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Timing Belt Question

S

Sniper82

Lifer
I have a 96 Geo Prizm with 136000 on it. I got it at 135000 so I haven't put but close to 1000 miles on it. I've done some of the normal maintenance but am thinking about changing the timing belt. I pulled the cover back on the timing belt to get a look at it. From what I could see it looks like its in good condition(no cracks or teeth missing). Thats from what I could see since I couldn't see the whole belt.

Curious do these belts show alot of wear when they need changed or should one just change them every 60/80 thousand?

I got the car from a Dealer so I have no clue if its ever been changed.
 
IIRC that's a 60,000 mile belt. So it should have been replaced at 120,000 miles.

A timing belt will not "look bad", and you'd know if it were missing teeth because the car, if you were lucky, would run rough. If you weren't lucky, it wouldn't run at all and you'd have destroyed your valves.

Check on the interval and see, the owner's manual should list it definitively, but chances are that if the car was maintained properly it was changed recently before you bought it.

ZV
 
Well I know its not likely but is there any real differences between a old belt and a new? I do know the backside of the belt is like a flat black color.
 
My belt looked brand spanking new on my jetta with 110k....but I did the timing belt 'kit' just for maint. sake.

Low and behold there is a plastic water pump and a few other things were 'off'. So I was glad to replace it...I would browse around and see what other stuff you can replace as you do the timing belt. Make sure , if you do it yourself, that you mark the cams and timing belt...or your car will be f'ed up haha.

edit : the difference between an old belt ( with 70k on it) and a new belt is the tension its pulling and the chance of it snapping. I think that's it.
 
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
edit : the difference between an old belt ( with 70k on it) and a new belt is the tension its pulling and the chance of it snapping. I think that's it.
Click to expand...

Tension should remain about the same for the life of the belt. Most stretch occurs in the first 1,000 miles or so and most modern engines have a device to maintain constant overall tension. On cars that don't have a tensioner, like my 944, you have to re-tension the belt manually at fixed intervals. In the case of the 944 it's after the first 1,000 miles on a new belt and then every 15,000 miles.

Since a cam belt is toothed and not a simple V-belt or grooved serpentine, it won't show age from slippage like those belts will. There usually isn't much difference, visually, between an older belt and a new belt. Only difference is the tensile strength and the integrity of the rubber teeth.

ZV
 
I think I will just have it done. The water pump and stuff are not timing belt driven and are on the outside which I could change myself. I am gonna have a mechanic which done quoted me $190 for the job with the belt included. I just don't have the tools and experience to even want to fool with a timing belt.
 
wow 200$ ? The dealership wanted about 1200 $ for my jetta 😀.

I got it done for 200$ though too, from buddy that works at the dealership as a side job. I assume you dont have to remove the engine mounts or anything like that ?
 
Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
wow 200$ ? The dealership wanted about 1200 $ for my jetta 😀.

I got it done for 200$ though too, from buddy that works at the dealership as a side job. I assume you dont have to remove the engine mounts or anything like that ?
Click to expand...

From what I heard you have to remove one side of the engine mount but the timing belt is right there under a cover. The same mechanic quoted me $400 for a Grand Am which also requires one side of the motor mount undone.

Of course the stealership is gonna cost you a 2-3x more then a mom and pop shop. I've seen info on how to change it and it doesn't look hard but since I've never tackled a timing belt I'd rather leave that to someone who does it for a living. Had I been quoted $400+ I would tackle it myself or leave it be. The Grand Am has a timing chain so I ain't gonna bother with it for a while(if ever) unless the water pump goes.
 
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