Timimg belt

Another point, if a belt is to be changed at 60,000 miles, what is the maximum it can safely go before a change?

That's sort of like asking "When in the next 20 years will I break a bone and be in a cast for 2 months?" Nobody knows. Some people may get 90K miles on a timing belt, and some may not. But, this type of information should not used to make a maintenance decision.

Timing belts are usually not discussed with small performance improvements in mind. Changing them is recommended because when they break, some types of engines will be damaged. With others, you'll be left on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck.

I am just curious. I have no intention of letting a belt go for so long.

After changing the belt would the performance improve? The idea is not make the car go faster. Would it be smoother running, smoother idling?

That's not a benefit my mechanic has ever mentioned during discussions about timing belts. But, my son just had his changed on his 96 Camry. I emailed him to see if the slightly rough idle improved at all. I'll let you know.

The engine's performance will not improve noticeably after changing a timing belt and will not run or idle more smoothly.

Mine broke around 80,000 in a 1984 Camry. The Toyota dealer had not changed it according to maintenance schedule, and I had neglected to watch their every move.

It's far better to buy a vehicle with timing chain, such as Nissan (most models) or Ford Escape.

Bull. S*it.

What if the rest of the car sucks?

Confirmed just now by my son - no discernible difference in idling.

Mine did simply because a few days before I changed it the tensioner for the timing belt started to go out and it ran rough until I changed it.

That can be confusing because in your case, the performance improved because the tensioner was changed, not the timing belt. If a warranty claim were being submitted, the root cause would be the tensioner and an associated part would be the timing belt.

Well let's see here ... it costs almost $1000 to change the timing belt on my Isuzu Trooper. So a lot of things could go wrong on a Ford Escape and I'd still be ahead.

But thanks for responding to my troll. ;-)

Any time.

Hi all,

I had a Jeep Cherokee with a Renault Diesel engine in it. The timing belt was specified to change at 120K miles...due to circumstances, I went to 132K at which time it let go, breaking two cam stands and bending a rocker arm. This didn't bend any valves and it went another 102K before a drunk hit it and totaled it.

It was a lovely car...35 MPG in a midsized 4X4 which would haul a 3500# boat trailer up an eight percent grade at 60 MPH...admittedly at 2750 RPM, fourth gear (of 5), and black coal pouring out the tailpipe.

I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

Walt

A 1000 dollars to change a timing belt?? I have a trooper II and it's going to need a time belt soon, but $1000? I'll change it m;yself and take chances. Cheaper to junk it, sheezzzz