Timing belt replacement
4 Answers
Hornet_2497 answered 6 years ago
A lot of mechanics say 10 years or 100,000 miles. I was also told that in recent years (1999+) they use Kevlar in those belts and they don't rot with age anymore so the 10 year limit no longer applies. My shop will inspect the belt by idling the engine up on the hoist and looking through an inspection hole (if it has one) at the crankshaft pulley. Or the engine can be turned with a Big wrench in it's normal direction of rotation (NOT backwards) and look closer at a slower speed. We never saw a belt bad enough to replace before it has 100,000 miles. I would wait and watch. My Dad has a 2001 VW Golf with only 50,000 miles and the belt looks like new!
Inspect the belt for cracks but if it looks good you can go longer on it. Subaru recommends every 105,000 miles.
My 2005 outback 2.5 base lasted 149000, but that's pushing it as one pulley's bearing went bad at that time. Luckily no damage. Make sure to replace the whole kit, not just the belt.
