Car Maintenance Advice

[Chu Gai]

If and when you replace the timing belt, spend the extra and replace the tensioner.

 

[GO-NAD!]

All the belts I can see look like they're in pretty good shape. I think we replaced some of the belts when the tranny went. I'll them take a look when the oil gets changed.

You can't see the timing belt - it's inside the engine. That's why they tend to be expensive to replace - labour cost.

I just Googled it - looks like you have a belt, not a chain. The belt maintains the timing of the crankshaft and camshafts - hence the name. In a non interference engine, if the belt breaks, the engine will immediately stall, but there shouldn't be any further damage. If the belt breaks in an interference engine, you can expect pistons and valves to bash into each other and you will be looking at an expensive rebuild, or a new engine.

 

[fuzz092888]

So would it be expensive to have the check the timing belt and tensioner? Is it labor intensive to have them check that?

 

[Rickster71]

So would it be expensive to have the check the timing belt and tensioner? Is it labor intensive to have them check that?

Depending if / when it was last done. A shop would put a sticker on the timing cover or elsewhere under the hood. It would show the mileage at which the belt was replaced.
A receipt or shop records would be best, since that would list details. Like tensioner bearings, water pump, etc.

Some have inspection covers that are easily removed. Other times, a check of the weep hole under the water pump will dictate. Since most pumps are under the belt and if it's leaking it could contaminate belt. They are generally changed together.

 

[Rickster71]

I understand, we all like to limit our spending to fun stuff.
However you'd be better off spending a little on proper scheduled maintenance, than big bucks on a major failure.

 

[fuzz092888]

I understand, we all like to limit our spending to fun stuff.
However you'd be better off spending a little on proper scheduled maintenance, than big bucks on a major failure.

Slip of the hand





Although maybe Freudian slip?

 

[Rickster71]

A mechanic can absolutely tell if a belt needs replacement by visual inspection.
Elongation, pilling, galzing, cracking, material loss, contamination from leaking oil or coolant and misalignment from worn tensioner bearings.
Even EDPM belts that hide wear very well, can be inspected and measured for material loss.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Rick is so smart! S-M-R-T!

 

[Rickster71]

Rick is so smart! S-M-R-T!

And yet, my wife never listens to me.
She does call me Homer...

 

[Irvrobinson]

A mechanic can absolutely tell if a belt needs replacement by visual inspection.
Elongation, pilling, galzing, cracking, material loss, contamination from leaking oil or coolant and misalignment from worn tensioner bearings.
Even EDPM belts that hide wear very well, can be inspected and measured for material loss.

Yeah, but any of these factors occur only on a belt that is past a safe end-of-life. Visual inspections will only detect an urgent situation, not tell if the belt is past the service interval recommendation.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

The timing belt issue is the best point made in this thread.

Incorrect, my point was the best in this thread...

 

[Chu Gai]

Here's a video, one of several regarding the timing belt replacement.

Also, here's one place that sells a timing belt replacement kit, http://www.1aauto.com/timing-belt-kit-with-water-pump-gates-tckwp329/i/gaeek00013?f=481793&y=2003&utm_campaign=gb_csv_br&utm_content=EEK&gclid=CMOM7rHGhcYCFVKPHwodNYYAJw

As you can see, the kit also includes the water pump and seeing that it's driven by the belt, it makes sense to,get a replacement.

Now, the parts are around $200 and can be found for more or a bit less. The unknown in your case is labor. Shops calculate labor in basically one of two ways. There's a book rate which can be looked up in something like Mitchel and that's the estimated time to complete a job. That's pretty common because if ouve got a skilled mechanic he can do the job in much less time. So the owner of the repair shop only pays the mechanic by the hour while you're billed for the book rate.

Then there're some places that bill you for actual time. Only by asking can you know how yore being charged.

One thing to look for is that some places will look to nickel and dime you. Let's say there are separate hourly rates for a timing belt replacement, a water pump replacement, and a tensioner replacement. Well, each of these procedures requires the same basic steps - disassembly of the front to gain access and removal of the timing belt. Now, they're not going to reassemble it each time but they may bill you for it. Only way to tell is to ask questions and look at the estimate.

Also, you're going to pay list prices for the replacement parts while the mechanic gets it a discount. My suggestion would be to make some calls to various places looking for an estimate. Don't accept the answer, well we can't tell because there may be other things wrong. Get an estimate or move on. Then with a list of several places, search them on the web. Maybe Yelp has some feedback.

It's not really a difficult job but it is tedious and requires attention to detail.

 

[Rickster71]

Yeah, but any of these factors occur only on a belt that is past a safe end-of-life. Visual inspections will only detect an urgent situation, not tell if the belt is past the service interval recommendation.

I think it's simply a viable trade-off for someone that doesn't know when the belt was last changed.

 

[Chu Gai]

Timing belts are one of those things that aren't covered under most warranties unless you've got a soup to nuts service contract or for certain vehicles. Since they are suggested to be replaced at say something like 60K, they're not done either because people get taken aback at the price or they don't read the manual. For those who regularly trade their cars in at or around the time their basic warranty is to expire, they don't give a ah!t. It's the next guy's problem. It's more important that your car look good.

Certainly, it seems most folks get above and beyond mileage out of them. But when they break, you'll probably have to get your car towed to a center not of your choosing. Then you'll need to rent a car. It never happens at a good time and you find the final cost is way more because they got you by your balls.

 

[GO-NAD!]

Timing belts are one of those things that aren't covered under most warranties unless you've got a soup to nuts service contract or for certain vehicles. Since they are suggested to be replaced at say something like 60K, they're not done either because people get taken aback at the price or they don't read the manual. For those who regularly trade their cars in at or around the time their basic warranty is to expire, they don't give a ah!t. It's the next guy's problem. It's more important that your car look good.

Certainly, it seems most folks get above and beyond mileage out of them. But when they break, you'll probably have to get your car towed to a center not of your choosing. Then you'll need to rent a car. It never happens at a good time and you find the final cost is way more because they got you by your balls.

It happened to my brother-in-law a few years ago, with his Subaru. It just died while he was on the highway. He was able to pull over to the side of the road without a problem and he was lucky that there was no subsequent damage, other than the cost of a tow and the belt job.

 

[fuzz092888]

It happened to my brother-in-law a few years ago, with his Subaru. It just died while he was on the highway. He was able to pull over to the side of the road without a problem and he was lucky that there was no subsequent damage, other than the cost of a tow and the belt job.

Well I mean I feel like we probably all would like one of those when we're stressed but probably wish we didn't have to pay........oh wait you said belt job............

 

[Chu Gai]

From the movie, Crazy People.

 

[Rickster71]

It happened to my brother-in-law a few years ago, with his Subaru. It just died while he was on the highway. He was able to pull over to the side of the road without a problem and he was lucky that there was no subsequent damage, other than the cost of a tow and the belt job.

Subaru has two belts of unequal length and they run the oil pump from the longer one.
I've done at least five of them and it's always the longer belt that drives the pump that starts to make a rapping noise then subsequently fails. Luckily it's not an interference engine.
EDIT: spelling

 

[Irvrobinson]

...it's always the longer belt that drives the pump that starts to make a raping noise then subsequently fails.

That must be one interesting sounding engine at that point...

 

[Rickster71]

That must be one interesting sounding engine at that point...

Oops