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PT Cruiser Timing Belt - Anyone here ever changed one?

Started by bill440rt, May 30, 2009, 10:01:57 PM

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bill440rt

May 30, 2009, 10:01:57 PM
Well, it finally happened. My daily driver '01 PT died this evening, on my way to E-town Raceway Park here in NJ. Car has a little over 85000 miles. I'm thinking it was the timing belt. ALL fluids were OK, nothing leaking, no smoke, fire, etc. Just driving along, and then nothing.
Engine cranks over, does not start. It's dark now, I'll probably go out tomorrow to look at it more closely.
From what I'm reading on the online forums, changing one of these looks like a complete nightmare of a job. Not something you want to tackle in the driveway. I remember my mechanic saying a while ago how much of a PitA it is, roughly a $1200 job with parts & all.
Anyone have any experience with one of these??
:shruggy:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

A383Wing

#1
May 30, 2009, 10:27:48 PM
We have an '03 PT....I was checking on the instructions on how to do it...you will need special balancer remover to get the harmonic balancer off...plus you will need to hold the camshafts in place with special holder also....I work at a shop that does timing belts all the time....I don't think I want to ever do one on a PT....

Ya might want to make sure that it is the timing belt before jumping into tackling it....ours has only 71,000 miles now....book says to change it at 105,000 miles I think...might be 120,000

Bryan

ChgrSteve67

#2
May 30, 2009, 11:01:49 PM
I got 120,000+ on my 01 PT and it still runs like a bastard on the origional belt.
and I drive my PT hard   ;D

I would check the basics first or take it to the dealer for diagnostics.

BigBlackDodge

#3
May 30, 2009, 11:27:08 PM
Check engine light come on?

Could be a sensor.............cam, crank......


BBD

nh_mopar_fan

#4
May 31, 2009, 10:35:15 AM
Our 2001 has 130k on it. Still the original.

Yesterday, I replaced the sunroof assembly. It stopped working 2 years ago. Would open but not close.... :brickwall:

Dealer wanted $1200  :eek2:

Found a guy parting out one and bought the whole unit for $100.

3 hours yesterday, good as new.

:2thumbs:

bill440rt

#5
May 31, 2009, 11:55:01 AM
OK, went out there & checked some more. Pulled a code of P-0340, which translates to a camshaft position sensor fault code. BTW, the car actually has a little over 85,000 miles.
Could this code also be a result of a broken timing belt in this car? If it's only a sensor, it's a $35 part & 1/2 hour in my driveway.  :2thumbs:  If it's a timing belt, it's on the hook and a $1200 bend-over.  :brickwall: :brickwall:

Any suggestions from here??
:popcrn:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

BigBlackDodge

#6
May 31, 2009, 04:14:58 PM
I'm guessing it's the sensor gone bad.............pretty common problem. Swap it out and see what happens. :yesnod:


BBD

A383Wing

#7
May 31, 2009, 07:08:18 PM
When you crank over the engine, and it won't start...does it sound "normal", or does it sound like a freewheeling motor with no compression?

Pull a plug and test compression...that will tell you if it's a t-belt issue or not

bill440rt

#8
May 31, 2009, 07:20:09 PM
The engine sounded "normal", it wasn't fast or anything...

Check your PM shortly.  :2thumbs:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

Silver R/T

#9
May 31, 2009, 08:29:32 PM
is this non-interference motor or not?
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A383Wing

#10
May 31, 2009, 08:56:14 PM
Quote from: Silver R/T on May 31, 2009, 08:29:32 PM
is this non-interference motor or not?

I don't think it is...I will double check tomorrow at work....

FLG

#11
May 31, 2009, 09:01:22 PM
The engine is non-interference with plenty of piston to valve clearance.

bill440rt

#12
May 31, 2009, 09:06:01 PM
This is all good to hear.

I'm going to pull the cam position sensor tomorrow & have a helper crank the engine while I look inside. Hopefully I see some movement behind there. Hopefully there will be, at least then if there is I can rule out the timing belt.  :scratchchin:
Thanks for the tip, A383Wing!  :2thumbs:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

bill440rt

#13
June 01, 2009, 11:07:19 AM
OK, update.

This sucks, big time. Removed the sensor, and the screw that holds the plastic timing cover together. Had the wife blip the ignition while having a look-see, No movement from either the cam or the gears behind the cover. Looks like a snapped timing belt for sure.  :flame:

Called a local guy around here (highly recommended by a neighbor) for an guesstimated price, of course they're gonna want to look at it. My neighbors are car-people too, even their son is one of the track announcers at Raceway Park. So, I trust their referral.
Bend-over time.  :flame: :brickwall:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

nh_mopar_fan

#14
June 01, 2009, 03:41:15 PM
That sucks. Sorry to hear.

