Montero '01 Timing Belt: DIY Job?

[Sabre]

I'm reasonably handy, do pretty much all the work on my cars and bikes. I picked up a 2001 Montero Limited with almost 100K on the odo and I have to assume that it needs a timing belt. It has the 6G74 engine.

I've looked through the steps in the factory service manual...seems like it's not rocket science, but more a matter of meticulous attention to detail.

Is the timing belt a reasonable project for the average home mechanic? I see a variety of "special tools" needed in the manual, but have found in the past that almost anything can be done more than one way. Are any of these special tools really necessary? Is this simply a matter of paying close attention to those timing marks?

I'd appreciate some feedback from those who have done this. Thanks!

 

[tdesanto]

I'm curious about this as well. I will need to do mine in the next 20K and I'd like to do it myself next time.

 

[datrupr]

X3

 

[Monstero]

Its not hard to do. If you are able to do regular mechanical stuff to your vehicle its not hard...just check, recheck, recheck and then recheck the timing marks to make sure they are lined up right. Did mine in about 6 hrs if I remember right. Its just time consuming for a first timer like myself.

 

[Sabre]

Its not hard to do. If you are able to do regular mechanical stuff to your vehicle its not hard...just check, recheck, recheck and then recheck the timing marks to make sure they are lined up right. Did mine in about 6 hrs if I remember right. Its just time consuming for a first timer like myself.

Yeah, it always takes me forever when I do something for the first time. I suspected it was just a matter of being anal-retentive about those timing marks.

What about the tools? Anything uber-special about the Mitsubishi "special tools" that a handy guy couldn't improvise?

Thanks!

 

[Nick02]

X4
I really need to do mine... stock factory belt in a 1998 montero sport ls with the 3.0 and 187k miles.. im pretty sure it's an interference engine too.. but not 100% :Wow1:

I already did the spark-plugs,wires and the camshaft O-ring seals.. what a PITA!; but I need to replace the valve cover gaskets when im in there doing the timeing belt, since both leak and drip oil onto the exhaust manifold. Sometimes the vehicle releases a big plume of smoke when the car has been idling for too long.. by big plume.. I mean gigantic white cloud...

 

[Monstero]

just normal tools when i did mine...nothing special needed.

 

[xped]

The hardest part is getting to the timing belt. I have a 95 SR with the DOHC engine which makes getting all the marks aligned a little harder. Replace all components (water pump, pulleys etc). After the belt is on and before replacing the cover rotate the engine by the crankbolt and recheck your marks. The hardest part on mine was getting the a/c compressor off and on.

 

[johnnycakes]

Just had mine done at 140000. Wish I would have done it myself as it was not cheap, I just didnt have the time before a moab trip. Make sure you do the water pump while you are in there. Like others have said, not rocket science just be meticulous and take your time.