JAMES IS RIGHT , THERE IS NO WAY TO GET THE HEAD OFF WITH OUT REMOVING THE BELT, THIS IS A TWIN CAM ENG AND IT HAS TWO CAM PULLEYS ,, AND REPLACING THE ENG WITH A LIKE ONE IS ABOUT THE ONLY CHOICE , AN ENG SWAP TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING I AM AFRAID IS GOING TO BE EXP.. THE 98-2003 RODEO AND THE AMIEGO USE THE SAME 4CYL ENG.. JERRY

Thanks for the input!

My sister said that the guy told her that it looked like the belt jumped off the pulleys (the belt looked to be in one piece).

IF THE BELT JUMPED OR BROKE ,I AM AFRAID IT IS NOT GOING TO BE A PRETTY SIGHT , WHAT CAN CAUSE THESE BELTS TO BREAK , HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE JUST COME OFF , USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TENSIONER IS NOT SET CORRECTLY , THIS ENG DOES NOT USE A HYDRAULIC TENSIONER, ONCE IT IS SET IT IS LOCKED , AND IT IS VERY EASY TO GET IT TOO TIGHT AGAINST THE BELT ,, HOPE FOR THE BEST JERRY

Thanks for the help!

Well, she had it towed to a dealership for them to look at it. They said it would be $4,000 for a new engine.

She found out later that they didn't really touch it and did not do any tests. They charged her almost $100 to push it inside the gate (about 20 feet slightly downhill) and tell her it was locked up (they couldn't start it). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

She found another shop nearby and I went with her to talk to them. The owner said that only some of the valves should be bent and he did not expect any damage to the pistons, crankshaft or camshafts (one set of valves should stop the pistons). $900 to rebuild it, including new timing belt, water pump, pulley and valves (if it wasn't completely locked up as the dealership suggested).

Engine was not locked up. He gets into the engine and every valve is bent. Head needs to be replaced. The bill will be $1,700.00. Now, I'm starting to think he said what he needed to, to get the vehicle into his shop.

My sister also said that he told her that there was a recall on these vehicles for some seals and that's what was causing the leak and possibly damaged the timing belt the first time. The dealership that performed the timing belt repair was "in the process" of losing its dealership. The timing belt should have been done under the recall.

What a mess! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/angry.gif" alt="" />

HE CAIN,T REPLACE THE HEAD FOR 1700 DOLLARS AS THE COST FOR A NEW HEAD IS OVER 1500 WITH OUT THE CAMSHAFTS BUT OTHERWISE IS COMPLETE , I AM NOT SURE IF A REMAN IS AVAILABLE ,IT ISN,T FROM ISUZU , ALLSO IF THE VLVS ARE BENT NOT REASON TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENG ,JERRY

Thanks for the info, Jerry!

IIRC, he could get a rem'd engine for $2,750 + $1,100 labor (he was shocked that the dealer was charging so little compared to what he could do, but I don't know if the dealership's $4k was for the engine only). He said that the truck wasn't worth a new engine (he said this before we found out if the engine was really locked up).

I asked my sister if she was sure it would be $1,700 total and she said he mentioned that it was twice what was originally estimated. I told her she needs to make sure the $1,700 is out the door.

Maybe it's a rebuilt head? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I WOULD CHECK WITH A DLR ON THE ENG PRICE , I KNOW THEY DID HAVE A COMPLETE ABOUT 90% ENG AVAILABLE THERE FOR A WHILE AND THE FLAT RATE TIME TO DO THAT ENG IS ABOUT 6 HRS , IT IS NOT A LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS , BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH ROOM TO WORK, A 4WHL DR MIGHT BE A BIT LONGER , BUT EVEN AT 90.00 AN HOUR THAT IS OVER 11 HRS TO DOT THE JOB ??????????????????? THE 4000 INSTALLED AT A DLR PROB IS NOT TOO FAR OFF BUT YOU HAVE A NEW ENG JERRY