We just bought a 98 Neon about a month a nd half ago and we were about 3 miles form getting home and the car just shut down, we pulled over and water was coming out form the timing cover. The teeth on the timing belt were shedded off and the gear on the water pump was bent. Rentred the puller from Advanced Auto for $100. Thanks for posting this vid cause it helped tremendously.
I recently used your video to replace a water pump and timing belt on a Plymouth 1997 Neon. your intstruction was very helpful. THere was some difreences in bolt size and locations but overall very useful.. Thanks. My experience level is not a Pro by far but I do a lot of my own work to save cash. Greg in Missouri
Thank you so much! I have the same type of car, i just got it back from the garage to have them look it over and he said that it needs to get replaced. and now i know how! Thank you!
UA-cam. Amazing. I have no mechanical aptitude but I had no other choice than to change the water pump myself. Found this video, set my laptop on the motor and just followed along. Took all day but thanks to your vid. I did it!@
@alwaysblank Its going to be the same on just about all vehicles. DOHC engines will have another pulley because there are two camshafts. Just make sure the markings are lined up and the slack is on the tensioner and nowhere else and you should be fine. Whether or not the water pump is ran but the timing belt might change as well. So you have the crank shaft pulley, 1 or 2 cam shaft pulleys, a tensioner pulley, and possibly a water pump pulley to deal with. Along with the belt.
Hey thanks, most people think the way i put things is to far out in left field, but i just dont think they have the capacity to understand, but anyways i hate when i work on someones car and then they ask hey can i make it to san diego? (about 2 hours from me) and i tell them sure you may make it no trouble, but there are literally thousands of moving parts in your aging vehicle and i just cant make any guarantees, doesnt mean the cars junk though
The rod that goes into the crankshaft probably isnt long enough. Find a bolt that fits into the harmonic balancer and use the bolt and the rod to pull the pulley off. It should do the trick. Let me know if it works for you.
Its not that its hard on a neon,its just a pain in the but because of what you have to remove to get to it. Replacing the belt itself only takes a minute,but disassembling and reassembling take an hr or 2 if you do the water pump to.some one ask if you can break rear timing cover to remove it with out taking of cam gear.Yes you can.Just make sure the top part that locks it to front cover doesnt break.I used a really long screw driver and pryed behind it,broke right where i wanted it to.
Your welcome. Let me know how it goes for you or if you need advice. Its a good idea to change the water pump while you have it apart. Its only like 40 bucks for the pump.
I had a horrible experience with auto shop.. Changing timing belt (kit). Plus they say valves need to be changed too.. I dont know why they took of the stick shift cable inner and not put them back. I have not gears engaging. Then driving in the freeway the cover where the passanger wheel come off, it make such a horrible sound, I thought the engine was braking apart. Then few days ago.. The check engine light come up and misfire cylinder 4. Am down $2400 and not working car. Not sure how to handle problem..
yes but how it's pretty strong plastic, how did you break it in your dodge without damaging or moving cranckshaft camshaft and tishioner? what did you use? maybe to use something hot to melt it?
Oh everything else went fine, had trouble with the harmonic balancer, first had the wrong puller, then it was still stuck real good, but i just finished the car about 2 hour ago actually and its running perfect, and it hadnt ran in 3 years
would i be able to jack motor up then take the timing belt cover off then put mount back on? i have a long project im working on and would like to know if thats legit haha
in this video Dave started honda only with timing belt without putting the other two belts witch going to alternator and power stearing with ac. Can I do the same on dodge? i want to check, do i install timing belt and water pump correctly without been putting upper cover, engine mount and harmonic balancer and this tight stubborn bolt..
Well yeah i do tell them maybe maybe not, because a part that is fine now may only have 20 more hours of life left, i tell people if they want their old car to be a sure thing then they have to let me work on it the way a aviation mechanic works on planes, replace everyihing then chart it, and keep track of how many hours are on each part, and know how long you can expect each part to last, and replace all parts before they reach the end of their expected lifespan
hey i didn't see in the video how you got the belt off that goes from the harmonizer pulley to the alternator, I'm assuming there is just an adjustment screw on it and you can swivel it downward?
