Question re 1997 Mercury Villager timing belt
 

All:

I have a 1997 Mercury Villager minivan (twin to the Nissan Quest), and
we bought it used about four years ago. It has served us extremely well
aside from a few minor dings and squawks, most of which I've been able
to resolve myself.

The van now has 107,000 miles on it, and I believe the recommended time
to have the timing belt replaced is 105,000 miles. I've talked to two
different shops about having this work done, and on the basis of what
I"ve read, I have two questions:

1. Is the engine in the 1997 Villager interference or non-interference?
I've read conflicting information on this.

2. At least one shop has recommended that we change the water pump in
addition to the timing belt. Is this a good idea? Looks like the going
rate for timing belt replacement alone is about $300, but doing both is
about $500. At 107K, is the water pump on borrowed time?

3. How much time (miles) do I have before I *really* need to get that
belt replaced, or am I already there?

Many thanks in advance for your opinions and experience,

-David

ps Please reply to group - email in msg is dead.

wrote:


>
> 1. Is the engine in the 1997 Villager interference or non-interference?
> I've read conflicting information on this.

Nistech on this forum says they aren't, all the VG30's I've seen break belts
bent valves but never seen a quest with a broken one..


>
> 2. At least one shop has recommended that we change the water pump in
> addition to the timing belt. Is this a good idea?

Yes and you should change the belt tensioner, as well as the cam and crank
seals. If you don't do all the seals, at least do the "left hand" cam seal
(looking at the front of the engine), that's the one that always leaks.

> Looks like the going
> rate for timing belt replacement alone is about $300, but doing both is
> about $500. At 107K, is the water pump on borrowed time?
By age and miles, yes it is.

>
> 3. How much time (miles) do I have before I *really* need to get that
> belt replaced, or am I already there?
>

You're already there, it's an age as well as a milage issue.

--

Steve

http://www.atlantaracing.com

I forgot where I read it, but what I read said the ford/mercury
version had a few less HP, and was non-interference.

Gary K

"Steve T" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
>
>
>>
>> 1. Is the engine in the 1997 Villager interference or non-interference?
>> I've read conflicting information on this.
>
> Nistech on this forum says they aren't, all the VG30's I've seen break
> belts
> bent valves but never seen a quest with a broken one..
>
>
>>
>> 2. At least one shop has recommended that we change the water pump in
>> addition to the timing belt. Is this a good idea?
>
> Yes and you should change the belt tensioner, as well as the cam and crank
> seals. If you don't do all the seals, at least do the "left hand" cam seal
> (looking at the front of the engine), that's the one that always leaks.
>
>> Looks like the going
>> rate for timing belt replacement alone is about $300, but doing both is
>> about $500. At 107K, is the water pump on borrowed time?
> By age and miles, yes it is.
>
>>
>> 3. How much time (miles) do I have before I *really* need to get that
>> belt replaced, or am I already there?
>>
>
> You're already there, it's an age as well as a milage issue.
>
> --
>
> Steve
>
> http://www.atlantaracing.com

I believe that it has a non-interference engine. Check this website
for more details. http://www.ourautoshop.com/TBeltChart.html

B.J. at http://www.apericas.com

My Dayco belt book show all Nissans and Ford 3.0 sohc Villager as
interference?
> wrote in message
oups.com...
> All:
>
> I have a 1997 Mercury Villager minivan (twin to the Nissan Quest), and
> we bought it used about four years ago. It has served us extremely well
> aside from a few minor dings and squawks, most of which I've been able
> to resolve myself.
>
> The van now has 107,000 miles on it, and I believe the recommended time
> to have the timing belt replaced is 105,000 miles. I've talked to two
> different shops about having this work done, and on the basis of what
> I"ve read, I have two questions:
>
> 1. Is the engine in the 1997 Villager interference or non-interference?
> I've read conflicting information on this.
>
> 2. At least one shop has recommended that we change the water pump in
> addition to the timing belt. Is this a good idea? Looks like the going
> rate for timing belt replacement alone is about $300, but doing both is
> about $500. At 107K, is the water pump on borrowed time?
>
> 3. How much time (miles) do I have before I *really* need to get that
> belt replaced, or am I already there?
>
> Many thanks in advance for your opinions and experience,
>
> -David
>
> ps Please reply to group - email in msg is dead.
>



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