Car Timing Belt

[Anitoula]

How often should a car's timing belt be changed? My mechanic made a whole song and dance about how mine needed to be changed urgently and I just realised that it was only two years old. Can they tell by looking at it if it needs to be replaced?

[woofgang]

There's usually a list of things that need doing at each service The list is in your car's service record book.

[Kos]

I thought cam belts needed replacing every 60-100,000 miles?

[kempie]

Virtually everyone you ask (dealers, independant garages, blokes down the pub, etc) will have a different opinion on belt renewal intervals but ultimately you must consider the damage it will cause if it breaks.

Some belts from some manufacturers appear to have longer life than others. The generic advice is:-

Change every 4 years or every 40,000 miles, unless the engine has no history of premature timing belt failures.

Ford Zetec belts have life of 80,000 miles

VAG belts generally good for 60,000 miles

Change the timing belt tensioner at 80,000 miles (every second timing belt change for non-Ford Zetecs).

[KebabMeister]

Depends on engine manufacturer.

Some are 48,000 miles, others 60,000 (some Hondas), 72,000 (PSA diesels), 96,000 (Rovers, some Hondas etc).

Any oil/coolant contamination can reduce the belts life.

[Anitoula]

Thanks everyone! Guess mine didn't need to be urgently replaced but at least I know now.