I know this cause I learned after spending the $$ on new rebuild kit. Not exactly easy as popping timing view port and looking, but good to know if your bought a used car like I did and dont know if it was done. My mechanic pulled off off cover to start repair and sure enough it had a Goodyear Gatorback Belt on it but paid mechanic so might as well throw on new belts pump etc. So if you really need to know, pull off what you need to so you can see if the belt has been replaced. This of course is just my 2 cents.

 

Who said there WASNT a way to check timing belt?


The problem is guessing how long has been there.. Its even worse if it has OEM since you can probably think is still the 1st timing belt.


Better safe than sorry, Buy Used car? Don't have the Maintenance Records? = CHANGE TIMING BELT..
^ Even more if you have a Gatorback Belt, those things suck... For timing belt its OEM or OEM Supplier, Nothing else.

 

While Im venting a little, the money spent on timing belt was supposed to be for my spings and struts.

 

^It was good! Better save that engine or you could had springs and struts on a dead weight...

 

You can peek at the upper cover peep hole, covered by a rubber cap, but really it won't tell you anything. You just have to decide when it is old enough to replace.