# Anyone know what's involved in doing a timing belt on a 99 Dodge Stratus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 3, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195 "2008-07-03T18:07:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jad2007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dec6dc/32.png) [@Jad2007](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jad2007)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 6:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/1 "2008-07-03T18:07:49Z")
I’m looking at a $500 99 Dodge Stratus (2.4L DOHC 4 cylinder) that needs a timing belt done (everything else is fine supposedly). [Gates.com](http://Gates.com) indicates it’s not an interference engine so I’m guessing if I can do the belt change myself everything else should be fine? Not sure how involved it might be to do this myself, don’t have the service manual (yet - I would buy it if I do the job) but I wanted to get some opinions on this purchase first in case there’s other things to consider or if the timing belt on this particular car/engine is extremely difficult. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/2 "2008-07-03T18:32:46Z")
I’ve never done this job on a Dodge Stratus. But if everything else checks out, get the car! (I am assuming that $500 price tag is not a misprint.) Grab it before someone else steps in. After taking possession of the car, get the manual and decide for yourself if the timing belt is a DIY job. I guess you already know that it is also prudent to change the water pump at the same time. If you simply don’t feel competent about doing these services yourself, have a shop do it. It may well be worth paying the hour’s labor. ---
**Author:** ![Jad2007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dec6dc/32.png) [@Jad2007](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jad2007)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/3 "2008-07-03T18:44:17Z")
Yup, $500. I just don’t want to get in over my head. But I’ve got the time to do it and am feeling adventurous. The timing belt kit (belt, idler, etc) is $149 at Rockauto, the water pump is about $40. Only thing that worries me is not being able to check out other things on the car since it’s not running, especially things needed to pass the safety inspection. ---
**Author:** ![crankwalk5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@crankwalk5](https://community.cartalk.com/u/crankwalk5)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/4 "2008-07-03T22:40:56Z")
easy on a lift,on the ground(you got a challege)but can be done. you are correct on hearing it run though,be leary,anyone who lets a T-belt break,obviously is not a(MAINT GURU) good luck ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2008, 11:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/5 "2008-07-03T23:31:04Z")
If you have a service manual and the correct tools, I’m sure you can do it. I’ve replaced timing belts on 4 different cars (VW, Pontiac, Subaru, and Toyota), at home in my garage, with the help of service manuals and LOTS of patience. I think I had to purchase at least one tool for every job, but that’s part of the fun. As far as “everything else should be fine,” that’s another story. A used car that cannot be driven cannot be properly evaluated. How many miles on this $500 wonder? What will you do if you install a new timing belt and it doesn’t run, or you discover a bad transmission, or some other major problem? ---
**Author:** ![Jad2007](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dec6dc/32.png) [@Jad2007](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jad2007)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/6 "2008-07-04T01:07:16Z")
Yeah that’s what worries me. I’d have to junk the thing and take a loss on it if the tranny is bad or if it needs all sorts of other things. Think I’ll have to pass, there will be other $500 cars that actually run. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/anyone-know-whats-involved-in-doing-a-timing-belt-on-a-99-dodge-stratus/16195/7 "2008-07-04T01:10:56Z")
I think you’re making the right decision. You have to ask yourself, “Why didn’t the owners replace the timing belt?” There is a reason they didn’t fix the car. They know something you don’t. Too bad, though. You’d have had fun replacing the timing belt.