Howdy,

As we were switching my winter tires over to my summer tires, my brother (who will always give my engine a look-over regardless of the occasion), noticed my serpentine belt was pretty cracked, and suggested that I get it replaced ASAP. As an afterthought, he asked me if I had a timing belt as well, and if so, had that been changed. I didn't know for certain, so he either looked it up online or talked to 'someone'. He told me that not only was there a timing belt, but that my truck also had an interference engine. Seeing as my truck has probably 200,000 miles on it of which I've put on close to 100,000 and I know I haven't changed it, that would totally blow (literally, LOL) if I indeed had an interference engine. However, all the reading that I've done says it's a non-interference engine.

Anyone?

Thanks

 

Timing belt should be changed at 90,000.
Whether an interference engine or not.

 

Thanks OTRtech; I'll be gettin' er done soon.

Out of curiosity, where can I find out whether it's an interference engine or not?

 

2.3 is a non interference engine, as is the 2.5...i did mine yesterday on my 88 as preventative maintenance at 109,000 miles and we were able to rip it to shreds with out hands after removing it

 

Very appreciative of the info folks...thanks!

Ho-kay, so here's the next question: one business in town gave a price of about $350 for a serpentine and timing belt repair. Problem is (chide in here, locals!) that price was from B**** Tire, who 98% of the time have really screwed me on repairs in the past (saying that they did something they didn't actually fix, screwing up what they did fix, 'upselling' stuff [like I think where this $300+ repair is going], etc. etc.

So I did some checking around town, and a place I trust gave me a price of $610 for plugs, serpentine and timing belts (B****'s estimate was not including plugs). BIIG difference, so I thought I'd research a little more. (Flips to page 2 of notes...) Advantage A*** has serpentine belts between $17 and $31 bucks, and plugs for a '95 between roughly $6 ea. and $3 ea.

Brother says he can easily do the serpentine, and might be able to do the plugs but he'll have to take another look before he commits to it. So probably the only thing a mechanic will have to do is the timing belt. What are we talking about price-wise for that–-or timing belt plus plugs, in case my brother doesn't do it? (It is his birthday party tomorrow, after all.)