Well I amabout to buy my father-in laws 99 Stratus 2.4 auto with 170,000 miles for the wife.

He said that he has never had the timing belt or water pump changed.. How likely is it that the belt has lasted 170,000??? I think the dealer may have changed it and he doesn't remember. In the past he used to tell me thatwhenhe would bring the car to dealer every time it would cost him $1000. For this car when is the belt supposed to be changed? Can I take the top timing belt cover off by itself to inspect it, or does everything have to come off?

What would anaverage price be for the dealer to replace the belt/tensioner/water pump?

He also said he is on the original battery! By the way we are in Southern California.


Thanks

 

It is possible. Sometimes those things last a long time. But it does kind of sound like it has been done. I would ask him what dealership he takes his car to and give them a call. They should have records of all the repairs done to the car and when.

 

Another quick question as I look into replacing the timing belt:

So the water pump is directly driven off the timing belt?

What is blowing my mind right now is once I was in the car with him and the AC compressor seized up on a long trip, well it throw the drive belt. We smelled rubber burning and than I noticed the temp. gauge was going up, how could that be if it is driven off the timing belt??

 

Since I asked the question and now have the answer I wanted to post it:

He did have the timing belt and water pump changed out at around 125K. He still had the work orders in the gloove box luckly.

 

How much is a fair price for the replacement of the water pump/belt/thermostat on a Dodge Stratus 2000? $300-400? $800-1,000?

 

I usually charge $300 at my shop including all of that and fluids for almost all timing belt replacements.

 

Parts are around $150 , plus the labor ... Dealer was more then the independant shop
dealer wanted $560 / independant wanted $350 ... Oddly enough parts were within $20