AS a PT owner, I'd like to know what the estimate is when you get it.

If you don't mind sharing, that is.

Good luck.

bill440rt

#15
June 02, 2009, 07:15:36 PM
OK, I heard back from the mechanic today.  :'(

Just wanted to let you know NH, but to do the timing belt I was quoted about $875.00.  :icon_smile_dissapprove:   This includes the belt, water pump replacement, & labor. Of course, the tow to his shop is not included, which is about another $60 bucks. So, the whole shebang is approx $950. Still better than the $1200 I heard about a year ago, but a bite in the a$$ nonetheless.
This is definitely gonna affect the Carlisle fund fer shure.  :brickwall: :brickwall:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

A383Wing

#16
June 02, 2009, 07:44:01 PM
I did a little checking at work, Alldata says 6.5 hours to change belt, plus another .5 hour to change water pump while in there. Belt is probably around $50 max....plus coolant

I guess it all depends on what labor per hour is....

Count your blessings....could have been an interference motor...then you would be buying valves and maybe pistons

Bryan

nh_mopar_fan

#17
June 02, 2009, 08:31:12 PM
That sucks.

But, thanks for the info. Not sure what we'll do if/when the time comes on ours.

bill440rt

#18
June 02, 2009, 10:07:37 PM
Quote from: A383Wing on June 02, 2009, 07:44:01 PM
I did a little checking at work, Alldata says 6.5 hours to change belt, plus another .5 hour to change water pump while in there. Belt is probably around $50 max....plus coolant

I guess it all depends on what labor per hour is....

Count your blessings....could have been an interference motor...then you would be buying valves and maybe pistons

Bryan


Yeah, Bryan. I guess it could have been worse. As with everything in life, it just couldn't have come at a worse time.
Alldata hours sounds right, they told me it was a 7 hour job. There's probably about $200 in parts or so total, then labor on top of it. Yippee.
This car was only supposed to last me about a year or so, until the new Ram 2500's came out. It's actually really grown on me, it turned out to be a very versatile car. It's in otherwise GREAT shape, & loaded (leather, sunroof, etc).

Keep ya's posted...  :popcrn:
"Strive for perfection in everything. Take the best that exists and make it better. If it doesn't exist, create it. Accept nothing nearly right or good enough." Sir Henry Rolls Royce

nh_mopar_fan

#19
June 03, 2009, 08:27:33 AM
Really?

It's my wife's care but I think it's seriously underpowered.

A383Wing

#20
June 03, 2009, 09:05:17 AM
Quote from: nh_mopar_fan on June 03, 2009, 08:27:33 AM
Really?

It's my wife's care but I think it's seriously underpowered.

We bought one brand new in 2002, it too is the wifes car...very practical car, tons of room for hauling stuff, plenty of power for a little 2.4 motor. Comfortable on longer trips. The only option that ours does not have is the Turbo-charger...they wanted another $4k back then when we were at the dealer...

The only issue I have with the PT is the crappy gas mileage...I figured it would get better than 17-19 around town...best I have got is 25mpg on the freeway....but seeing as how Chrysler put the PT in the truck category, gas regulations for this car were not mandated like the passenger cars.

Overall, it's been a very good car...wife is happy, and that's all that counts.

Bryan

ChgrSteve67

#21
June 03, 2009, 10:31:36 PM
Quote from: nh_mopar_fan on June 03, 2009, 08:27:33 AM
Really?

It's my wife's care but I think it's seriously underpowered.

Must be a automatic.

I have a five speed and if you wind the motor up a bit it really busts a move.

A cold air intake and free flowing exhaust system helps too.

Turbo models really haul ass.

A383Wing

#22
July 01, 2009, 09:25:51 PM
I just did my first timing belt on a customers PT Cruiser at work....I learned one thing....when the time comes for our PT to have the timing belt done....it goes to the dealer...I ain't doing it. No way can it be done at home....AC has to be discharged and the lines removed....front grille & radiator support has to come off...power steering pump has to be removed....plus the special puller you have to have to remove the crank pulley....

If I had known 30 years ago how bad all these newer cars were gonna be to work on....I would never have gone into this line of work.

(I love my job, I love my job....some day I will convince myself of that)
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