Hi,
I have a 2003 outlander awd. It is coming due for a timing belt. Most dealerships by me want Aprox 475 for the belt alone to 800-900 including the water the pump and accessories belt. I am a good mechanic but not by trade. I am having trouble locating a manual for this truck. I would like to be able to view the procedure somwhere if at all possible.
My question is: is it worth doing this job myself, and if so what special tools (if any) would I need, or should I let the stealership do it and call it a day?
Thanks
AL

Just had mine done. The timing belt, the balancer belt, the serpentine plus both idlers. The timing belt tentioner and the serpentine tentioner. (1013$)

Thanks Outy,

I was really hoping some one knew where I could get some info on doing it myself and if it was woth it.

Thanks anyway ALL the best!!

Well what I meant is you just want to get your timing belt replaced but once it is a part your water pump might be leaking your tentionners bearing might be gone and I don't know what else, if you don't purchase or make sure they have these parts in stock your vehicle might be down for a week or more. Even at the dealer mine was out of commission for 10 days waiting for that idler pulley. Luckyly they had a loaner for me (A daewoo but it took from point A to B).

Ive got specs for this car.It covers your engine, the 4G63 and the 4G69. If you are interested, let me know and I can email it to you.

On this car I think the water pump is driven by the timing belt. I would reccomend changing the water pump. IF you do it yourself you will save BIG. BUT it is not easy to do if you have never done something like this before. I have not had to change mine yet, only 30k on mine, but the day is coming....I dread it! But I will NOT pay a stealer 1000k for this.

Hi All, im new to the board and its quite a sad morning for me, i only picked up my 2005 Outlander some months back, its got 69000Kms on it and I think the timing belt went on me last nite. On the motorway, bang, smoke pilling out the back, oil all out of it, Its Dead....

You should still have warranty. Let us know how you were treated at dealer. If you lost oil more than likely it wasn't the timing belt. Rarely does it affect the bottom of the engine.

it will not be warrantable if the engine was run out of oil. Most of the time thats due to someone elses poor oil change job, a loose drain plug, etc.

Thanks Outy and Manybrews, The news got worse for me, Turns out it put a leg through the sump. Garage does not know the reason, could be oil stopped working. The oil level was fine last week but I dont know when the oil was last changed as I dont have the service book. The car got a full service only about 7000 kms ago so Im at a loss. Anyway the outlander needs a new engine and the price of engine and work will be in the region of €7,000($11,000) Im very sick. The warranty is null and void as it wasnt serviced through an authorised dealer.

sorry to hear that.

the 4g6 engines are incredibly tough, so when something like this happens its usually the result of something like a loose oil filter, etc.

Hi BMWadam,

Can you email me the specs of 4G69 engine as I need the details? Believe your spec detail include the MIVEC. Thank. Will PM you shorthly.

Anyone successfully changed the belt themselves? The manual I have says I need a special tool (looks like a long threaded rod) to release the tension on the belt. Otherwise it looks like a pretty easy job 8-10 bolts to remove.

Some stuff I don't mind tackling but I would rather leave the timing belt change to a mechanic that does 2 or 3 of these a week. He's got all the right tools and torque specs.

I've heard that attitude from a couple of people and I don't really understand the concern... My manual shows something like 6-8 bolts to take off (all pretty easily accessible). Turn crankshaft to line up timing marks, loosen belt, change belt, tighten belt. I agree that without hte manual I wouldn't attempt it, but we've all got that manual by now right?

I understand what you mean but if you take the cover off and notice the water pump is gone you'll have too close everything up, get a water pump and prestone then come back take everything apart and realize the idler bearing is shot then what do you do. Put everything back together, get and idler which probably needs to be ordered. Take everything apart again replace idler for timing belt and then as you put everything togrther you realize the serpentine idler is shot and so on. Or you buy all possible parts that could go bad and return what you don't use.

Agreed. That could definately be a hassle... At the moment the dealer is quoting $750 for the timing belt change alone. I asked how much to buy the water pump and the quote was $250 (just to buy it!). Mitsubishi is nuts with their service pricing.

When I purchased my Outlander I had the owner sign a written agreement to sell me parts at jobber prices if I ever needed parts. So I get fair pricing, example: Outer tie-rod end 32$ lower rear control arm 73$. You can always purchase after market(Meets or exceeds OEM) Water pump 75$ after core return at CarQuest. I know one thing for sure On my next timing belt change and every change thereafter (20000Kms or 125000 Miles) I will replace idler and water pump good or bad and I will get the kit sold on ebay for 145$ + shipping (( 04-05 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.4 4G69 T. Belt Water Pump )) This kit has both belts water pump idler and tensioner. One kit has cam and crank seals serpentine and serpentine idler for199$. I know yours probably has a different engine (4G68 maybe) but there is a kit for yours I'm sure.

I have the 4g69 engine as well. (2004 2.4L) Yeah I don't know how much longer I'm gonna keep the car so I'm changing out the timing belt, but if nothing is leaking I'm going to leave the water pump alone. I think I'll go and get the idler though just to make sure I have it while everything is open.

Let me know if you encountered difficulties because I plan to do mine next summer. I have 167000 kms on mine. Best vehicle I,ve ever had by far.

Hi BMWAdam-Could you send me the specs for 4G63 Mivec, I need replace my timing belt als0- email is shoearl@yahoo.com thanks