Timing Belt Change

[DeepSilentComplete]

Ok, can you all advise me about changing out my timing belt, or better yet having my local shop do the work? The beast has about 85K on her and I am thinking it might be due (overdue?). Yes/no?

My local shop has given me an estimate of $600.

Thoughts?

[tom4bren]

Bart just finished his:

http://www.vehicross.info/forums/sho...ghlight=timing

[nfpgasmask]

Ahoy! Tom beat to posting my own how-to. I just did mine. I really took my time and I had it all done in about 3 days. That was mostly because I was documenting/photographing everything and there were some unexpected things that slowed me down. This whole process could be done in one long Saturday for sure, especially with my instructions in front of you. However, I would certainly give yourself a FULL free weekend and this job can be done with no problem. It's a little tedious, but it is very fun and you will feel really good about it when you are done.

Bart

[CrnCnn]

I should really do mine. When I get the money I will.

[nfpgasmask]

I should really do mine. When I get the money I will.

Let me know when you are ready. I'd be glad to help out, it's kinda fun actually. Is your VX leaking any coolant? You've got about 90k on the clock, right?

Bart

[CrnCnn]

Let me know when you are ready. I'd be glad to help out, it's kinda fun actually. Is your VX leaking any coolant? You've got about 90k on the clock, right?

Bart

No leakage as of yet. I think I am around 85k. If I could get some mula I would love to spend a weekend doing all the things I want. Diff brackets, brakes, freshen up my cladding paintjob, timing belt and all that goes with it, muffler, and some misc mods i have wanted to do for a while.

[nfpgasmask]

Almost forgot...here is a direct link to my how-to:

Timing Belt How-To

Bart

[VehiGAZ]

My local shop has given me an estimate of $600.

Talk to an Isuzu dealer - mine said they'd do it for under $400, but I had the indie mechanic who did the S/C install do the t-belt, and it ran me like $700 or $800 in his hands.

[alterastro]

Does anyone know at what mileage they should be done?

Nick

[tomdietrying]

Bart, I agree with 4bren.....GREAT write up!
Thanks.
Tom

[nfpgasmask]

Bart, I agree with 4bren.....GREAT write up!
Thanks.
Tom

Thanks, Tom!!!!

Does anyone know at what mileage they should be done?

Nick

I think the manual said 70k or 75k, iirc. Most people do it around 100k, sometimes more.

Bart

[JAMAS]

Talk to an Isuzu dealer - mine said they'd do it for under $400, but I had the indie mechanic who did the S/C install do the t-belt, and it ran me like $700 or $800 in his hands.

I just scheduled my timing belt replacement at the local Isuzu shop. Any day of the week it is $380 + tax. However, the last time I talked to him, during my $700 all fluids synthesized and serpentine belt replaced, he mentioned about a 20% off. So I held him to it.

Should be done for $304 + Tax. <KnockOnWood>Unless something else is broken when they go digging.</KnockOnWood>

53K on the clock, but 10 years on the calendar. Probably not a bad way to spend birthday money. Although that DEWALT 1/2" 18-Volt Hammer Drill would have been alot more fun to buy. Damn responsible decisions. They are never any fun.

[alterastro]

This is interesting... There is something in the UK (don't know if you have it in the US), called AUtodata. It lists everything you could wish to know about vehicles, including timing intervals and instructions etc.

For the 6VE1 engine after 1998 it quotes 72,000 miles or 96 months. I notice the spec in the knowledgebase says 100,000 miles which did seem high to me. The 6VD1 (3.2) engine is the same unless it is pre-1998 when the stated interval is 54,000 miles or 72 months.

Me thinks I need to change mine!

Be interesting to hear where you all think the differences come from

Nick

[nfpgasmask]

IIRC, the VX manual states 72k or 75k. I changed my belt at 87k and change. I just officially rolled 90k last week, and it is probably more since my speedo is off.

Bart

[nfpgasmask]

I just scheduled my timing belt replacement at the local Isuzu shop. Any day of the week it is $380 + tax. However, the last time I talked to him, during my $700 all fluids synthesized and serpentine belt replaced, he mentioned about a 20% off. So I held him to it.

Should be done for $304 + Tax. <KnockOnWood>Unless something else is broken when they go digging.</KnockOnWood>

So here is my question- How the hell is a shop going to do this for only $304? Is that labor only? I spent damn near $900 on OEM parts for this maintenance! Or are you ONLY doing a belt change and leaving the water pump, radiator hoses, idler pulley, tensioner pulley and push tensioner original?

I could understand $300 for the labor, but what about all the parts???? Are after market parts REALLY that much cheaper than Merlin?

Bart