[bc9499]

Hi there,

I've been driving my '96 Corolla for just about nine years now, and it's been very, very good to me. I bought it used with 65,000 miles on it, and it had a recently changed timing belt. I then had the timing belt changed at 135,000 miles. I'm trying to figure out how long I can ACTUALLY go before changing the belt again. I'm now at 204,000 miles, so obviously over the recommended 60,000 mile change. Am I asking for trouble by not getting this done at the earliest possible opportunity?

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[GTChink]

I think timing belts should be changed around 100k miles.

 

[Piloter]

I think they're supposed to be done at 60K. I went to 90K with one and 80K with the next, but it was starting to squeal alarmingly by that point.

 

[94DX5Speed]

I also need to figure out when I need to change the timing belt. I bought the car at 131K, so I don't know when it was last changed. How hard is it to change? I know that I have to be careful to keep the cam gear in position not to muck up the timing. Is there any way to visually inspect the belt for wear and tear that signifies the need for a new belt?

 

[blb]

Why guess? It takes all of 10 minutes, if you are real slow, to remove the top timing belt cover so you can see for yourself. Then you can have someone bump the starter several times so you can see the entire belt, checking for rot, fraying, cracking etc. No use changing it if it is still good. I have 150,000 miles on one now and it is still fine. I do check it at least once a year though.

 

[vcgroves]

95 Geo Prizm 236K mi-orig t-belt!

With the Lord's blessings, my 95 Geo Prizm still has its orig timing belt looking good at 236,000miles! Most other parts are original -thanks to our Lord. I just changed the original water, and inside the radiator looks great!

However, it ran faithfully until a few days ago when it jerked a couple of times on the road and completely died. The starter turns over, but the engine doesnt kick on at all. I checked the timing belt -still perfect condition with the TDC matching the double OHC marks. Fuel comes to the injector rack, and no. 1 and 4 plugs tested still get sparks. I cannot figure this out, and need my car to get to work. Do you have an answer?

 

[BoostologyRAV4.]

vcgrooves, check your other post. bc9499, Ive seen belts that looks perfectly good snap and damage engines. I checked the belt on my mothers 3SFE in her 98 Rav4 and it looked great but I still ordered all the parts necessary. A week later it broke leaving her stranded. She needed the car ASAP so the Toyota dealer installed a new belt and we asked them to check the water pump, they said it was good. About 100 feet away from the dealer the pump seized and the belt was thrown off again.

Just saying looks can be deciving. I replace my oil every 3000miles or 3 months, and now i do my belts every 80k regardless of how they look. Im not taking that chance again. I work at a VW dealer and its impossible to say "ya, I think it looks good" and then have the customer stranded a day, week or month down the road blaming you for not catching it. When in doubt, swap it out.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

With the Lord's blessings, my 95 Geo Prizm still has its orig timing belt looking good at 236,000miles! Most other parts are original -thanks to our Lord. I just changed the original water, and inside the radiator looks great!

However, it ran faithfully until a few days ago when it jerked a couple of times on the road and completely died. The starter turns over, but the engine doesnt kick on at all. I checked the timing belt -still perfect condition with the TDC matching the double OHC marks. Fuel comes to the injector rack, and no. 1 and 4 plugs tested still get sparks. I cannot figure this out, and need my car to get to work. Do you have an answer?

check your fuel pressure. The pumps only last so long