OK YES THIS WAS HELPFUL FOR THIS TYPE OF MODEL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEON WITH A MECHANICAL TENSIONER???? AND IS THERE ANY SPECIAL WAYS TO INSTALL THE BELT BECAUSE MY BELT SEEMS TO BE TOUGH AND I MAXED OUT THE TENSIONER... ANY IDEAS OR PICS?
im trying to replace my timing belt in a dohc same year same car and im havin a hell of a time with the harmonic balancer i think a bought the wrong puller
Oh the pumps that cheap? the cars not mine, i suggested to the owner for us to replace the pump but they want to wait it out, i have a strong feeling the cars gonna be getting taken back apart real soon though, because that pump was leaking and it seems to make a little noise, but yeah i didnt think the pump would be on the cheap side at all, im use to working on toyotas and hondas
Yeah not well built compared to other cars, but as a machine its not all that bad, i drive a 97 taurus which isnt the best built, but if you know how to take care of a car and also how to fix problems before you drive around for 2 months while they drive you crazy making you think the car is worthless, i bet i could straigthen just about any car out, make it good for a nice 1000 mile road trip, but then after that who knows what it may need, i mean anything can break at anytime, with any machine
Harmonicer balancer, that's what she said.... those 2 comments had me hooked. Subscribed
HotHeaded Productions 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you. This saved me a bunch of time. It's hard to find videos for these old little Romp machines.
U .nn. Jn num.b/6
We just bought a 98 Neon about a month a nd half ago and we were about 3 miles form getting home and the car just shut down, we pulled over and water was coming out form the timing cover. The teeth on the timing belt were shedded off and the gear on the water pump was bent. Rentred the puller from Advanced Auto for $100. Thanks for posting this vid cause it helped tremendously.
I recently used your video to replace a water pump and timing belt on a Plymouth 1997 Neon. your intstruction was very helpful. THere was some difreences in bolt size and locations but overall very useful.. Thanks.
My experience level is not a Pro by far but I do a lot of my own work to save cash.
Greg in Missouri
I like the pop-ups. Hmmm Never thought I'd hear myself say that! Very helpful. Thanks.
I'm doing a camshaft seal on a dodge neon. This video is like 80% of what you need to know for a bunch of stuff. Thanks
bobdole57 if i break the cover off the timing belt do i really need it or can i use with out.?
Glad to hear everything went well. The harmonic balancer was a pain in the ass for me too. But I eventually got it.
Thank you so much! I have the same type of car, i just got it back from the garage to have them look it over and he said that it needs to get replaced. and now i know how! Thank you!
Dude thanks, im doing the timing belt on the same car, and i was confused about the hydrolic tensioner, this explained it exactly
UA-cam. Amazing. I have no mechanical aptitude but I had no other choice than to change the water pump myself. Found this video, set my laptop on the motor and just followed along.
Took all day but thanks to your vid. I did it!@
Im glad it could help. Come back and let me know how it goes.
@gsexton41 Glad my vid was able to help out and you were able to get your project done! Im always down with savin some cash too! :)
@gavrilovas1 Yes you can. It does drain your battery though so dont leave it running for more than a minute or so.
@alwaysblank Its going to be the same on just about all vehicles. DOHC engines will have another pulley because there are two camshafts. Just make sure the markings are lined up and the slack is on the tensioner and nowhere else and you should be fine. Whether or not the water pump is ran but the timing belt might change as well. So you have the crank shaft pulley, 1 or 2 cam shaft pulleys, a tensioner pulley, and possibly a water pump pulley to deal with. Along with the belt.
Correct. There is adjustment screws on the alternator.
@boostedneon77 Glad it could help. Thanks for watching.
Hey thanks, most people think the way i put things is to far out in left field, but i just dont think they have the capacity to understand, but anyways i hate when i work on someones car and then they ask hey can i make it to san diego? (about 2 hours from me) and i tell them sure you may make it no trouble, but there are literally thousands of moving parts in your aging vehicle and i just cant make any guarantees, doesnt mean the cars junk though
The rod that goes into the crankshaft probably isnt long enough. Find a bolt that fits into the harmonic balancer and use the bolt and the rod to pull the pulley off. It should do the trick. Let me know if it works for you.
Its not that its hard on a neon,its just a pain in the but because of what you have to remove to get to it. Replacing the belt itself only takes a minute,but disassembling and reassembling take an hr or 2 if you do the water pump to.some one ask if you can break rear timing cover to remove it with out taking of cam gear.Yes you can.Just make sure the top part that locks it to front cover doesnt break.I used a really long screw driver and pryed behind it,broke right where i wanted it to.
@bluemanwolf Glad the video could help. Feel free to ask any questions.
Your welcome. Let me know how it goes for you or if you need advice.
Its a good idea to change the water pump while you have it apart. Its only like 40 bucks for the pump.
I'm glad I have a timing chain instead of a belt on my car
Do you have to do most of this in order to get to the water pump? I own a 87 Camaro so all of my work are in plain sight...mostly.
