Timing belt change, now coolant fouled plugs?

HAMMERANDCHAIN

MEMBER
2004 CHRYSLER SEBRING
2.4L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

Hi guys. Thanks up front for taking questions. I just had a new timing belt kit put on my Sebring after the belt snapped out on the road. My engine is non-interference (luckily). Trouble is, the day I got it back, it idles rough and it stalls when I slow down below 1k rpm (slowing for traffic lights or turning into driveways). I take it back in and they tell me I have coolant fouled plugs because "coolant got blown in there when the belt snapped" and something about the throttle body being fouled. They're quoting me for $450 for new plugs, ignition wires, new brake pads and other work. Should they have noticed the ignition problems when they were taking it apart for the time belt? They told me when I picked it up the first time that they had test driven it and everything was fine. I don't see how they could have overlooked a car that stalls at every turn and red light. It also looks as though coolant on plugs may be caused by a blown head gasket. Are these guys stringing me along a series of "newly discovered" repairs?

1 Reply

HMAC300

MECHANIC
48,601 POSTS

Can't say anything about coolant but you would think it's a head gasket problem. your engine is free spin BUT valve to valve interference can happen if cams spin independently which may have happened due to belt breakage. A compression check will tell you that though. also try this for the throttle body as you can do this yourself
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/throttle-actuator-service
unfortunately if you don't trust the guys that worked on your car try another place if possible, they could be stringing you along. spark plugs normally only are good for 100k nowadays so you may be ready for those. We do h ave things that go instep by step here under how to repair if you like to try this your self, just print it out and it's free..........