Timing Belt Calculations -- To Stave Off Disaster On The 1995 Trooper LS

[BonzaiDuck]

I'm now at 208,000 odometer miles on my beloved Trooper LS. EV-eRY-Body here is likely to know about my Trooper.

I had some more work done on it this year, and I'm really pleased with it.

Even so, I've been plotting and planning when to replace the Timing Belt. Here's the "history".

From my best investigative results, while the shop manual advises replacing the timing belt every 60,000 miles, there is no record (CARFAX or otherwise) of any TB replacement up to the time the belt broke under my ownership after 158,000 miles. The first owner sold the vehicle when the odometer only showed 35,000 miles, and -- while other service records are listed -- it appears the second owner never replaced the belt, selling the vehicle to me at 95,000.

So the original timing belt lasted 158,000 miles and 15 years. My replacement belt has gone 16 years and 50,000 miles. That is, in miles -- the belt has at least another 10,000 miles of remaining life according to the shop manual. However, other sources tell me that the 1995 Trooper's timing belt should be replaced after 75,000 miles.

Other indications suggest a "whatever comes first" rule, or either 75,000 miles or 10 years. The age of the belt as a factor becomes more relevant for rough driving, high operating temperature environment, off-roading and so forth. Even for living in So-Cal, the vehicle doesn't get much of a workout at temperatures over 90F. The engine is kept in clean oil perpetually with changes every 2,000 to 3,000 with full-synthetic, and the radiator and cooling system are regularly checked, observed and serviced.

I want to avoid the timing belt and water-pump replacement for at least another year, translating into an estimated 8,000 miles of driving, but that's still within the shop-manual's estimated replacement interval. AND! AND! The vehicle likely ran just short of 160,000 miles on the original timing belt!

I think it's reasonable to wait at least until the end of 2026. If this seems like a neurotic obsession, it derives from my love of the vehicle and my high expectations for extended future service from it. Anyone else want to dispute or confirm my sense of things concerning my timing belt?

 

[Fenixgoon]

if you're within the expected lifetime even with the additional 8,000 miles, and the original belt (admittedly probably not the same supplier now as in 95) lasted 150k, why worry?

 

[BonzaiDuck]

if you're within the expected lifetime even with the additional 8,000 miles, and the original belt (admittedly probably not the same supplier now as in 95) lasted 150k, why worry?

I think you're right. I'm just trying to bolster self-confidence about it, but the only other factor is the age of the belt in years against environmental and stressful usage factors, and so I can expect it to last as long as I care to put off replacement -- within reason.

As I said, there is absolutely no indication that it had been replaced before I bought the vehicle. So -- yeah- 150,000 miles? I think I can wait a couple years. As for difference in the manufacture of two timing belts, I could doubt it would make a real difference until usage progresses somewhat more in the direction that 150,000 disaster milestone.

There are supposed to by "symptoms" of some sort that would suggest a need to replace a timing belt, but I haven't experienced any. That GMC 3.2 SOHC engine, the waterpump -- everything -- suggests that all is in good order.

I don't MIND spending approximately so much annually to keep it running tip-top, but I need to have a lull in the outlays. I'll probably need to replace the tires in another year.

My old friend and semi-literate car-mechanic "Tommy" used to talk about "a free ride". But really -- there's no such thing as a free ride, just as there's no such thing as a free lunch, even when you hit up on all the sample counters at COSTCO.

 

[lxskllr]

All things being equal, and starting from new, I estimate you can safely add 50% to to the replacement time, then round to 100k cause why the fuck not? For your specific case, I don't think waiting's unreasonable. There's no guarantees in life, so it could break tomorrow, but I don't think it will, and if I wanted to wait a year, I would.

 

[Pontius Dilate]

I don't have a Trooper but grew up with a friend whose dad had a Gen 1, so I have fond memories. From internet searching it looks like consensus is the Isuzu built 3.2 V-6 is a non-interference engine, so even if the timing belt breaks the engine will just stop running, it should smash pistons into valves. Obviously not desirable to have your engine quit while driving, but not dangerous to the engine. Given that and the mileage on the belt I'd say you're good to wait another year.

One example link about the engine: https://www.planetisuzoo.com/threads/1999-isuzu-trooper-interference-or-non-interfence-engine.54058/

 

[Greenman]

All things being equal, and starting from new, I estimate you can safely add 50% to to the replacement time, then round to 100k cause why the fuck not? For your specific case, I don't think waiting's unreasonable. There's no guarantees in life, so it could break tomorrow, but I don't think it will, and if I wanted to wait a year, I would.

