TIMING BELT...MILEAGE or AGE...???

[JoFotoz]

Any thoughts...1999 but only 20,000 miles..

..timing belt change is 100,000.

That'll take me another...lets see....

...40 years or so!!

Does age have a major impact on when to change...

Thanks

jo

[VX KAT]

Any thoughts...1999 but only 20000 miles.. maybe?

.

[JAMAS]

Any thoughts...1999 but only 2000 miles..

..timing belt change is 100,000.

That'll take me another...lets see....

...40 years or so!!

Does age have a major impact on when to change...

Thanks

jo

Rubber does deteriorate over time. Wear and tear will speed things up.

Check to see if there is any cracking and perhaps make a judgment call.

[circmand]

Any thoughts...1999 but only 2000 miles..

..timing belt change is 100,000.

That'll take me another...lets see....

...40 years or so!!

Does age have a major impact on when to change...

Thanks

jo

Check mahufacturers website for a new one for time status. The elements will certainly dry out one just sitting their plus forces wii cause it to warp like a tire going out of round if left parked for too long Also you can treat it as well to extend life

[Ldub]

I dunno if this will clarify or muddy...

But here are sixty or so opinions...

http://www.google.com/url?q=http://a...8ANbgOc3nCE8gg

[nfpgasmask]

I dunno, I did mine at 90k or so and the belt looked fine. I know, I know, you can't really tell from looking at it.

Bottom line is, it can't hurt, it's not too difficult to do yourself, so if you got the cash and the time, do it for peace of mind.

Bart

[JoFotoz]

Ummm yea I did mean 20K..

.

..thanks Kat.

jo

[JoFotoz]

Head Mechanic at St Charles said..


....MMMMmm..good question.


I'm thinking age gets it , and its time to change.

jo

[RickOKC]

Hey, if you have the cash lying around (and don't want to send it to me), then "why not!"

My bro-in-law/great friend has an import repair shop so I often seek his advice. I'd asked him about the recommendation of changing the oil at 3k miles vs. the manufacturer's suggested (gulp) 7.5k after I bought a newish car a few years ago. He said, "Well, heat is pretty harsh here and you do a lot of city driving. 7.5k is really a 'general' recommendation. You'd probably be fine, but I'd say with those factors 5k would be better. But, if you have the cash to change it every 3k miles, that's 'fairly cheap insurance' in my opinion."

Maybe your timing belt (and water pump while you're there?) falls into the "Insurance" / peace of mind category.

[rowhard]

Head Mechanic at St Charles said..


....MMMMmm..good question.


I'm thinking age gets it , and its time to change.

jo

insert 2 more cents

If it was exposed to UV and other stuff, for sure age would be a determining factor. But since it is protected from the environment,... well, hell, I don't know. Think you could extend the life span some

[blacksambo]

insert 2 more cents

If it was exposed to UV and other stuff, for sure age would be a determining factor. But since it is protected from the environment,... well, hell, I don't know. Think you could extend the life span some

Mine has 125K on it and it's doing fine. I just wouldn't race it or do anything drastic.

[lasturbo]

I would say do it for peace of mind and the fact the the 3.5L is a no tolerance motor and can bend valves if it breaks, right? 100k is 6.5 years at 15k a year so it is due by a timeline. Heat and time are contributing factors. Like the others stated, check for cracks and the ribs for dry rot. I think I read in past post to do the water pump and tensioner at the same time while you r in there.

[rowhard]

I would say do it for peace of mind and the fact the the 3.5L is a no tolerance motor and can bend valves if it breaks, right? 100k is 6.5 years at 15k a year so it is due by a timeline. Heat and time are contributing factors. Like the others stated, check for cracks and the ribs for dry rot. I think I read in past post to do the water pump and tensioner at the same time while you r in there.

good advise

[Anita]

I am seeing my most beloved Isuzu mechanic this weekend: an interesting question so Im gonna ask him

[RallyDude]

I was under the understanding that this was a non-interference motor, not a no tolerance motor. On Interference motors, the valves collide with the pistons when the timing belt breaks. I'm a brand new owner, but I thought I read on here that it was a non-interference motor, so you end up getting towed, and paying for service wherever you are, which is bad enough, but it's not a whole new motor. Who'd want a motor without tolerances any way?