PEAK PUTTERS

I now am joining the ranks of the employed again! I will be working in a lab at the Tillamook Cheese Processing center in Boardman, OR starting March 18th.

It's a good 50 miles each way to get there and my current fuel sucking fleet will kill my wallet. The good news is that the shift is 4x10's and days so a little less driving than a 5 day week. Now that my wife is loving the Explorer she has given me her old car to drive.

The car is a 2001 Hyundai Sonata. It getting 30+ mpg and runs well which is sufficient for my needs. Has an exhaust leak at the manifold (annoying) but more importantly I don't know when the timing belt was last done (if ever) on it. It's got 120k on the odometer. It's an interference engine so if that belt slips the car becomes a paper weight.

I just don't have the time or skills to do a timing belt replacement on a car that I've never done more than replace spark plugs, sensors, and wires on. Where would you recommend I take the car to get the timing belt replaced?

I heard you got on at CRP congrats. You'll no doubt run into Christina G. she is head of shipping. Or she was a year ago when I was in & out of there constantly. If she is I'd give you $20 to take them a dozen spudnuts.


As to your mechanical question I'd recommend my oldest brother in Prosser. He's a wrench for Benton county with a sweet shop and lift etc at his house. He knows his stuff so I have zero reservations sending you his way.

service interval for the v6 is 60k so hopefully it has been done

Oh I should have mentioned it's the 4 cyl.

I have reason to believe that the belt was done at least once. The plastic cover for the timing chain is missing a bolt and the plastic is cracked around the other bolts. Looks like the covers been taken off before, suggesting a possible replacement.

I'm really not sure though. The belt doesn't make any noises. I would think 120k on the original belt would be impossible though.

not impossible but not a good idea either the 4 cyl is only a 2.1 hour job according to alldata and its a no special tool job timing is done with 3 marks and a screwdriver on the balance shaft

If you can wait till after this next race I can give ya a hand. I'm sure it's something we can handle

We have a 2006 Kia Spectra 4-cylinder with 70k on it now that needs this done too. Maybe have a Timing belt changing party here at the shop?

Gotta get it cleaned out first. My Chevy (transmissino) and another Kia (timing chain tensioner problem) need to get done first.

Spent some time looking over the car yesterday. Looks like the CV boots on the front axles are a little split and leaking some grease out too. Looks like a 32mm socket, a couple of new axle shafts, and some time.

Just put boots on your axles if they aren't noisy

I've got a 32mm socket if you don't want to buy one...

Passenger side shaft is noisy when you make a right turn.

Defintely going to avoid a shop if at all possible. Looks like it would be 450-600 bucks for the timing belt replacement depending on the shop. ouch

My Chevy has exited the shop.

There is room for yours if you want to bring it over. I even have a 32mm socket, and air/tools.

And just so everyone knows: the City has banned my business from doing any on-site repairs (problem neighbor scared the locals into thinking I would degrade the neighborhood).

Soooo...
I am more than happy to piss off the bitchy neighbors with as much personal/free/charitable work as I can handle.

The only problem I run into is the auto parts stores are not very close.

West Richland SUCKS. A few years ago they sold some land, right near you, to a friend of our that was looking for some property to build a winery only to find out that they didn't own the land in the first place....big legal hassles from that. Hope you can make the city see it your way.

I would like to come over a watch.

Hey I was curious, is there any special tools needed for this? I would think there would be something to hold the timing gears in place while replacing the belt on a DOHC.

no special tools on this car there is a plug that is pulled out that a pin (repair manual says phillips screw driver) gets pushed into on the balance shaft to time them there are multiple marks that get lines up with the timing belt cam and crank gears with marks on head and block

Oh ok cool

Thanks Grahm for helping me get the timing belt and the CV axles done. Got two decent tires up front in the car. I start earning a living again come tomorrow.

Not a problem good thing you got some tires the old ones were about finished how's the trans level after loosin that bit?

Added a quart, all is good. No problems on the drive today. Managed 100 miles on a quarter tank.