The part in bold applies to a brand new belt as we. Sometimes parts are defective and fail quickly, sometimes they last far beyond their stated life expectancy.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

The part in bold applies to a brand new belt as we. Sometimes parts are defective and fail quickly, sometimes they last far beyond their stated life expectancy.

If I've been posting in the RAV4 thread about shopping for a lo-mi pre-own, I can take my freaking time. I've also got this 95 Nissan Pickup SE "King Cab" that just "needs to be driven". I just prefer the Trooper about 10 times over, but there isn't a damn thing wrong with the Nissan. If I get a RAV4, it's going to replace the truck.

I'm starting to feel comfortable now about driving two 1995 guzzlers through 2026 . . . Because -- that's all it is: the gas. Today, COSTCO was selling 91 octane for $3.99.

That timing belt won't break for another year or even more . . . Since it's a non-interference engine as Pontius Dilate observes, the worst that would happen is a damaged water pump -- maybe the radiator but likely not. I'll just save some ducats and have them do the timing belt and related when I want to spend the money.

The Gen 1 Trooper had a good rep, and I had one until a college girl distracted on her cellphone talking to the vet about her bleeping cat totaled it. I could've killed her! Either with the Trooper or because of the Trooper! I think that generation reminded of the old IH Scout. The worst of it: it was a freaking 5-speed manual like the Nissan truck . . . there was a time when I thought that a stick shift was "cool". My left hip keeps reminding me that it isn't.

 

[Greenman]

You could save a few cents on fuel by buying 87 octane. The 91 stuff does absolutely nothing for you.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

You could save a few cents on fuel by buying 87 octane. The 91 stuff does absolutely nothing for you.

YES -- whether with you or with others here, we have discussed this. I have no argument to offer in the contrary. But I have nothing to worry about with the timing belt -- perhaps for longer than my cautious imagination could suggest.
Meanwhile, my cousin and housemate is having trouble with her 2004 Acura MDX, for which she'd purchased a reman engine last January. She seems desperate to buy my old 95 Nissan pickup, and I can let it go if she wants it. I won't ask a lot, and she knows it's been restored and maintained. That sort of puts me on a faster track to buy a newer vehicle.

But it all depends on the actual status of her MDX, despite what seems to be a solid resolve on her part to buy my old truck. I will get a refund from my insurer, and the money I'd put into the truck over the last three years.

VE-HICK-ELS! Over anyone's lifetime, it has to be one of the biggest continuing worries in a person's life besides that of getting laid.

But, whatever the mechanical difficulties, why would someone give up an Acura MDX so they could drive around in an old pickup truck? There will be a "household meeting" tonight, to help me wrap my brain around this. Of course, my cousin is a woman, and I was just discussing the phenomena surrounding "women and vehicles" at my morning meetup with friends.

 

[NutBucket]

When you're ready to sell the truck, let me know. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a mini truck.
Like you, definitely not in a rush.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

When you're ready to sell the truck, let me know. I've been kicking around the idea of getting a mini truck.
Like you, definitely not in a rush.

Well -- I'm sorry -- We started the household meeting last night and resumed it this morning.

My departed Moms had paid $4,000 to buy the truck for my departed Bro (both alive then ) in 2009. It was of course a "mechanic's special". Over the last three years, I had repairs done to the electric driver-side window and the instrument cluster, adding a new battery I purchased just a week ago. If people had advised me "don't ask less than $3,000 for this old truck", the family in general has had it for 16 years, my cousin is "family", and for $1,100 I will retrieve the three-years'-worth of outlays, terminate the annual insurance and registration expense, and still have the truck available when I need to haul shit to the dump and recyclers. Cousin will put me on the insurance policy as an additional driver for coverage.

That's better than giving it to "Cars for Kids" or otherwise going through hoops to get rid of it. She still plans to keep the Acura, parking one of the vehicles at her daughter's house across town. And she insists, as did I, that the truck is a "backup vehicle". She just wants two vehicles. And I'm planning to acquire a pre-owned RAV4 hybrid soon.

Getting rid of the truck in this way merely makes the new car acquisition less troublesome. I feel good about this. And with the $1,100 in cash, I can complete the planned work on my old Trooper this year with less financial burden or misgivings. Everybody makes out in a shake.

 

[NutBucket]

All good. I admit I didn't finish reading the entire thread