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Hi all,
I am the “proud” owner of a 95 Mitsubishi Colt, also known as Dodge Colt or Mitsubishi Mirage. I bought the car about 10 months ago for cheap, but i knew it needed some work. This week i decided to visually inspect the timing belt, just to be sure it is in good condition. But what i saw got me a bit confused. It looks as if the inner coating is seperating from the belt itself. You can see it in the image below, on the part of the belt that is not engaged with the camshaft pulley it looks like there is a small gap between each tooth and the coating that should cover it.
I have not seen this kind of wear before, and honestly i am not sure if it is normal or not. The timing belt was last replaced 70.000 KM’s ago, and should last for another 20.000 according to factory specifications. I was intending to replace it soon anyway, as it has been on the engine for 6 years now. It is an original Mitsubishi belt by the way.
Can anyone tell me what’s going on with my timing belt, and if it is safe to drive the car untill i replace it?
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ELVG3z2.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks in advance for your advice!
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is that creating a small hole? can you put a small screw driver
inside those holes.It does look like the belt is deteriorating.Not sure if it is an interference engine or not, but if it is and the timing belt breaks you won’t have much of an engine left on the top end. Better to be safe than sorry though. I would change it.
Thanks for the replies. Yet is it an interference engine (4G13) so it is a bit risky to drive it now. And there are indeed small gaps appearing, but i am a bit reluctant to poke it with a small screwdriver as i am not sure if that will weaken the belt even more.
I suggest you do the timing belt and water pump. A little tip though… The crank bolt is tight! If you don’t have a strong rattle gun your set but if you don’t the easiest way to get the bolt out is to remove the starter and jam the flywheel with a crowbar (only do this with flywheels not flex plates) and then a big breaker bar and socket on the crank bolt.
Thanks for the replies! I figured it would be best to change the belt ASAP indeed, so i have ordered a new belt and some other items that needed replacement anyway (spark plugs + leads, drive belts and o2 sensor). Going to be a busy week next week but i hope it’ll run like a dream when i’m done.
Small question though: Would it also work to put it in 5th gear and have someone hold the brakes to losen the crank bolt? Or do i really have to put a bar in the flywheel?
(By the way: I’ll leave the water pump as it is, it has been replaced not too long ago and it is easily reachable on this car, so i will replace it on a different occasion. Got to mind the money as well this month)
Unfortunately i dont, my dad has one though but i am not sure if i can change the timing belt at his place.
does your dad have a portable air compressor 115v for you to
barrow and the impact? You could try the in gear method. don’t
want to stress the trans gear.Aye i think i can borrow the impact wrench and compressor, but does a crank bolt usually come lose with only an impact or do i have to fix the pulley anyway?
Like I said if you have a good gun your set …sadly when I did it I could only borrow my mates Stanley one =( and as I said only use the crowbar trick if its manual if its auto you can risk distorting the flex plate.
My weapon of choice these days:
Ingersoll-Rand 2135TiMax Rattle Gun
Colt 312 Belt Driven Twin Cylinder Compressor running at 145psi
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