Resolved 1G Timing belt replacement gone way wrong

[Grandieri]

I'm very sorry if this has ever been asked before as I have searched the whole net for a answer and couldn't find one. I always use the search and get my answers 99% but not this time.

I dropped off my 1990 Laser RS turbo to get its Timing and Balance belts done with all OEM parts with a local mechanic on this past Friday. He called me today to tell me he can't do it and I have to have it towed now. My car only has 113k (all stock) and it ran perfect when I left it with them. He said when he timed it it was 5 teeth off? Is this possible when it ran perfect?

Now its torn apart with the original timing belt off and he refuses to put it back together. Can I time it myself without the belt on. I doubt he did the timing like VFAQ. Or should I just drop it off at the dealership? Please help? .I have lots of experience working on cars, this is not my thing though.

 

[black_gst]

file a report with your local BAR and make sure to let him know! and so im clear you did drop your car off in a running condition right?

what a retard

 

[Grandieri]

Thanks for all your guys help. I just got the car home tonight. Ripped my front bumper apart on a tow dolly,sucks. But here is his email to me haven't had anytime to look into the car yet. When I got it I looked at it and no new idlers or tensioner where installed yet.All he did was pull my belt off. He didn't even touch my balance belt.

FROM HIM:

A bad day is putting it lightly.


So now the bad news. When I do a timing belt I always place the motor in time to be sure the old belt was properly installed and to obviously line everything up to get ready for the new belt.


When I timed up your motor, it was out of time, the crank was more then 5 teeth off, which is bad.


I have scoured every service bulletin available to man on your motor and I lack 2 special tools to do the job.


In addition, I took the timing belt off to correct the crank position, but after reading all the bulletins on this specific job, and needing the tools, I am not only unable to do this, but I am not confident enough to even consider putting that timing belt back on and then ruining the motor.


There is just way to many things the geniuses at dodge did in this design that make me shake in my boots. I don't want to even think of attempting it. In all my 25 plus years, I am really scratching my head at what they were thinking when they did this.


So, what has to be done, like it or not, is you need to take this to the dealer so they can do it right. They have the tools and special training on these.



Which means you are going to have to tow it over to them, the dodge dealer is just 3 blocks from where I live.


So, I am doing this as a service to you, so don't be mad about it. I am trying to do whats righto to insure we do not have a motor problem.


I also do not recommend getting another CL mechanic to do this. This needs to be handled by the dealer.


This is my best advise. I have done hundreds of timing belts over the years and none of them have this hokey pokey set up.


I am sorry I could not do anything here. I will not be available until 3 pm tomorrow. So if you want to come by then I can give your key.


All the parts are in the back and it is ready to go.

 

[redyute1]

wow i have never heard such bullshit before,special tools!!!,does he really have 25 years experience?.People do some crazy shit,i work at a shop and there is no way you would take someone shit apart and expect them to pick it up like that when they drove it to the shop,5 teeth off if it ran when it came in then he should have no problem changing the belt.Before i take a job i look it up to see what i am up against(alldata) thats if i have never done it before,in order to give a price you need to know whats involved in the job so i just dont get it.

 

[Grandieri]

My car ran perfect when I left it with him, I drove it 45 miles a day to work and back. I don't know? I have the next two days off so I'll try to get a better look at it tomorrow.

 

[blackrosenova40]

I say dont even touch it, that way the blame cant be aimed at you at all. Have it towed to another shop, and if there is any valve damage, you wont be blamed.

 

[PewPew90Laser]

I say dont even touch it, that way the blame cant be aimed at you at all. Have it towed to another shop, and if there is any valve damage, you wont be blamed.

have a mechanic do an inspection and report. If the owner tries to tamper with the car, any previous servicing is void.

then file a report at the local BAR, because you did drop your car off for servicing at a mechanic. His contract to service the car wasn't completed, nor was the car returned to condition it was taken as.
It's not your fault and it's his job to correct what happened. If he bent valves, he owes you a new head. He has one chance to fix his mistake then he pays someone else to fix the car is usually how it goes.

 

[DSMopar]

25 years, doing what oil changes? Special tools? How bout a piece of all-thread with a nut tacked on it. Sounds like he started doing the belt, maybe rotated the crank... bent some valves, did some reading, realized it wasn't a timing belt on a honda and pissed his pants.

Obviously don't find a CRAIGSLIST mechanic to do your work next time. Bring it to a known good shop and make sure your valves aren't bent...

 

[4g63GalantGSX]

1: Never, ever, take your car to a craigslist "mechanic" something bad is always bound to happen. My shop doesn't even advertise on craigslist.

2: Since you dropped your car off there running, did you get a written estimate on how much it was going to cost for the repair? (assuming this is a legit shop)

3: Assuming you have a written estimate you need to contact your Local bar office asap. You contracted with him to do the repair, he tore apart a running car and gave you back a non running one. The Bar needs to know about about this, even though he did not charge you (he only did that to cover his ass)

4: Don't touch the car, you are going to have to bite the bullet and have a shop fix it. After that you are going to have to recover the costs from him.

We all have suggested to you what you need to do, now the ball is in your court.

 

[MJBean420]

At this point, your better off cutting your loses short. Put a new timing belt on and see if it runs.

Since you got this "mechanic" off CL, he probably aint certified and works out of a non-commercial location (his home). So, you'll probably have to go to small claims court to get any form of compensation for his screw up. Just a long a irritating process. If anything you can probably get him for tax evasion since he probably aint reporting his "income".

And, he hasnt worked on cars for 25 years. I know similar timing set ups have been around for like 20+ years. I had a similar experience with an ASE certified mechanic. I took my DSM in to have a broken bolt extracted and he called me about "rough idle". He and I both areed the car was fine upon arrival. He said he "reset" the timing belt. When I got it back, it ran like shit and wouldnt hold an idle. I checked the timing and they were all off. I reset it and it runs fine. ASE certification dont really mean shit these days. Just means you paid for the paper.

 

[bryanwheat]

I am guessing that he just took it apart ans couldn't get it back together. The reason that the timing marks were off is because the exhaust cam spins when you pull the belt off. You really don't know if there is any damage untill you do a leakdown test by pressurizing the cylinders or by reinstalling the old timing belt and doing a compression test. Also to those who say that no special tools are needed. To properly tension a 4g63 timing belt you need a special tool to hold the the tensioner pulley in place when torquing the bolt. You will not be able to achieve the perfect tension without it.

 

[Grandieri]

Thanks to everyone for all their help. I got the car back together with all new parts and the thing runs awesome!

 

[2g 6 bolt swap]

Update on this? I am curious to find out what happend.