[xxxxx8845int]

i need help! when i start the trep, it sounds like a monkey is banging on the motor with a hammer, and it continnues to rattle while in park. if i tap the gas, shift, or otherwise change the rpms, it will stop. she has 96,400 miles, so i need to do the 100k stuff soon, (water pump and timing chain) could the sound be one of those? and today, i noticed that she was running a little warmer than normal. so thats why i think it could be the water pump.

 

[DrDodge]

could be,,, does the noise sound like its comming from under the front cover?

 

[xxxxx8845int]

could be,,, does the noise sound like its comming from under the front cover?

yeah, it does

 

[Strongt]

If it's coming from the front cover, then it's the timing belt. She's loose at idle, and then alittle tighter when you step on the gas. If I was you, I'd get that changed pretty fast. When you get the belt done do the water pump done too.

 

[xxxxx8845int]

If it's coming from the front cover, then it's the timing belt. She's loose at idle, and then alittle tighter when you step on the gas.

for sure? how much do you think a mechanic would charge to fix it?

 

[Strongt]

for sure? how much do you think a mechanic would charge to fix it?

That hard to say, around here it go's from a few hundred on up. Just depends on how hard they want to screw you. If you got the time to do it, you can do it yourshelf. Thats if your into doing that stuff. If not I'd do some shopping around. If you want to to it yourshelf, just do a search on the timing belt replacement, there has been alot of member's that have changed their own.

 

[xxxxx8845int]

well, we have a good mechanic, who is a friend of the family, so hopefully he will be good to me. but how hard is it to do myself?

 

[Strongt]

well, we have a good mechanic, who is a friend of the family, so hopefully he will be good to me. but how hard is it to do myself?

Umm, if you got a good family mechanic, have him do it. I did mine myself, and it didn't take to long to do. Maybe these thread will help you out some:

http://www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums/showthread.php?t=69678&highlight=Timing+Belt+How-To

http://www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66669&highlight=Timing+Belt+How-To

And a great thread by Ryan D :

http://www.dodgeintrepid.net/forums/showthread.php?t=70621&page=1

 

[xxxxx8845int]

hmm... that looks like a bit of work. but considering that i have no job right now, therefore no money, and that those threads look very helpful, i may just try it.

but we will see what the mechanic says tomorrow

 

[xxxxx8845int]

thanks all! and if anyone has anything else to add, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[xxxxx8845int]

well, the mechanic says it will be $80 for the water pump, $90 for the belt, and $300 for labor, so like about $500 for the work. so she will go up the road on friday to be fixed. thanks everyone!

 

[Matt86]

My dad had this problem with his old 1993 ES 3.5. Turned out it was the water pump bearings failing. He changed it himself, along with the timing belt.

 

[Ravin]

i need help! when i start the trep, it sounds like a monkey is banging on the motor with a hammer,

shoot the monkey

 

[xxxxx8845int]

shoot the monkey

ha ha, wish it was that easy. :gun2: :monkeypis

 

[Gaze]

I cant believe it took so long for someone to suggest that the monkey could be the cause of your problems...

 

[Scoots]

I had my timing belt shred on the last 10 miles of a 5 hour road trip and it cost me $800(CDN) for the parts and labour at the dealership, thats with a 'like new' water pump and a OEM belt.

Sad for me a nice 06 Charger roared by and I wanted to have some fun with him so I shot my rpms up, felt a funny vibration in the wheel and the car went from 110kmph to 20 in about 5 seconds then I parked it on the side of the road after a blind long bend in the road... I did not feel safe... and the Charger got away

 

[xxxxx8845int]

so it turns out, that it was neither the timing belt, nor the water pump. the torque converter bolts were loose! how the hell did i manage that?! well anyway, it cost $70 instead of $500 so i aint complaining.

 

[Veeb0rg]

I had that happen once right after the trans swap.. pulled the bolts out, cleaned em up, little locktite and a torque wrench.. no more problems..

 

[xxxxx8845int]

how does that happen tho? as far as i know nobody has seen those bolts since 1995, and i KNOW nobody has been in there since at least june 05. is it my driving habits? could it have been from the deer? i dunno. it's puzzling.