How to Change a Timing Belt on a Dodge Neon

The timing belt should be changed on the Dodge Neon every 105,000 miles or 84 months, whichever comes first. The Dodge Neon has an interference motor. If the timing belt breaks or stretches beyond the tensioner's capability to keep it taut, there is a very good chance that the valves will hit the pistons, causing extensive damage to the engine. Between 1995 and 2000, there were two different engine configurations: one with a hydraulic tensioner and one with a mechanical tensioner. These instructions are specific for a 1998 through 2000 Dodge Neon with a VIN code of "C."

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Set of ¼-inch sockets
• ¼-inch ratchet
• ¼-inch air gun
• Set of 3/8-inch sockets
• 3/8-inch socket
• ¼-inch air gun
• Set of ½-inch sockets
• ½-inch ratchet
• ½-inch air gun
• 3mm Allen wrench
• 8mm Allen wrench
• Adjustable wrench
• Pliers
• Phillips screwdriver
• Common screwdriver
• Crankshaft pulley puller - #1026 (special tool)
• Puller insert - #6827-A (special tool)
• Floor jack
• Jack stands

1. Raise the vehicle with the floor jack. Then support it with the jack stands. In order to get to the timing belt, remove the right inner splash guard, the accessory belts and the crankshaft pulley. Remove the bolt in the pulley with both special tools (the puller and the puller insert).

2. Support the engine with the floor jack. Then remove the right engine mount and the torque strut. Remove the power steering pump from the block, but leave the hoses attached to the pump. Set the power steering pump out of the way. Remove the right engine mount bracket and the lower torque strut. Remove the timing belt cover.

3. Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the timing marks on the camshaft and the crankshaft are lined up. You may have to turn the crankshaft two complete turns to get both marks to line up. The timing marks are located on the camshaft pulley and the harmonic balancer. They look like a small line (|) and will line up with similar marks on the block. The timing marks on the block are at the 12 o'clock position.

4. Push the 3mm Allen wrench into the tensioner pulley, then turn the tensioner with the 8mm Allen wrench clockwise. Turn the tensioner until you hear it click in the locked position. Remove the 8mm Allen wrench. Remove the timing belt.

5. Check the timing marks to make sure they are lined up. Move the crankshaft sprocket one-half tooth before (to the left) of the timing mark. Start putting the timing belt on at the crankshaft pulley and work your way counterclockwise, over the water pump pulley, then the camshaft pulley and behind the tensioner. Turn the crankshaft until the timing marks are re-aligned. This takes up any slack in the timing belt.

6. Remove the 3mm Allen wrench from the tensioner, allowing the tensioner to operate. Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the timing marks are lined up again (two times around). Replace the rest of the parts in the opposite order they came off. Torque the cranksaft pulley bolt to 105 foot pounds of torque.

Tips & Warnings

• Disconnect the negative battery cable before starting. Do not turn the crankshaft or the camshaft once the timing belt has been removed. Do not turn the crankshaft or the camshaft by the pulleys.

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[wandr]

on 5/28/2009 Hello, I have just changed the timing belt on my 1998 Neon,using this page as reference,The car was running poorly, and tear down revealed the timing belt was off one tooth to the right of tdc. replaced the belt,double checked the marks, rotated the motor twice backlashed the belt to check for slack, everything lined up perfect, car ran great has plenty of power, but is setting fault codes. that sat the timing is one tooth off ! the tech informed me these engines time with the tooth off to the right of the mark! it runs great, but the computer program he is using says it will cause engine damage. after 5 miles, it runs fine. any comments,ideas? I'm disgusted and angry, I did everything right, but it's wrong !! Ron S.