Timing Belts

[732Galant]

Ok, I might be wrong in how Im saying this, but are our timing belts non-interference? I heard someone say that non-interference belts won't damage your engine if it breaks while driving. My old car, an Escort, had the timing belt break while I was driving and all I had to do was replace it and it was fine. But a coworker had her's break on a 99 GTZ and was told it seized the engine. However she's been having overheating problems. I just want to make sure I won't have a major issue if the timing belt goes while Im driving my 2000 ES i4

[underated]

these are interference motors so if your timing belt goes it most likely will damage your motor... bent valves, dent possibly cracked pistons, cracked valve guides because of the bent valves and maybe more

or even if your balance shaft bearings seize up and break the balance shaft belt that belt falls into the timing belt and takes it out then you have the above mentioned damage and you have to fix the balance shafts also

its best to change the timing belt on these cars so you dont risk damage the dealership will charge you close to 6-700 for the job but if you can do it yourself you can cut that in half if not more

[732Galant]

ok so my g has 150,000 miles on it. i bought it from a dealer with 138,000 in march. you guys think i should change it to be on the safe side? is there a way to tell if its ok? car runs fine, but the lady at work that i mentioned above has me paranoid

[Divinity]

I'd go ahead and change it for peace of mind.

[732Galant]

ah man aright thanks for the advice, hopefully after x-mas i will get that done

[underated]

has it ever been changed? did the dealership give you service records?

its supposed to be changed at 100K for cali spec and 60k for fed spec if i remember correctly

[Trevs56]

the manual i got when i got my 8g said 60000 miles was the time to change the timing belt. but honestly thats not entirely correct. 150,000 miles on the original timing belt is past overdue though, i personally wouldve had it done after 100,000

[732Galant]

Thats the problem, I dont know if its ever been changed. The dealer and I parted in a negative way to say the least. I'd rather not get into it but lets just say if I could have done it again I wouldn't have purchased any car there. I would assume it has been changed, but like I said I have no idea. Any tell tale signs on whether or not its been changed or needs to be changed more importantly?

[underated]

the timing belt is not the most important thing its the idler pulley and the auto tensioner you dont want those seizing up on you

i dont know if you can tell but looking at them... i know there is a procedure for checking the auto tensioner

if i was you i would just buy a timing set and change it out just for the piece of mind... you do have 150K+

[Frankv]

Would you guys recommend changing the water pump as well???

[732Galant]

Anyone in jersey who has done this before wanna have a meet and change mine lol Compensation and beer will be provided of course

[dknight3]

Would you guys recommend changing the water pump as well???
yes

[732Galant]

Last question before I get the noob bashing that is so prevailant on this bored, is there any way I can check to see if this was done being as I was never given maintenance records or anything like that? Like if I did a car fax would it show up or something even just by looking?

[rez887]

You need to remove the timing belt cover to see it! You may not even be able to tell if its been changed or not after that!

[underated]

im not sure if you'll be able to tell... my car had white paint marks on the belt ans cam gears from the factory, your may too but if not its gonna be hard to tell.

take of the the top cover and look at the belt, check the underside for cracks and missing teeth... sometimes a with a old belt part of it will be torn but not completely ripped off

check the belt and look for signs of wear

[djflex167]

does it matter how many miles you car has to do this? i mean is it always after 100,000 miles or you can do it before that when ur car have like 74,000 plus..?