Hey guys/gals,

Just bought a '98 Stratus 4cyl with 115K on it. Don't think the timing belt has been done yet.

Does anyone have any documentation (or step by step instructions) for how to change it? It looks like an awefully tight squeeze in there.

I just did one on my buddy's neon a month ago and it sucked. Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Radiator has to come out along with the core support. All the accessories got to come of and valve covers off and then the timing chain cover then the tentioners and then the chain itself.

 

Have you done one? Sounds like a disaster. Also it is a belt, not a chain, correct?

 

should be about the same as a neon, PITA. though i have not done a strat yet, i seems to me you could discon the eng mounts and lower the eng to get to the crank pulley area, and raise the motor to get to the belt cover (with a tire jack, just like on a neon). that way you don't have to pull the rad. i would recomend to change the water pump and tensioner assy at the same time, that way you won't have to do it in 6 months. good luck.

 

Thanks for the help. Now I just have to get up the courage to get started on it.

Anyone else have any insight on this project? Just need a little more motivating!!

This site is great!!

 

Hey wassup man, Over the weekend i just replaced my timing belt, and water pump... IF ur goin to do it urself i would get a haynes manual and u will need a pully puller, rubber mallet, and a stud that u can screw in the crank pully (harmonic balancer) or whatever its called. I would recomend replacing the water pump, hydraulic belt tensioner, and the belt tensioner pully. Only reason why i recomend doin the water pump is bc its goin to be a pain in the *** in the first place so mine as well do it while ur in there.. GOOD LUCK! I had fun doin it lots of cussing in volved.

 

Yeah, I figured I'd probably change those other items as well.

I should have the cuss words part of the installation down pat.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

While the Haynes manual is a good reference, it's not perfect. I did my 97 belt last year and it was a PITA. They mention to remove the outer timing belt cover. What they fail to mention is that you can't get it by the water pump sprocket and alternator bracket so you have to swing the bracket out of the way too - another 3 bolts to keep track of. This is just one example. Great design Dodge - thanks! Also, I wrote down all my disassembly steps including what size socket(s) to use and reversed the order when I reinstalled everything. Made it a lot easier. Take digital pictures, make notes, ziploc bag and label ALL hardware so you don't lose it. The reason I changed mine was that my cam seal blew. Check your cam and crank seals while you're in there and make sure there is no oil leaking around them. They're easy enough to replace. Also, I was unable to get my harmonic balancer on the crank without first heating it up in the oven for about 1/2 an hour. This caused the rubber part to soften and the thing wobbles a bit now but it's OK. If you have any tricks to do this, let us all know. I was afraid of stripping the crank/bolt threads if I simply tried to slide it on by tightening the bolt.

Best of luck to you.

taco

 

WELL....

Before I found time to get the thing changed, it broke on me on the way home from work on Tuesday. Thank God for the sensor that shuts the engine off, or else I'd be looking at replacing the head as well. As I'm busy with many other projects, I reluctantly had it towed to a garage close to where I broke down - never heard anything about them.

They had it fixed the next day for 400 bucks....didn't think this was too bad considering they replaced the serpentine belt (looked pretty bad), harmonic balancer (cracked coming off), water pump (was leaking), and of course the timing belt. Close to $200 in parts alone. I felt it was worth the $200 in labor to not have to ruin an entire weekend cussing my brains out!! HAHA

Even though I had to throw down a nice chuck of change, I'm still pretty happy with my '98 that I picked up for $1000. I should be good for another 80K with the new timing belt - knock on wood!!!.....but who knows what's next.

Thanks for all of your help, guys!!

 

Sounds like it had a few problems.
It was probably just a case of someone got tired of messing with it.
Since it is new to you, it shouldn't be too aggrivating to fix whatever it needs.

Sometimes you fix the initial problems and nothing goes wrong for a long time.
I think all will be well, just get it into as good a shape as you can now instead of letting things go.