Everything you wanted to know about Timing Belts...

But were too embarrassed to ask!

Interesting. I have often asked Toyota Service managers and tech when to replace the Timing belt on verious cars: "The belts been on the car for 5 years!" Ans: "Replace it at XX,XXX miles!" I always wondered why Mileage and not elapsed time. Well: (take a look at the LAST line...)

For preventative maintenance, and to comply with the recommended replacement interval specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Rubber timing belts contain reinforcing cords of fiberglass or Kevlar. These cords keep the belt from stretching or breaking, which is no simple task considering the strain that is on the belt. Many other engines use a steel chain for this same purpose.

As the belt accumulates miles, the constant bending every time it passes around a pulley plus constant exposure to heat causes the rubber to harden and become brittle. Little cracks start to appear in the rubber. These cracks are not serious as long as they?re not too deep or cause chunks of rubber to break loose. The constant stress, heat and bending also weakens the fibers that make up the reinforcing cords. Eventually the point is reached where something gives and the belt fails.

Until recently, the incidence of failure peaked sharply after about 60,000 miles, so the vehicle manufacturers mostly recommended replacing the best at

60,000 mile intervals. On newer engines, this interval has been extended to as much as 100,000 miles thanks to improved belt materials.

So what happens if you don?t replace the belt? Maybe nothing. Some belts just keep going and going and will last the life of the engine. Others may fail at 60,001 miles or even sooner. Since no one can predict the exact mileage at which a timing belt will fail, the safest bet is to follow the vehicle manufacturer?s recommendations.

WARNING: A timing belt failure can cause extensive engine damage on many overhead cam engines. If the engine lacks sufficient valve-to-piston clearance, a belt failure can allow the valves to hit the pistons destroying both. The cost of replacing the belt at the recommended interval, therefore, is cheap insurance compared to the cost of replacing or rebuilding the engine.

Engines with timing belts that are at risk for this type of damage include: # All Accura four cylinder, five cylinder and V6 engines # Audi 1.6L and 2.0L diesel engines # Buick Skyhawk 1.8L and 2.0L engines # Chevrolet Geo Metro 1.0L three cylinder engines # Chevrolet Geo Spectrum and Prizm 1.5L and 1.6L engines # Chevy Luv pickup truck 2.2L diesel engines # Dodge and Plymouth Colt 1.5L and 1.6L engines # Eagle Summit and Vista 1.5L and 1.6L engines # Eagle Talon 2.0L engines # 1981-85 Ford Escort (and Mercury Lynx) 1.6L engines # 1985 Ford Tempo and Ranger pickup 2.0L diesel engines # Ford Probe 2.0L engines # All Honda four cylinder engines # All Hyundai four cylinder engines # Infinity 3.0L V6 engines # All Isuzu four cylinder engines # Mazda 2.2L four cylinder and 3.0L V6 engines # Mitsubishi 1.5L, 1.6L and 2.0L engines # All Nissan engines # All Porsche engines # Suzuki 1.3L engines # Toyota Tercel 1.5L engines # Toyota pickup 2.2L and 2.4L diesel engines # Volkswagen 1.5L and 1.6L diesel engines # All Volvo four cylinder engines # All Yugo engines (if any are still running).

Reply to
Hachiroku
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The later 3.5 Nissan has timing chains, my 96 Maxima had them. It is a great engine. Ron

Reply to
ronbon

The first line of the guide says "Engines with timing belts..."

IOW, engines with chains are not included in the list.

Reply to
Ray O

I believe that Toyota recommends at XX,XXX miles or YY months, whichever comes first.

Reply to
Ray O

all Porsche engines are interference type?

That would be a VERY expensive belt to have break on you! Glad I can't afford a Porsche, after all.

Reply to
mack

Gates does not list a replacement timing belt for any vehicles after 1995 model year, and does not list any 911's, suggesting that 911's and everything after 1995 model year is either chain or gear driven.

Reply to
Ray O

Yup. So are a fair amount of Toyotas...

Reply to
Hachiroku

Car companies will tell people belts are quieter and better than chains, and the next thing you know everybody is going to chains.

r> The later 3.5 Nissan has timing chains, my 96 Maxima had them. It is a > great engine.

Reply to
johngdole

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