OK, I bought my Cabrio used with 89k miles on it. The service book is empty except for the 5k miles service, so I do not know what has been done and what not.

So now, at 145k miles, I am wondering if it may be time to replace the timing belt? What is a normal price for that? I asked around a bit, and I hear that then the waterpump needs to be replaced as well, which will then total $ 600.00

What happens if the timing belt fails? I know that some cars are secured and all valves immediately move to the closed position. I also know of some cars (like the Audi TT of a friend, BAAAAD experience) that are not secured, and if the timing belt fails, it takes the head off your cylinders.
How's that with the 1998 2.0 motor?

Berrie

 

well, yeah timing belts are expensive to change, but can be very expensive to fix if it fails. personally i think it would be worth it to have it replaced again, its supposed to be replaced at 100,000 miles so it probably hasn't yet been done. the water pump doesn't need to be replaced but they are generally inexpensive and you need to remove the timing belt to replace the water pump so they usually do them both at the same time.

 

For your pocket book's sake, replace the belt, and with that many miles it would be to your interest to replace the water pump.
Just talking, the belt brakes, the cam stops turning but the crank
shaft and pistions are still going for a short time, the pistons hit the
valves and destroyes the head. The valvesDO NOTall go to a closed position, in any engine. There are a few engines like the
Ford 2.3, 4banger that has enough room in the head that the
pistons don't hit the open valves, also chrysler 2.2 and 2.5 wont
hit the valves, but most foreign engines will hit the valves.