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Two timing belts broke in less than 3000 miles on Mazda and Mitsubishi
I bought 2 timing belt kits from Ebay . One for 2002 Mazda Protege 5 2.0 liter , second kit for 2011 Mitsibishi Endeavor 3.8 liter engines.
BOTH belts broke almost same time in less than 3000 miles . I was able to install a new Continental belt onto Mazda Protege and it started without problems, now I am working on Mitsubishi 3.8 and hope the valves did not bent.
Do not buy these counterfeit timing belt kits from Ebay , most of them are fake and will cost you the engine !
11 comments
kh-shakhib
·1 year agoHi everyone,
Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.
Thank you for understanding.
meer201
·1 year agoSame thing happened to me. You’d think eBay would take action against sellers pushing fake auto parts, but sadly, they don’t. I purchased a timing belt kit that was clearly labeled as an OEM Honda part—complete with official Honda branding and part numbers. It looked legitimate in every way.
But it was a fraud.
I had it professionally installed, and just three months later, the belt failed—seizing my engine and causing over $5,000 in damage. And the worst part? There’s no real way on eBay to hold the seller accountable. No consequences. No accountability. Just a broken car and a generic “case closed†response from eBay.
Thanks, eBay. You’ve lost a longtime customer for life. And I’ll make sure everyone I know steers clear of a platform that allows this kind of fraud to happen unchecked. If you can’t protect your buyers or verify critical auto parts, you don’t deserve their trust.
netunastut
OP2 years agoHere is an update for the 3.8 Mitsubishi Endeavor timing belt.
I was able to install the new Gates timing belt (cost only $50 from the auto parts store). Engine fired up right away, now at idle I have a small shake and misfire. Will see how it will run , I only use this car to pull my boat and a jetski to the lake.
Upon inspection the new water pump from timing belt kit (originally purchased and installed not long ago) was already noisy( bearings) and having some play in both directions.
Lesson learned. Staw away from aftermarket timing belt kits selling on Ebay for 100-150$ . Buy from RockAuto or reputable store .
redlinear
·2 years agoYou did not buy a timing belt FROM eBay.
eBay does not sell timing belts.
Now that that's cleared up. I suggest not buying cheap aftermarket junk, or else that's what you'll get...cheap aftermarket junk. (which can be purchased from just about anywhere).
a_c_green
·2 years ago@netunastut : Unfortunately the on-line resources I am finding all indicate that the 2011 Mitsubishi 3.8L is an interference design of engine. 😥 Two cites here:
Ref: https://www.mitsubishi-forums.com/threads/importance-of-changing-timing-belt-2011-endeavor.262294/
Ref: https://www.gates.com/us/en/ymm/search/vehicle/result.html?equipment-clazz=Passenger+Cars+%26+Light+Trucks&vehicle-type=Light+Trucks&year=2011&make=Mitsubishi&model=Endeavor&engine=V-6+3.8+L
On the plus side, your 2002 Protege is also an interference design, but it sounds like you escaped disaster with that one for whatever reason. (Maybe it broke while cranking instead of while running...?)
gosimus
·2 years ago@netunastut
< hope the valves did not bent >
When the timing belt/chain breaks, the cam shaft stops turning and the valves stop right where they were, but the engine continues rotating for a while as it coasts down. If the engine is the type that the valves, when open, actually protrude into the volume of the cylinder where the pistons travel, then there's going to be one or more valves that gets slammed into by the piston as it comes up.
mudshark61369
·2 years ago@netunastut,
If you are repairing cars for other people, you definitely need to check the feedback profile pages of the sellers you buy from before making purchases. On those pages click on the numbers of neutral and negatives they have received to read only those comments. NEVER go by a feedback percentage alone. In looking at your profile, it looks like you buy from some very disreputable parts sellers. I find very often if you add about half of the neutrals to the negatives, it lowers the seller's percentage by quite a bit.
For my self, I'd rather buy from a local store, pay more, get the part the same day or within two days most of the time. Having the ability to quickly be able to exchange and on occasion get a refund if needed, always keeping in mind the 3 tiers of auto parts, OEM, Branded name OEM spec parts & China made junk. Having to wait who knows how long, or to have to do a job twice, is not a good business model.
mtgraves7984
·2 years agoGreat post. I buy some things here, but for parts... long live the parts house. 🙂
kenscorner
·2 years agoMost likely made in China crap. Buy American.
airsheep
·2 years agoLots of times unless you are very careful, even though items are advertised as OEM and American-made, they are aftermarket rubbish and not worth the shipping.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoGood advice and Kudos to you for changing them yourself. Not an easy task.