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Timing Belt Replacement Interval
An engine’s timing belt is located behind a cover on the front of the engine, well out of sight. Inspecting the belt is time consuming and expensive, and unfortunately inaccurate. A timing belt is a toothed belt, and usually fails by stripping the teeth off. Cracks forming at the base of the teeth are only visible when the belt is removed. Once the belt is off, there is little point in putting the old one back on. The major expense is in the labor to remove it.
So how do we know when to replace it? By consulting the recommended service schedule in the owners manual. Timing belts used to be scheduled for replacement every 50,000 miles. Through design improvements, today’s timing belts last from 60,000 to 105,000 miles depending on the make. Replacing a timing belt when it is scheduled for replacement is the only feasible way to avoid a broken belt and engine damage.
There are car makers who don’t include the timing belt on the service schedule. There are a variety of reasons for their omission, but I think it’s mostly a marketing ploy. Leaving the timing belt off the maintenance schedule gives the car a lower perceived cost of ownership. As long as the engine is unlikely to suffer catastrophic damage if the belt breaks, they figure you can just get a tow truck. The truth is that timing belts are made of rubber, and rubber doesn’t last forever. Just as the accessory drive belts wear out, so does the timing belt. I’ve seen vehicles that list a timing belt in the maintenance schedule one year, and omit it the next, even though the engine is the same with the same timing belt on it. In this case, a good rule of thumb is that if your timing belt has 90,000 miles on it, get it changed.
For more information about all your car repair and maintenance needs, contact Anderson Automotive
About the Author
John Anderson is a ASE Certified Master Technician. He has been an automotive technician for 22 years, and has owned Anderson Automotive for 12 years.
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