[jsblanch]

Not sure where you get 75K, the owners manual in my Fiat says 150,000.

I'm not sure where this idea started. Perhaps Fiat had a different maintenance schedule for the 1.4L engine in Europe, but all North American Fiat 500 owner's manuals state that the timing belt is due for replacement at 150K miles. Every Fiat 500 in North America (until the 500X) has always used the 1.4L MultiAir, whether turbocharged or not. That's not necessarily the case in Europe, where I believe a DOHC 1.4L VVT was used for a long time.

 

[CanadianGuitar]

I'm not sure where this idea started. Perhaps Fiat had a different maintenance schedule for the 1.4L engine in Europe, but all North American Fiat 500 owner's manuals state that the timing belt is due for replacement at 150K miles. Every Fiat 500 in North America (until the 500X) has always used the 1.4L MultiAir, whether turbocharged or not. That's not necessarily the case in Europe, where I believe a DOHC 1.4L VVT was used for a long time.

Funnily enough - I always assumed it was at 100k...

 

[alpinegreenneon]

I just checked the FSM for timing belt replacement for the 1.4L turbo MultiAir. It's 150k miles (240k Kilometers) or 15 years.

 

[Ironhead706]

Replacing timing belt now as we speak on a 2013 dodge dart 1.4 turbo ... not very fun

 

[captaingowa]

Yep I have changed it more than 20 times because I kept screwing it up.
Learned all sorts of short cuts.
Worst part is having remove and reinstall the passenger side motor mount.
Other than that its pretty easy.

Oh and I did it more than 10 times in a gravel and dirt parking lot, with only tools that I had in small bag.
PM me if you need help, or have questions.

 

[Ironhead706]

Yes, make sure u have the special tool to set the timing belt. It is way different from normal timing by #1 cylinder not being at TDC. Yes the motor mounts was among the hardest at first. Remember the head composes of 3 different parts

 

[savRN]

So in reference to the "timing belt failure" thread in the 1.4 forum, its now on my mind and i'm just over 70,000 miles on my '13 6-speed and I'm scared to death to allow dealer techs open my engine up in any way for something like this...especially after they royally half assed the slave cylinder job for my clutch 2 years ago.
But anyways, I know some benz techs that I would trust with my car and may ask them.

So, has anyone replaced their belt yet before failure on your 1.4? If so, what mileage? What did it cost you? I know the manual says 150,000 miles, but reading that other thread, Fiat says 75,000 for the same 1.4...how can that be?

Thanks

I did change the belt and tensioner myself at about 120K. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought. Relatively inexpensive. I ordered through Online Mopar Parts.

 

[alpinegreenneon]

I did change the belt and tensioner myself at about 120K. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought. Relatively inexpensive. I ordered through Online Mopar Parts.

Did you follow the procedure and get the special tools?

Timing Belt Failure!

Hello 1.4 Dart owners! I purchased my car brand new in March 2013. I just want to let you guys know at 97500 the timing belt failed in the engine and since it is an interference engine it was a total loss. I have the Max Care warranty until 100000 miles, i was lucky. The dealer installed a...

www.dodge-dart.org

 

[Ironhead706]

Has anyone have alot of issues with misfire and it not be the spark plugs, coil packs or any minor fixes??

 

[Ironhead706]

I did change the belt and tensioner myself at about 120K. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought. Relatively inexpensive. I ordered through Online Mopar Parts.

Did you change ur belt cause it was due for one or was there other issues???

 

[alpinegreenneon]

Has anyone have alot of issues with misfire and it not be the spark plugs, coil packs or any minor fixes??

What codes are you getting? Check your compression and let us know the numbers.

 

[Ironhead706]

What codes are you getting? Check your compression and let us know the numbers.

I'm not sure, it is at the dealership. It was running rough, I replaced the head gasket, and new seals on head. Started it up and still ran rough. Replaced the ECU,( thinking it wasnt sending signal to the injectors.) Still running rough... possibly the VVA??

 

[Javelin3o4]

Anyone have a ballpark idea of what this service generally costs at the dealer? I feel like I could do the job, but I just don't have the time to do it, and if something were to go bad, I can't be buying a new car. Im at 101K now, so figured I'd get it done soon.

 

[alpinegreenneon]

For the $800 or more that the dealer will charge you, it makes sense to make time, buy the amazon tool kit and do it yourself. When you are done, sell the tool kit on the for sale forum. Your wallet will thank you.

 

[captaingowa]

Best advice:
IF you don't have the time.
Meaning you need your car.
and
You don't know what you would be getting into.

Save your sanity, pride, and time and pay the dealer to do the work.
You could spend more through lost time alone, by not having the right tools, paying for extended car rentals, buying the wrong parts, etc.

If you have the time, and a spare car.
Then by all means save some money and DIY.

 

[alpinegreenneon]

Best advice:
IF you don't have the time.
Meaning you need your car.
and
You don't know what you would be getting into.

Save your sanity, pride, and time and pay the dealer to do the work.
You could spend more through lost time alone, by not having the right tools, paying for extended car rentals, buying the wrong parts, etc.

If you have the time, and a spare car.
Then by all means save some money and DIY.

Perhaps @captaingowa should post a link about the problem he had and perhaps others won't have the same issue.
Here it is:

P0016 Code

P0016 Code --++-- PROBLEM SOLVED--++-- SOLVED The problem was because I was creating a preload on the Cam shaft when installing the timing belt. This preload was from me not ensuring the cam gear could freely spin when installing and tensioning the timing belt. Because the Cam is locked on the...

www.dodge-dart.org

 

[savRN]

Did you change ur belt cause it was due for one or was there other issues???

It actually snapped so I had to change belt and tensioner. Tensioner was worn.

 

[VladimirS]

I dont know of anyone who has replaced the timing belt themselves... I think you have to have special tools in order to do this job. As for the difference in the mileage, i would go by the FIAT number as the 1.4T is a FIAT engine, whereas the 2.0 & 2.4 are Chrysler engines.

I have just replaced my timing belt, tensioner and serpentine belt today. Once I have removed everything around the belt, without removing spark plugs and head cover and vacuum pump, I carefully positioned the engine to a spot where I can mark teeth on camshaft gear and head and crankshaft gear and block, then I carefully loosened the tensioner and removed the old belt. Making sure nothing moves and new belt has no slack anywhere but where the tensioner would be installed next. It's a bit of fiddle but after second attempt I had the belt perfectly aligning my dots that I marked and tensioner in place. Adjust the tensioner and tighten the nut then rotate crankshaft two circles and observe whether all my dots match again.
Voila!
I didn't replace the water pump at this time but everything worked great, didn't even have any codes after the I put it all together.

 

[alpinegreenneon]

Thanks, your ingenuity will be appreciated by many as more and more 1.4L engines need timing belt replacements. You may regret not replacing your water pump. Your paint mark on the crankshaft sprocket may disappear soon as the belt rides over it. The outside edge of that sprocket would be a better location for the paint mark.
I am making this a sticky.

 

[atikovi]

The cam sprocket isn't keyed to the cam so you don't know if the current timing is correct. If the car was running fine, it's probably ok, but if you have gone that far, why not be sure? The timing belt tool kit is just $40 on Amazon. I'm doing this job right now on a Fiat and posted a write up on that forum at Timing belt replacement on a 2012 Sport w/pics