how would i find out if i need to get a new one???

 

1. take the valve cover off
2. Turn the crank pulley with a 19mm socket
3. Inspect It
4. Decide if you need a new one.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vietnogi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how would i find out if i need to get a new one???</TD></TR></TABLE>

Mileage. A timing belt can look perfectly fine, but still have exceeded its recommend service life. Timing belts aren't something you want to take a chance with, since a broken belt carries the potential to more or less destroy your engine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Padawan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Mileage. A timing belt can look perfectly fine, but still have exceeded its recommend service life. Timing belts aren't something you want to take a chance with, since a broken belt carries the potential to more or less destroy your engine. </TD></TR></TABLE>




Just to add, if you're not sure when it was last changed, or even if it was ever changed, just replace it...if the car has exceeded the recommended service life of its original belt of course.

Also have a look around the timing cover, some people mark the mileage on it when they replace a belt, I would usually scratch in something like TBF xxxxxmiles, or TBR xxxxxmiles (timing belt fitted/replaced)

 

My belt went 130k then broke. I figured the other owner did it at 80-100. Luckily I was idling in traffic and didn't hurt anything. But my point is that the old broken belt doesn't look bad (except the section that broke). I mean its not cracked or dry rotten or weird looking in anyway. I can still read the numbers on it and would not quess that it was almost 10 years old or had all those miles on it.

 

I just recently changed my own timing belt at 95K. I wasnt aware that there were almost no sign of fatigue on them. Figured that my belt was still good. But I still changed it because of the mileage too. Glad to know that.