Oh my god I was about to comment the same thing lol, that was awesome
I had a horrible experience with auto shop.. Changing timing belt (kit). Plus they say valves need to be changed too.. I dont know why they took of the stick shift cable inner and not put them back. I have not gears engaging. Then driving in the freeway the cover where the passanger wheel come off, it make such a horrible sound, I thought the engine was braking apart. Then few days ago.. The check engine light come up and misfire cylinder 4. Am down $2400 and not working car. Not sure how to handle problem..
yes i did the same i start pullong it to reach the bolt's anf it brake very easy!!! thank's
yes but how it's pretty strong plastic, how did you break it in your dodge without damaging or moving cranckshaft camshaft and tishioner? what did you use? maybe to use something hot to melt it?
Oh everything else went fine, had trouble with the harmonic balancer, first had the wrong puller, then it was still stuck real good, but i just finished the car about 2 hour ago actually and its running perfect, and it hadnt ran in 3 years
would i be able to jack motor up then take the timing belt cover off then put mount back on? i have a long project im working on and would like to know if thats legit haha
in this video Dave started honda only with timing belt without putting the other two belts witch going to alternator and power stearing with ac. Can I do the same on dodge? i want to check, do i install timing belt and water pump correctly without been putting upper cover, engine mount and harmonic balancer and this tight stubborn bolt..
@jlsparky7 It runs like a charm now. It's Quieter than before and runs great. Thanks to your vid.
Yea, I agree. Couldn't of said it better myself.
did you brake plastic cover to change water pump? i dont want to remove crankshaft and camshaft gears in order to replace my water pump
Well yeah i do tell them maybe maybe not, because a part that is fine now may only have 20 more hours of life left, i tell people if they want their old car to be a sure thing then they have to let me work on it the way a aviation mechanic works on planes, replace everyihing then chart it, and keep track of how many hours are on each part, and know how long you can expect each part to last, and replace all parts before they reach the end of their expected lifespan
hey i didn't see in the video how you got the belt off that goes from the harmonizer pulley to the alternator, I'm assuming there is just an adjustment screw on it and you can swivel it downward?
thank you.
If ya timing belt popped does that mean you have bent values or can you just put a new belt on it??
@gavrilovas1 As I tried to pull the plastic back to reach the water pump screws it broke.
@rabqaiser No prob man, glad I could help.
@weap12weap NP. Thanks for watching :)
OK YES THIS WAS HELPFUL FOR THIS TYPE OF MODEL BUT WHAT ABOUT THE NEON WITH A MECHANICAL TENSIONER????
AND IS THERE ANY SPECIAL WAYS TO INSTALL THE BELT BECAUSE MY BELT SEEMS TO BE TOUGH AND I MAXED OUT THE TENSIONER... ANY IDEAS OR PICS?
It is important to match up the numbers on the belt. Some of the models used different year belts. This one is included in that.
Good info.... thanks
You could just tell them. "Maybe, Maybe not. You stand a much better chance if these things are fixed......"
Glad it helped :)
Did this on my 1997 it was a super easy job. If people complain about this job being a PITA they are a sucky mechanic, lol.
@bluemanwolf Glad the vid helped.
I forgot to add that I am working on a neon...My bad. I've replace all this kind of stuff on a camaro and that was easy, but a neon is different.
@alwaysblank What kind of car are you talking about?
im trying to replace my timing belt in a dohc same year same car and im havin a hell of a time with the harmonic balancer i think a bought the wrong puller
my engine is smoking on a 1998 dodge theremo was just replaced and engine doesnt over heat im assuming that the water pump is faulty though
The water pumps are very cheap. Some people replace camshaft seals as well.
@gavrilovas1 Yup thats correct.
Oh the pumps that cheap? the cars not mine, i suggested to the owner for us to replace the pump but they want to wait it out, i have a strong feeling the cars gonna be getting taken back apart real soon though, because that pump was leaking and it seems to make a little noise, but yeah i didnt think the pump would be on the cheap side at all, im use to working on toyotas and hondas
That's what she said
Yup
No, this is timing belt replacement. Not AC or alternator belt replacement. AC belt replacement is very easy
a camaro would be completely different than this but very simple. Much easier.
@jlsparky7 I got timing belt and water pump both for $40 at autozone.
Yeah the whole car seems to be cheap, just got one neon out of my yard, still got another one to get rid of
@bobdole57 Glad the vid helps man!
@GringoHunter Low miles for an older vehicle....
Yeah not well built compared to other cars, but as a machine its not all that bad, i drive a 97 taurus which isnt the best built, but if you know how to take care of a car and also how to fix problems before you drive around for 2 months while they drive you crazy making you think the car is worthless, i bet i could straigthen just about any car out, make it good for a nice 1000 mile road trip, but then after that who knows what it may need, i mean anything can break at anytime, with any machine
@pyropur3 :)
They arnt made very well... thats for sure.
Bullshit. They can take a serious beating and keep going.
@jlsparky7 It runs like a charm now. It's Quieter than before and runs great. Thanks to your vid.