Hey, just found out my 99 626 did NOT in fact get the belt changed out before I bought it! Not happy with that, we've use dthe same dealer/salesmen for years now and then this happens.

Anyway, how long will it go without needing it done. It has 95.3K on it now? Runs like a champ, and the sales guy says he can get it done though teh dealer for $400. WHat do you guys think?

 

I cannot say for sure if your year of car is a 60K or 90K change interval, but either way you are on borrowed time right now.

If you bought the car with the understading that the belt was new, I would seek out the sales manager and make some noise. I have dealership experience and most times they will goodwill the work for you. They want to keep a good customer!

 

Well, unfortunetly, his idea of goodwill is the $400 for parts and labor. Apparently they charge close to $600 here for the timing belt. That sucks too, based on this alone, I will not do business with them again.

 

Like I said, go find the sales manager and have a talk. If he thinks losing you as a customer over $400 is worth it, that is not a good dealer. Ask them what is the price for the negative comments you will have to friends and family who will also never return? Gotta play the game with them!

 

If they do it right $400 is a prety good deal. Make sure they also replace the tensioner pulley and the tensioner spring. Do you have the 2.0 or the 2.5? I dont know about the 2.5 but the 2.0 has a design flaw in the tensioner pulley and after awhile the vibration of the motor will wear out the eyelet of the tensioner ( it will actually wear a groove in the eyelet) and will wear out the spring till it breaks then the belt goes loose and starts banging arround like you wont believe. I had mine done as a recall when I had about 45,000 miles on it. And it finally broke about 2 weeks ago just as it rolled over 191,000. If your tensioner is worn out make sure to the the OEM Mazda one. They actually added a steel insert to keep the spring from wearing out quite so fast. Some of the tensioners your going to find uptown are probably going to have a brass insert or no insert at all. so make sure to check that out. The Mazda one is about $130 and about $40 for the belt, then $2.66 for the spring.

 

2.0L Good to know about teh other pieces, I doubt they would have thrown those in.

I guess i could call up the general manager and ask about a better deal. All they can say is no right?

 

You can call, but it's better to be face to face. It's easier to say no on the phone.

 

Done! Gave the salesman one more shot then talked to their customer service people. I think it was more the fact the salesman said it was done than them being nice! Had it replaced Mon morning, all of it! Didn't cost me a dime.

 

Very good! Being firm and persistence pays off! This is one "game" I am familiar with.