richard52

I was just wondering if there's anyone here who has blown a timing belt. If so what was the mileage and age of the car. I'm at 80000 on a 00 TL and am considering changing before the factory reccomendation of 101000 miles.

scottiew

Blown timing belt == Game Over?

fsttyms1

185,500 on my original

lostchild83

Blown timing belt = blown engine.

massr1

happened on our mazda mpv at around 115,000km's luckily the car was going at a slow speed. ive heard of people on the highway blowing their timing belts and pistons shooting right through the heads

whatwasthat

wow, i didn't realize the great effect of the timing belt..


what does it actually do?

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Connects the crankshaft to the cam gears in order to time the valve timing and the stroke of the engine. If a timing belt fails, then the valves won't open and close, and it's kaboom.

Similar to a timing belt failure, my friend's cam gear slipped and sent the exhaust timing way too advanced while on the dyno.

This is what a timing failure (whether it's a belt or gear failure) can do to the engine -- my friend's heavily modded B18C5.. or what's left of it.

ou sig

damn

JimmyTLS

OUCH!!! I know that one hurt the pockets...

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Oh, I wish I had a picture of my friend's D15. All four cylinders were at the same level.

hardrock32tls

NOTE to Self: DO NOT put off getting the timing belt replaced and replace it before the manufacturer suggested time.

Pure, great pictures, really "drives" home the point of what the timing belt is all about and what not changing it will do to our cars.

Liftedoff420

how do you check if your timing belt maybe needs to get replaced really soon

Russdaddy

Jesus, those pics can hurt your emotions.........

scottiew

*I think* the only way to know is to inspect it. If you are going to inspect it, you might as well replace it as the actual belt isn't expensive. It's the labor that empties your pockets.

fsttyms1

you really cant. if your going to go thru the trouble of inspecting it, it might as well be replaced.

just remember guys this isnt a weak part and its not like as soon as you hit 100k the thing will break. ive seen new ones break and ive seen originals with over 400k on them. its a recomended replacement at the specified time but not life or death

patrick

True on both counts. The question we have to ask ourself is how lucky do we feel if we push it? Kris, 185,500 miles is really pushing it (IMHO). I guess you're feeling very lucky yes?

JimmyTLS

Ehh I say that the condition of the other visible belts are a good estimate on the wear of the timing belt. Both pieces are rubber and are used the same amount so if it looks like ur drive belts are wearing, usually your timing belt is too.

poohlikeshunny

How much does it cost to replce the belt at the dealer? And how much does it cost to get it done somewhere else? There's a a garage that won't charge for parts if you bring your own, but the timing belt is not too expensive anyway...like 25 bucks...so...opinions? Thanx!

By the way, JimmyTLS, I see you're from South philly. You don't happen to be one of the crew that hangs out by the Pho HA on 5th and Washington in the Asian shopping center are you? If so, maybe we'll have to have a little philly meet!

ou sig

it costs a shit ton to get replaced - Ive got quotes from $700 - $1100!!!!

fsttyms1

not pushing it nor do i feel lucky. just past experiances tell me im safe

its kinda like that change your oil every 3000 mile crap. i dont buy into that either

scottiew

So do you ever intend on replacing it or do you plan on just letting the motor blow?

richard52

i've had quotes of between 700 and 900 but that includes changing all the drive belts and the water pump. i don't see that many people who have blown thier belts here so maybe acura is right in thier recomendation to change at 102000. seems there's more blown transmissions than timing belts on this board.

fsttyms1

ill change it eventually, im just not paranoid about it nor am i worried about it

optomos

Its not realy a matter of how many miles are on the belt as how many years. If the belt had 100k miles on it & only 1 year old doesnt mean you should replace it. Rubber gets hard & brittle by being in contact with UV rays and air/pollution more then by use.

fsttyms1

exactly! thats what ive said in the past. it goes off a average use. the average driver (per whoever takes these studies) puts on between 10 and 12k a year and at those miles it would be between 8-10 years old at which age is old for rubber

bkzjimmy

i dont know who timing belt is and i didnt blow him!

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

dirty.... i like it

fsttyms1

you would

03CoupeV6

Why is that breaking a timing belt destroys the engine in some cars, but not in others?

fsttyms1

some are designed so that when teh belt breaks teh valvs arent left in a position to colide with the piston

If the timing belt breaks on a non-interference design, there is enough clearance between the pistons and valves to prevent damaging contact. An interference design does not have sufficient clearance between those parts and engine damage would result from a broken timing belt.

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

The engine in the pictures I posted, the valves were broken and the sodium came out of the stems, melting the pistons.

Which leads me to a question for you, Kris. Are the valve stems in our cars sodium-filled, like the B18?

fsttyms1

??? ive searched but couldnt find any thing. im not sure if they are due to less stress and rpm, but it wouldnt at all surprise me at all if they were

Liftedoff420

this isnt dealer necessary rigth? it seems these 700-900 dollar quotes are coming from a dealership...im sure a local shop would be much cheaper

Pure Adrenaline

iTrader: (2)

Definitely. A timing belt change is a timing belt change. You could save some bucks by taking it to an independent shop.

03CoupeV6

Ugh I'll never keep a car long enough to deal with that stuff. I trade secondary cars at around 95-100k and primary cars around 30k.

fsttyms1

but you should also get your waterpump replaced at teh same time

Street Spirit

Anywhere labour is cheaper --- the belt change will obviously be cheaper. The belt itself is such a minute amount of the total cost....it's the labour that'll put you back. Independent garages tend to have lower hourly rates, so that'll definitely help in the overall cost.