I am new here and have read almost all 1st Gen posts for my problem. My 97 Neon Highline left me stranded on the way back from Thanksgiving due to a ripped timing belt. It started making a rough chattering noise just before it went and the engine died out. Of the posts I've found on timing belts it describes it as "bad" and "wrecks engine." Can anyone elaborate the probability of bent rods etc? My car is about 100 miles away and I'm getting initial cost estimates of about $400 to replace the belt, but also warnings that the water pump may need to and should be replaced. I've had this car for about two years and I'm trying to make a decision to repair or get a new one. I bought it dirt cheap as it had been salvaged from a prior accident and could end up spending about 40 to 60% what I paid for it. I have been slowly sprucing it up by replacing some parts from the prior accident so I'm hesitant in giving up on it. If anyone can give a few steps to easily and affordibly diagnose the extent of the damage I would be greatful. I don't have a FSM so if you think I should try to repair it do you have any info on how to set the timing with the new belt. Thanks alot and there are some very great posters on this board.

 

the timing isnt hard to do yourself.....if you have the right tools
there is a 99.9% chance that you bent vlaves if you were driving it at the time it broke......but you shouldnt of broke a rod..

 

You should replace the water pump and tensioner pulley as well since you/mechanic will be in there already. All the parts combined are anywhere from $100-$150 total. You can do it yourself and HERE is a how-to for setting the timing written by spudsterier.

 

the same thing happened to me...but on Christmas Eve! on the highway like 100 miles away from home..yea you probably bent the valves..might come out cheaper getting a working head from a junkyard than to try to fix the one thats messed up...cause it will need machine work and get resurfaced. but you are suppose to replace the timing belt and water pump every 60k miles

 

That is every 100,000 miles...not every 60,000 miles.

 

das2123, do you have a link to the timing instructions referenced in your reply. I'm new to this board so I may be missing something. Is there an attachment section for this forum? Thanks to all others for the responses.

 

Click the "HERE" word in my reply above for the link.

 

o ok...60k what a mechanic told me....ill take your word for it tho Das