A 95 neon just fell in my lap for free ( which is the best part) with a bad timing belt. Is this an interference engine? I want to put it together for a commuter vehicle and don't want to put too much cash in it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

My service manual says yes. Relpace the belt and do a compression check. If you can do the work yourself you would be out the cost of the belt and your time.

 

He will have to replace the water pump and tensioner pulley also and probably the valves.

 

I'd just stick the belt in and do a compression check. If the compression checks OK replace the water pump and tensioner pulley. If not, then decide if pulling the head and doing a valve job is worth it.

 

Have you replaced the timing belt before? Why do everything twice, when you can replace the pump and pulley with the belt the first time? You're already in there...just makes more sense to me.

 

das is right, changing the timming belt is A PAIN.

try this, one of the chambers should be in a position to do a compression check. find out what one and check it.

the cam moves at twice the speed of the crank. BEING VERY CAREFULL, SLOWLY turn the crank while turning the cam twice as fast. if you feel it's too hard to turn STOP! the valves MAY be hitting the pistons. proceed untill you get all the chambers done. might have trouble getting to the cam through the insp port, might have to take the valve cover off. good luck.