How's my timing belt look?

**Overboostin** · 08-20-2008 03:29 PM

I had the car apart so I decided to take a look at my timing belt since it was near time to replace. It looks fine to me, just wanted to know what you guys thought.

**audimeister** · 08-20-2008 03:42 PM

Can't tell by looking. If you have 60k miles, or it's a certain age replace it.

Speaking from Ducati experience, perfectly-fine looking belts can let go.

**JDM EJ1 95** · 08-20-2008 04:00 PM

if your unsure.. and it hasnt been done in a while.. replace it.

theres no reason not to.. unless you like to chance a 4000 dollar engine over a few hundred dollars.. youre already half way done ify ou have it apart.

**sCeRaXn** · 08-20-2008 04:07 PM

Its almost impossible to tell by looking at it, even if you see it in person. If you have it all apart you might as well do it anyway, like JDM EJ1 said, theres no reason to risk a perfectly good motor over a little belt.

**Overboostin** · 08-20-2008 04:25 PM

Sounds good! I'll order the kit tomorrow.

**MacDaddy** · 08-20-2008 04:30 PM

judging by the frayed edges, i'd say change it.

**jblinga** · 08-20-2008 05:32 PM

Thread jack haha

On a scale of 1-10(10 being the hardest) how would you guys rate the difficulty of the TB change? I love wrenching on cars and I'm a gearhead by nature. I'd like to save money on this and the WP/tensioners but I just don't want to jack up the timing on my car. TIA
And I've done a lot of searching before you guys drop the "use the search function ya freakin nub!!"

**andru1313** · 08-20-2008 05:52 PM

Changing the actual belt isn't the hard part. It is getting to it. That takes hours I am about to embark on doing mine.

**1997gtx** · 08-20-2008 08:40 PM

There is no question that needs to be changed.
--Adam

**Klum00** · 08-20-2008 08:44 PM

yeah you already have the front end off, why not change it?

it's really not that tough of a job, just lots of little steps. anyone with average mechanical skills should be able to get it done.

**The_Jerbel** · 08-20-2008 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by andru1313

Changing the actual belt isn't the hard part. It is getting to it. That takes hours I am about to embark on doing mine.

Takes me about an hour to get the front end off, and 2 more to get the belt changed. Then another hour or two to re-assemble the car. I would say that the TB is 7.5 out of 10 on the PITA scale when it comes to DIY's.