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Path: utzoo!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!pesnta!amd!amdcad!lll-crg!gymble!dday
From: dday@gymble.UUCP (Dennis Doubleday)
Newsgroups: net.auto,net.consumers
Subject: Re: Escort/Lynx/EXP/LN7 Owners: Note
Message-ID: <451@gymble.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 21-Nov-85 11:30:31 EST
Article-I.D.: gymble.451
Posted: Thu Nov 21 11:30:31 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Nov-85 05:32:49 EST
References: <865@terak.UUCP> <1665@cuae2.UUCP>
Reply-To: dday@gymble.UUCP (Dennis Doubleday)
Distribution: na
Organization: U of Maryland, Laboratory for Parallel Computation, C.P., MD
Lines: 34
Xref: pyramid net.auto:4739 net.consumers:637

In article <1665@cuae2.UUCP> cwd@cuae2.UUCP (-Chris Donahue) writes:
>The owners manual for my 1982 LN7 states that the timing belt MUST BE
>replaced at 60,000 miles. The handy dandy service chart they sent me also
>notes the same. I talked to my local L-M mechanic and he said they have
>had cylinder head problems with some 1982 and 1983 models and that has
>lead to the early timing belt failures. Also, they have used four different
>spark plugs in the last 3 years for other assorted problems. Ford will
>pay for a good chunk of the cost of repair if the timing belt fails.
>He would not tell me how much, though. I have only 7,000 miles to go before
>60,000. Does anyone know how much they charge to replace the timing belt?
>I can just feel the pain in my wallet already.
 
I just had that work done on my 1981 Escort last week.  The charge for the
timing belt replacement at an authorized dealer was ~$150.00. **BUT**,
the mechanic also told me that my water pump was very close to failing
and that if I didn't replace it, I would soon have to bring it back and
they would have to go into the same general area and I would end up paying
for the labor twice.  He indicated that they recommended replacing the
water pump along with the timing belt in most cases.  I probably got
screwed, but I don't know from cars so I told them to do it; the total
charge therefore ran to ~$280.00.
    ADDITIONAL NOTE TO ESCORT OWNERS: You have 5/50 protection on your
exhaust system (including catastrophic converter :-)).  If your car is
approaching these limits and you have any doubts about your C.C. being
in good condition, *GET IT CHECKED* before the limits.  It is *VERY*
expensive to replace after warranty expires. Believe me , I know (sigh).


-- 

UUCP:	seismo!umcp-cs!dday                      Dennis Doubleday
CSNet:	dday@umcp-cs				 University of Maryland
ARPA:	dday@gymble.umd.edu			 College Park, MD 20742
Fan of: Chicago Cubs, Chicago Bears, OU Sooners	 (301) 454-4247