timing belt
 

I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
the mileage. Thanks!

Re: timing belt
 

"tonita" <toni_brightman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:432bd971-67b9-4e58-84df-9306b5b3cd6e@e18g2000yqo.googlegroups.com...
>I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
> the mileage. Thanks!


I'd wait. While I'd not go too long, a couple of months does not seem out
of order with that low miles.

What is wrong that the tie rod ends have to be done already? That seems
premature. I'd get an opinion from a good local independent garage.
Dealers tend to be higher priced for many service items and some service
writers recommend things that may not be needed. They get a commission. .

Re: timing belt
 

You are right there. My sons Lantra has 220,000 k on the clock and front
suspension is still solid. The rear brakes still have a reasonable lining
thickness after that mileage. Is yours 6 years old re the belt?. The advice
to get an independent assesment is spot on.
John

Re: timing belt
 

"tonita" <toni_brightman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:432bd971-67b9-4e58-84df-9306b5b3cd6e@e18g2000yqo.googlegroups.com...
>I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
> the mileage. Thanks!

I'd have someone else look at your frontend. 43,000 miles is very early for
tie rods to be wearing out.

--

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

Re: timing belt
 

When I had the oil changed, they told me there that the right tie rod
end was loose. They gave me a much higher price than the dealer.
Then the dealer told me I need both and should change the timing belt
as well. The brakes I probably can get a cheaper price somewhere
else. But, if both places remarked on the tie rod ends, what else can
I do? I'd be too afraid to let it go. I have to say, I was a bit
surprised given the low mileage. I didn't think I would have to worry
about it for a while yet.

Re: timing belt
 

>>I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
>> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
>> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
>> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
>> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
>> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
>> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
>> the mileage. Thanks!
>
>
> I'd wait. While I'd not go too long, a couple of months does not seem
> out of order with that low miles.
>
I'm curious about the six year recommendation for the timing belt. I would
think wear & tear on the belt would be mostly reflected in mileage. It may
be necessary to change it to stay in compliance with the warranty, but is it
necessary in terms of actual wear?

Re: timing belt
 

"Victek" <Victek@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
>>
> I'm curious about the six year recommendation for the timing belt. I
> would think wear & tear on the belt would be mostly reflected in mileage.
> It may be necessary to change it to stay in compliance with the warranty,
> but is it necessary in terms of actual wear?

Rubber and plastics become brittle over time. There is now a recommendation
to change tires after some number of years no matter how much tread they
have on them. Exposure to UV speeds up the drying process.

Re: timing belt
 

Don't forget that YOU mentioned it to the dealer and that's like dangling a
carrot in front of a rabbit. They, of course, would tell you 'Absolutely,
they are shot'. I'd still take it to someone you think you can trust.


"tonita" <toni_brightman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e6b8e179-795c-445a-ac25-644894122c70@j12g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> When I had the oil changed, they told me there that the right tie rod
> end was loose. They gave me a much higher price than the dealer.
> Then the dealer told me I need both and should change the timing belt
> as well. The brakes I probably can get a cheaper price somewhere
> else. But, if both places remarked on the tie rod ends, what else can
> I do? I'd be too afraid to let it go. I have to say, I was a bit
> surprised given the low mileage. I didn't think I would have to worry
> about it for a while yet.

Re: timing belt
 

AND it's not just the tie rod ends. As soon as you get that done, they'll
remind you that you need a front end alignment, which you do it you replace
them. There goes another $50 or more.


"tonita" <toni_brightman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:e6b8e179-795c-445a-ac25-644894122c70@j12g2000vbl.googlegroups.com...
> When I had the oil changed, they told me there that the right tie rod
> end was loose. They gave me a much higher price than the dealer.
> Then the dealer told me I need both and should change the timing belt
> as well. The brakes I probably can get a cheaper price somewhere
> else. But, if both places remarked on the tie rod ends, what else can
> I do? I'd be too afraid to let it go. I have to say, I was a bit
> surprised given the low mileage. I didn't think I would have to worry
> about it for a while yet.

Re: timing belt
 

tonita wrote:
> I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
> the mileage. Thanks!

I would not wait too long. A timing belt is made of rubber/polymer with
reinforcing fibers that are polymer also. Materials such as this
deteriorate as much from time as from mileage. Think of tires that have
been around for 6-10 years. They almost always lose resilient, develop
cracks and checks, etc. The same goes for the timing belt.

Will it fail next week or next month? Probably not, but the point is
there is no easy way to know in advance and on many engines are of an
"interference" design where you have expensive parts contacting at high
speed if the cam and crankshaft get out of synch. I don't know what
model you have, but if it has an interference engine and the belt breaks
.... well, if you thought a belt replacement was expensive...

Matt

Re: timing belt
 

Victek wrote:
>>> I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
>>> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
>>> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
>>> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
>>> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
>>> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
>>> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
>>> the mileage. Thanks!
>>
>>
>> I'd wait. While I'd not go too long, a couple of months does not
>> seem out of order with that low miles.
>>
> I'm curious about the six year recommendation for the timing belt. I
> would think wear & tear on the belt would be mostly reflected in
> mileage. It may be necessary to change it to stay in compliance with
> the warranty, but is it necessary in terms of actual wear?

You think wrong. Think of what the belt is made from...

Re: timing belt
 

On Tue, 7 Apr 2009 16:48:02 -0700 (PDT), tonita wrote:

> I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
> the mileage. Thanks!

If you are a member of the AAA try going to their auto analysing
specialist.

Re: timing belt
 

"Voyager" <m.whiting@computer.org> wrote in message
news:X%9Dl.12179$%k2.4361@newsfe07.iad...
> tonita wrote:

> I would not wait too long. A timing belt is made of rubber/polymer with
> reinforcing fibers that are polymer also. Materials such as this
> deteriorate as much from time as from mileage. Think of tires that have
> been around for 6-10 years. They almost always lose resilient, develop
> cracks and checks, etc. The same goes for the timing belt.

Would heavy use of an A/C prematurely wear a belt or is that just silly
thinking?

Re: timing belt
 

"tonita" <toni_brightman@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:432bd971-67b9-4e58-84df-9306b5b3cd6e@e18g2000yqo.googlegroups.com...
>I just had my car at the dealer's and they recommended that I have the
> timing belt changed. This is a fairly expensive service. Even though
> my car only has 43,000 miles on it, it is six years old. They
> recommend 60,000 miles or six years. I have to have the tire rod ends
> done immediately and then rear brakes so it will be almost impossible
> for me to afford this timing belt this month. I was just looking for
> opinions as to whether it would be safe to wait a month or so given
> the mileage. Thanks!

I'm late to this thread but why tie rods wear out so early? Do you drive
back roads or country/rural roads alot? Do you hit potholes or speedbumbs
way too fast?

Re: timing belt
 

"The Henchman" <dontask@questions.org> wrote in message
news:grssap$j9m$1@news.motzarella.org...
>
> "Voyager" <m.whiting@computer.org> wrote in message
> news:X%9Dl.12179$%k2.4361@newsfe07.iad...
>> tonita wrote:
>
>> I would not wait too long. A timing belt is made of rubber/polymer with
>> reinforcing fibers that are polymer also. Materials such as this
>> deteriorate as much from time as from mileage. Think of tires that have
>> been around for 6-10 years. They almost always lose resilient, develop
>> cracks and checks, etc. The same goes for the timing belt.
>
> Would heavy use of an A/C prematurely wear a belt or is that just silly
> thinking?


It may put a bit more load on the serpentine belt or whatever belt drives
the AC compressor, but should have no effect on the timing belt. That just
drives the cam shaft.