How much should I have to pay to have a timing belt replaced, and how long should it take?

Do it urself. ~$38 bucks and 2 hours time.

Do it urself. ~$38 bucks and 2 hours time.

wow that cheep how about in our 2.0 how much is it?

Autozone has a belt for $19.99, and I've used them before and never had any problem with them (Usually change em every 70K). The 1.9 and 2.0 are changed almost exactly the same, except the tensioner on the 2.0 is eaiser to work with - put an 8mm allen wrench in the hole and it swings back, pull it back, put the belt on, let go, and it automatically adjusts.

And if you want to go back with the ford belt, it's around 60 bucks.

I gotta put one on my Focus this weekend (just bought it with 120K, doing it just to make sure). The engine mount looks like it'll have to come off. Great engineering.

BTW, the SPI in my Escort has much more OOMPH than the one in the Focus, guess cause the focus is heavier. Gotta try that trick with the split port solenoid on this one too... (thanks JL).

Autozone has a belt for $19.99, and I've used them before and never had any problem with them (Usually change em every 70K). The 1.9 and 2.0 are changed almost exactly the same, except the tensioner on the 2.0 is eaiser to work with - put an 8mm allen wrench in the hole and it swings back, pull it back, put the belt on, let go, and it automatically adjusts.

And if you want to go back with the ford belt, it's around 60 bucks.

I gotta put one on my Focus this weekend (just bought it with 120K, doing it just to make sure). The engine mount looks like it'll have to come off. Great engineering.

BTW, the SPI in my Escort has much more OOMPH than the one in the Focus, guess cause the focus is heavier. Gotta try that trick with the split port solenoid on this one too... (thanks JL).

Wow sounds easy enough my car has 85,000 to my knowledge has never been replaced. right now its 12 degrees out (in new england) and outdoor car repair is out of the question.

Is there a way to quickly check/ signs if the belt has ever been serviced?

I understand it's cold out, but, for something like a timing belt on an Escort, it wouldn't be that hard to do. Hoenstly, we went outside, and it was about 30 not too long ago when my car was having problems to check everything out, and we got that cover off in about 35-40 minutes. So I wouldn't put doing it yourself out of reach.

I understand it's cold out, but, for something like a timing belt on an Escort, it wouldn't be that hard to do. Hoenstly, we went outside, and it was about 30 not too long ago when my car was having problems to check everything out, and we got that cover off in about 35-40 minutes. So I wouldn't put doing it yourself out of reach.

30 is ok but not anything less-lol. I hope it can wait till nice weather and ill try to tackle it.

How much should I have to pay to have a timing belt replaced, and how long should it take?

This mechanic must think he has a dumb woman to deal with. He told me it would take 2 days, and after I bring the car in he would tell me how much it will cost. I would appreciate more feedback on this. Thanks

Honestly, a mechanic will probably charge you around 250(US) for the job. That's the belt plus their ridiculoused assed labor of about 2.5 hrs. Added in that is a new serpentine (sp?) belt, because they usually replace that too. If you're belt's having a problem, u need to replace it ASAP also, because, honestly, u could be ANYWHERE and your car is just going to plain DIE.

Honestly, a mechanic will probably charge you around 250(US) for the job. That's the belt plus their ridiculoused assed labor of about 2.5 hrs. Added in that is a new serpentine (sp?) belt, because they usually replace that too. If you're belt's having a problem, u need to replace it ASAP also, because, honestly, u could be ANYWHERE and your car is just going to plain DIE.

Well it makes sense if you are taking those other belts off why not replace them. Was also told you should replace waterpump while its opened up.

The reason I am having the timing belt replaced is because I have over 72000 miles on the car, and I know I am pushing my luck. So should I have the water pump replaced also? How about the other belts?
I want to know what to say when I walk into the repair shop, and what to expect as a reply.

At my mechanics shop here in Md,the cost is about $200.00 and i believe that includes the water pump also.

It's a VERY good idea to change the water pump when you change the timing belt. If you do it yourself the water pump is cheap insurance from tearing it all apart again in a couple of months when the pump fails. $26.00 at autozone with lifetime warranty.

some bitch people....my '99 LX went 136k before it's first timing belt. Still on original clutch and water pump too. Nova, I got a lifetime warranty belt from AutoZone. Park the right side of the car up on the curb, climbed under with a ratchet, some sockets, and a torque wrench, and had at it. Your timing belt cover is plastic, don't bother taking off the motor mount to get it out, too much work; just muscle it on outta there, sure it'll get scratched up and what not, but a HUGE time saver. BTW, I'm on my 3rd...the first two snapped with no ill effects.

How much should I have to pay to have a timing belt replaced, and how long should it take?

I have a '95 Escort wagon, 1.9l motor and the local Ford dealer wanted $300+ and that would include a recommended replacment of the water pump (which is buried in there with the belt).

Decided to do it myself. AutoZone belt (a Goodyear, made in the USA component) ran about $25. A new water pump from NAPA ran about $40. If you are mecahnically inclined, you can do it yourself. If you don't know the difference between a PCV and an EGR valve, take it to your local shop.

If you do tackle the job *have a good shop manual on hand*. You will need a floor jack because, for 1.9L motor, you need to remove the left side engine mount.

Regardless of who does the job, *replace the water pump also*. If the pump is original, you're on borrowed time. The reason for this: if a shop does it, it will cost about the same in labor to replace just the pump as it will to replace just the belt; if you do it, it will be as big a PITA to do one as the other. Bottom line do both at the same time, save money or an extra PITA. The pump also incorporates the belt tensioner which is an idler pulley with a bearing.... if that bearing goes bad, guess what you have to do?

Good luck....

Mike

Good advise there as my water pump croaked just 7 months after
I did the belt replacement. As mentioned, the procedure does require
the removal of the left side motor mount but it's not too bad of a
job. figure between $225-325 for a shop to do it..( w/ a new pump)

some bitch people....my '99 LX went 136k before it's first timing belt. Still on original clutch and water pump too. Nova, I got a lifetime warranty belt from AutoZone. Park the right side of the car up on the curb, climbed under with a ratchet, some sockets, and a torque wrench, and had at it. Your timing belt cover is plastic, don't bother taking off the motor mount to get it out, too much work; just muscle it on outta there, sure it'll get scratched up and what not, but a HUGE time saver. BTW, I'm on my 3rd...the first two snapped with no ill effects.

Thanks for the tips Jet Lee. By the way everyone else I post not long ago autozone has a good how too on timing belt replacement and timing cover removal on thier website see my other post for link or go to autozone.com

The reason I am having the timing belt replaced is because I have over 72000 miles on the car, and I know I am pushing my luck. So should I have the water pump replaced also? How about the other belts?
I want to know what to say when I walk into the repair shop, and what to expect as a reply.

DonnaC,
My :2cents:
I don't think you have told us if this is a 1.9L or 2L engne but anyway, timing belt longivity depends a lot on your driving habits. If you wind the engine (high Rev's) it's harder on the belt and has a tendency to stretch it. Most of the recommendations I've seen lately say 1.9L @ 100,000 and 120,000 miles for the 2.0L. I have driven a 1.9L well over 120,000 miles and had a waterpump to start leaking. I replaced the waterpump and the timing belt, and the belt looked good, not frayed or any damage. When I bought my 1.9L 60,000 miles was recommended to change the belt. Reliability data since then has shown the 100,000 mile interval to have a good margin of safety.

unless it's a gt or lxe, a '95 escort will have a 1.9