2003 Dodge Neon SXT Overheat
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2003 Dodge Neon SXT Overheat
So I live in stillwater, Oklahoma, and my friends and I decided to drive to OKC. We just arrived in OKC and I noticed my car was nearing overheating. I pulled over immediately and popped the hood after 5 mins and the coolant reservoir was boiling, draining through the overflow thing, and steaming from around the reservoir. I waited until it cooled down (about 15 or 20 min) and drove to the nearest gas station for more coolant.
Afterwords, I drove it to a friends house nearby, and we did what we came to OKC to do. Came back 9 hours later, filled it up some more, and drove it back to stillwater. The odd thing is that on the trip back, it did not overheat. When i drove back, I went 10 under the limit, and had my heater "on".
Took it to my usual mechanic, and he tested it. He came to the conclusion that it was the water pump that was leaking and it needs to be replaced.
He estimated a 4.5 hour job + parts to be $880. I cannot afford that.
Called up my dad, and he says he is wanting to take a look at it and do it himself.
I guess what my question is: how extensive is it to get in there and replace the water pump/timing belt? And extremely expensively special tools needed? My dad knows his way around cars really well, I am just worried about him getting halfway through and not having a super special tool that makes it 100% easier that we do not have and cannot afford.
tl;dr:
2003 Dodge Neon SXT overheated, water pump leaking, how hard is the job and is there any special tools needed to make it easier?
Afterwords, I drove it to a friends house nearby, and we did what we came to OKC to do. Came back 9 hours later, filled it up some more, and drove it back to stillwater. The odd thing is that on the trip back, it did not overheat. When i drove back, I went 10 under the limit, and had my heater "on".
Took it to my usual mechanic, and he tested it. He came to the conclusion that it was the water pump that was leaking and it needs to be replaced.
He estimated a 4.5 hour job + parts to be $880. I cannot afford that.
Called up my dad, and he says he is wanting to take a look at it and do it himself.
I guess what my question is: how extensive is it to get in there and replace the water pump/timing belt? And extremely expensively special tools needed? My dad knows his way around cars really well, I am just worried about him getting halfway through and not having a super special tool that makes it 100% easier that we do not have and cannot afford.
tl;dr:
2003 Dodge Neon SXT overheated, water pump leaking, how hard is the job and is there any special tools needed to make it easier?
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Well, it's not so much the tools that are needed, it's the know-how. My advice? Go out and get a timing belt kit (should be around $100), and then have them install it. It shouldn't take more than two, maybe three hours to do it.
This is of course assuming that it is indeed the water pump, and not the thermostat, which is more likely.
This is of course assuming that it is indeed the water pump, and not the thermostat, which is more likely.
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I took it to a mechanic to find out the issue, they tested everything (thermostat, head gasket, radiator fan and hoses, etc.) and they said the water pump is the issues and is leaking.
I am just confused on why the cost is so high for a mechanic to do it. 4 hours and parts shouldn't add up to $880 unless they are charging double per hour.
I am just confused on why the cost is so high for a mechanic to do it. 4 hours and parts shouldn't add up to $880 unless they are charging double per hour.
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From: Missouri
It should never cost that much. Take it to a different mechanic. It cost me around $200 to get my timing belt and water pump done, and it only took around 2.5 hours. They're probably just going off the book price and not what they've actually experienced.
Don't let them tell you otherwise, either. Don't let them tell you because it's an '03, so that's why it will take longer, or because of some other bull!@#$ reason, because it's a relatively simple job that any seasoned mechanic should know how to do.
Don't let them tell you otherwise, either. Don't let them tell you because it's an '03, so that's why it will take longer, or because of some other bull!@#$ reason, because it's a relatively simple job that any seasoned mechanic should know how to do.
Last edited by fhadso; Jul 30, 2013 at 04:24 PM.
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
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It should never cost that much. Take it to a different mechanic. It cost me around $200 to get my timing belt and water pump done, and it only took around 2.5 hours. They're probably just going off the book price and not what they've actually experienced.
Don't let them tell you otherwise, either. Don't let them tell you because it's an '03, so that's why it will take longer, or because of some other bull!@#$ reason, because it's a relatively simple job that any seasoned mechanic should know how to do.
Don't let them tell you otherwise, either. Don't let them tell you because it's an '03, so that's why it will take longer, or because of some other bull!@#$ reason, because it's a relatively simple job that any seasoned mechanic should know how to do.