Hello, friends.
I have a Liberty CRD with 92k miles. I want to get the timing belt and related parts replaced proactively (I once had a premature timing belt failure with another vehicle, resulting in ruined valves and a virtually worthless car).
Anyway, I've been shopping around extensively, and read the extremely useful info on this site. I live in the Chicago area, and have called nearly a dozen mechanics. They all want to charge me $700-$800 for the parts alone. None of them will allow me to source the parts because "they can't guarantee them, etc." One guy admitted that he makes money on the parts, and has to charge a mark-up to make a profit on the job. Others won't touch the job because they don't handle diesels, or this particular model, or they claim they can't find the parts.
I see there's a company on the net that has a complete kit:
http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_ ... =1&sort=4a. I called them and they basically said everything is Mopar, except the belt, which is Gates, and the rollers, which are Crown (a Chinese source). This kit is going for $559.
I'm able to do some work on the CRD myself, but this particular job is a definitely over my head. So the only alternative, as I see it, is to find a reputable mechanic who is willing to use the kit provided by me (which is proving difficult), or bend over and pay an exorbitant amount for the parts. Any thoughts on this? Does anyone know somebody in the Chicago area who knows what they are doing and would be willing to use parts that I provide? Is there some other way?
Thanks!
TV