Timing belt: replace, or cross my fingers?
03-11-2009, 09:05 PM
#1
Timing belt: replace, or cross my fingers?
I have posted many times that IMHO the service interval for timing belts is a guide, not gospel. Your actual intervals should reflect your expected length of ownership and your comfort level with risk. For example, if the interval is 75k, but you intend to trade the car at 80k, it might be worth skipping the belt change. If you are at 60k and you expect to own the car to 100k, it might be worth the extra piece of mind to change the belt early...but you might also take a gamble and skip the service.
Currently we are at 255k, and the next vehicle is not in sight. I have weakened our replacement fund by "borrowing" a few bucks for another Miata (need to update sig) so it may be Fall at the earliest before we decide to change horses, but it may be even longer. As I have said many times, the wife likes the idea of something newer, but really likes her C5.
The last belt change was done about 2 years ago at 175k. Spend the money or roll the dice?
Currently we are at 255k, and the next vehicle is not in sight. I have weakened our replacement fund by "borrowing" a few bucks for another Miata (need to update sig) so it may be Fall at the earliest before we decide to change horses, but it may be even longer. As I have said many times, the wife likes the idea of something newer, but really likes her C5.
The last belt change was done about 2 years ago at 175k. Spend the money or roll the dice?
03-11-2009, 10:20 PM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
You're at 80K miles now, so if you pay attention & don't track the car, I'd say you could go...
to 95-100K miles w/o a problem. Will that extra 15-20K miles take to the fall?
03-11-2009, 11:13 PM
#5
You know it's a crap shoot, but you've done so well with the car...
...why risk it now?
It's not like you're gonna pay someone $1,500 to do it.
I want to see that car pass 300K sucessfully.
Oh, and <i>another Miata</i>...too funny!
It's not like you're gonna pay someone $1,500 to do it.
I want to see that car pass 300K sucessfully.
Oh, and <i>another Miata</i>...too funny!
03-12-2009, 04:02 AM
#6
What he said. End of October should be over 100k on the belt.
Although I must say that since the economy has tanked, Mrs 4D4 has less shoreline meetings, so milage should fall a bit this year.
03-12-2009, 04:05 AM
#7
Yeah. The A6 driver is not overjoyed about the new Miata. lol
You are probably right. I just dropped close to a grand on suspension repairs in the Fall...and losing the belt would really suck.
As for replacing it, it's more the time than the money that is the issue. There were also a bunch of bad tensioners floating around, so I'd hate to swap the belt and have other issues.
back and forth I go...
As for replacing it, it's more the time than the money that is the issue. There were also a bunch of bad tensioners floating around, so I'd hate to swap the belt and have other issues.
back and forth I go...
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03-12-2009, 04:42 AM
#9
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2nd....4driver4 doing a timing belt is like the rest of us changing the oil...why risk it...
plus it gives you more time if you don't seen anything you like as a replacement...
