AX Telstar head replacement, worth doing timing belt as well?

Deanodriver · 17-09-2006, 06:01 PM

I've got an AX Telstar, which has 180,000km on it.

It's been using a little coolant lately (topped up every so often), and recently overheated, and the diagnosis is a cracked head. Now, considering it's only 20,000km off it's 200K service, is it worth getting the timing belt done at the same time as the head?

17-09-2006, 06:08 PM

Yeah it would be, your going to have to take the head off anyway, so the belt will have to be taken off. The belt/s should cost only $30 or so (could be a seperate one for a balencer)

Deanodriver · 17-09-2006, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Yeah it would be, your going to have to take the head off anyway, so the belt will have to be taken off. The belt/s should cost only $30 or so (could be a seperate one for a balencer)

It'll be one belt, it's a 4cylinder (which IMO had enough power)

dirty hands · 17-09-2006, 11:10 PM

the water pump runs off that belt and might be leaking
so check it out while the timing belt is off
every 50,000 km for timing belt repalcement in a telstar

jak_a · 20-05-2007, 12:17 PM

my 92 telstar has also done 180000 k's , and just recently replaced head gasket , my mechanic told me the timing belt was still ok but said make sure to change it before it hits 200000 , does this all sound right to you guys or should i replace it now?

smally289 · 20-05-2007, 06:34 PM

Should have replaced it when the head was off IMO. Now you are up for all that labour again.
Your mechanic is not looking after you to well!

Replace the belt now unless you know exactly when it was replaced last.
Bent valves = lotsa $$

jak_a · 20-05-2007, 06:46 PM

i think your right , he quated me between $250-300 to get it done when it probaly would have only cost a fraction of that if he had done it when the head gasket was done

dirty hands · 20-05-2007, 08:14 PM

ys mechanic wanted more dollars alright
find another mechanic
proper way was to have replaced the timing belt and head in one job and water pump if needed

jak_a · 21-05-2007, 02:10 PM

thing is my mechanic is telling me he checked out the timing belt while he was replacing the head and it was alright , can a mechanic tell if its ok by inspecting it?

MITCHAY · 21-05-2007, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jak_a

thing is my mechanic is telling me he checked out the timing belt while he was replacing the head and it was alright , can a mechanic tell if its ok by inspecting it?

You should replace timing belt at least what the intervals suggest but better before then. It's one of those things that absolutely has to be replaced before it breaks as mentioned for example bent valves.

Sounds like he wants to do the work for you but is trying to make it sound not so important for now so he can charge you labour again later.

Also as suggested check the water pump too. Lucky they didn't charge labour for me again because it started leaking after they changed the coolant (and belts). The gunk that blocked the leak was cleared and they didn't check it out properly. Still had to have my car in the shop for more time though :(

smally289 · 21-05-2007, 07:19 PM

For the price of a new timing belt, why not change it when it's apart?
Almost like checking the rings when you hone a cylinder to see if you can reuse them. Backwards thinking.

jak_a · 21-05-2007, 07:36 PM

thanks to you guys i'v booked in timing belt job for later this week with lube mobile , better to be safe than sorry , only $281 complete job , in the mean time i'm looking around for a cheap water pump so they can fit that in at the same time, once again thanks for the advice

jak_a · 22-05-2007, 10:01 AM

hi , just wondering is it absolutely necessary to replace water pump when changing timing belt? this cars costing me a fortune.

MITCHAY · 22-05-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jak_a

hi , just wondering is it absolutely necessary to replace water pump when changing timing belt? this cars costing me a fortune.

Welcome to older Japanese cars!

:

If it isn't leaking then there would be no need to. I only found out I had a leak because I got a coolant flush done which removed gunk that was sealing the leak.

Just saying make sure that it is checked for leaking around it and if it needs to be done, get it done at the same time to save on labour.

jak_a · 22-05-2007, 12:37 PM

with my luck the dude will probaly charge me a hundred bucks just to have a look :togo:

dirty hands · 22-05-2007, 10:20 PM

dont take it back to him

and send me the $100 dude

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