seems like I can trust this guy alot more. He's not trying to job me. I'll let you know what the total comes to. On a VERY INTERESTING side not, this guy has a racecar in his garage that he's selling that has a Ford 427 CobraJet engine in it. (I believe only 300 were ever made) He's been a mechanic for over 50 years, quite a character.

Yeah so the guy I dropped my car off STILL has my car.. Its OK, Ive been taking the bus to school and stuff. But he says that the timing belt didn't actually break, it just got so stretched out it stopped operating correctly. He is blaming this on a faulty repairjob on the water pump. Must've been before I owned the car, and I bought it with only 48,000 on it. Something about how a spring on the tensioner was missing or something. Anyways, hopefully it will be fixed tomorrow. I think I'm looking at $500+ like you other guys. I will let you know more about what exactly went wrong, he and the people at the local Ford evidently are puzzled by how it failed.

I think i paid like 300 to ge my belt done will parts and everthing.

Paid $345 for a timing belt replacement, coolant flush, and oil change 2 months ago. Good luck!