I was wondering if anyone had advise on when to replace the timing belt on a 2003 S type tl? The owners manual says 100 000 KM. Is this true?

 

Thats what they recomend for due to the colder climate.

 

Does it need to be replaced or just inspected?

 

I think getting to the timing belt is where most of the labor is. So theres not much point in having someone inspect it without changing it in the process.

 

Thanks for your feedback folks

 

Agreed. While you can remove teh top inspection cover and look at it, you really cant see much of the belt. If you take teh time to pull all the cover to look at it off, you might as well replace the whole thing. 100km seems like awfully low miles to me regaurdless of climate

 

How about U.S TL's ? when should the belt be replaced ?

 

Its in the manual, but for normal driving it states something like 100k

 

I changed my Timing Belt and Water Pump at around 125,000 Km a few years back. I'm hovering at around 240,000 Km right now (150 Miles) and need to replace the set soon.

Currently, I have the Timing Belt but the Water Pump I still haven't bought yet. Are there any other items or arrangements that need to be replaced during the Water Pump/Timing Belt replacement? i.e. gaskets or bolts

I also need to replace EGR Valve, clean the Intake Manifold and replace the gasket that sits underneath the Manifold and insert the EGR Pipe into where black carbon like sludge always gets clogged. Got any recommendations on what other parts I could replace/modify/upgrade to get the car to run smoother and faster?

I can't wait until the verdict on the Transmission Problem recall set down to a decision to happen on the 6th of December. This is whether or not I can get my car a new and free Transmission. I need one too... I think it's acting up ~!

 

What about the timing belt tentioner and pully? I'm just going off the timing belt kits that I see on Ebay.

fsttyms1 is the man to ask.

 

I would replace the tensioner.(simple piece of mind)

 

If you pull of the side cover you can see a little of the belt correct? if its still in good condition no reason to pay crazy $$ for it now, i got CL-S 6MT WITH 107K ..

 

You can pull the upper cover off and inspect a small amount of it. To inspect it right you would beed to pull the whole cover off, and if you have done that you might as well replace the belt as thats 95% of replacing the timing belt.

 

My dealer just quoted me over $1000 to replace this belt and said they recommend 7 years or 105k miles. My TL is 7 years old with 70k miles - I'm thinking the mileage is more important than the age - thoughts on that approach?

 

Just what the manual says... time or milage. The material of the belt has a life and if it expires, it has devastating consequences. If you think that a $1000 is alot, imagine what it would cost to replace the whole engine if the belt breaks and does some damage. I am a home garage mechanic, and I have had friends in the past who thought they'd go a little more on their belt because the cost of labor is so much. When their belt broke and find out that the pistons hit the valves... you get the idea... last words from them was "...why didn't I change it when it was due.

It's all a gamble. If you are real tight on money, buy a repair manual and purchase the parts on your own and replace it yourself. If you can follow directions, it's tough on your first project, but once you build confidence in your work, it will be a piece of cake.

 

1000 is a rip off, i wouldnt pay that. it shouldnt cost you more than 600 for a timing belt change.

 

my 99 just hit 105k and i gotta get it done. just out of curiosity the belt seems like a bitch to get to, what all do they take off to get to it?

 

Find a local import specialst repair shop in the yellow pages phone book
Pay far less labor rate per hour and maybe less on parts cost
Dont skimp- get good stuff and replace the belt tensioner and add NGK Iridium spark plugs too
For upgrades- add a thermoblock intake manifold spacer
www.outlawengineering.com get from maker only- $100
and a UR lightweight crank pulley www.unorthodoxracing.com
see vendors excellerate or MrHeelToe for direct vendor purchase approx $180-200

 

OK I like this post.... and I've read pages and pages, but maybe I lack some kind of comprehension somewhere : ) So lets have fun with some questions : ) I'm just going to get all this shit done for peace of mind since they are dropping my new/rebuilt transmission in tomorrow....

When I get my car back I'm going to (3)can seafoam it... then get my oil changed and Iridium Plugs changes since I have 95k and I'm sure my street will look like a ghost town till I hit the highway... I'm also doing my timing belt/water pump/ drive belts/and of course the tensioner : )

They also recommended

- Top engine flush BUT isn't that what the seafoam is supposed to take care of?
- To drain my steering fluid and add an enhancer and then drain it again? I'll have to read more about that one.

More Fun Questions if you want to let me be lazy and answer.

- is the thermoblock spacer one of those things you might as well get done or is it kind of only for street racing? I do live in Texas and it get hot here, but never had any issues...

ok last but not least... The Pulleys How many do I need? just the crank pully? and which one do I get (and yes I have read for hours on all this shit) The UR site has a few to choose from and I don't want to buy the wrong one or one's.

If you could just tell me what all to buy in list form I'll just buy it and hand it to a good mechanic out here in Dallas (tell me if you know someone )

so far I'm getting

1. UR Crank Pulley ? don't know which one or if I need more pulleys??
2. Tensioner/Timing Belt/Drive Belts (let me know if you know a good dealer for these parts plz) I went to Acurautimotiveparts.com but didn't see just the belst or whatever I need to buy.
3. Iridium IX Plugs
4. thermoblock intake manifold spacer if it's makes my baby healthier : )
5. water pump
6. and anything else you guys think of around the timing belt area

 

The guy for UR is vendor Excellerate in the Off Topic Sponsored Sales Section of this forum
The crank pulley is all you need - standard or undersize depends if you have more than 600 watt stereo
Excellerate will also hook you up with the correct belt for the new pulley and may have the others too. CAll or PM him

Thermoblock will make a big differance when its over 80-90 degrees outside,
in Texas thats anytime its not snowing right?
Cooler fuel means better combustion= better running for street gas mileage or track performance

Add a K&N air filter to your list

I like K&N oil filter with Penzoil Platinum Fully Synthetic Oil
Now with Adaptive Molecules !!!

Use a private shop to save $$$ and with all this and a new trans- like having a new car!

 

Make sure when you Seafoam- drive 5to 10 minutes to warm engine, add seafoam via vac tube, let sit 5-10 minutes- its better when everything stays warm
Do a 15-20 minute hard drive, use vtec often - on and off throttle, 4000 rpm to superheat the stuff the seafoam dissolved and the CEL may come on- dont worry- it will clear itself

Do a drain and refill on PS pump at home

 

Thank You for the reply,

Yeah I have the whole dvd player/ 2 amps and all that going on so I'll do the undersize crank pull...

ok and I'll do the Outlaw Thermoblock Spacer kit as well and yeah It's a nice and warm out here... hot chicks too

I used K&N for a while then tried some cool foam filter that I like... I'm getting the tranny changed as I type so I forgot the name lol... It's nice though and I went Mobil One because I used to drive to an Amsoil Distribution Center and all that and although I was getting it wholesale at dealer price... it was still more expensive than going to Autozone to get a Mobil 1 filter and our favorite Monopoly Walmart and just getting Mobil 1 synth for around $30 but now they raised the price a bit

I'll check into Penzoil Plat, but I generally don't like to switch because of the different additives companies use... I've always read that it's better to stick with one rather than switch around... I dunno because I'm not a scientist in the industry

--The engine flush isn't really needed if I seafoam right? and what enhancer do they use or procedure is the dealer talking about to maintenance my power steering?

PS=power steering pump? I'm crappy when it comes to tech talk

damn its also about time I upgrade my navi disk pfft here we go : )

 

Ooops I mean... I'll get the Stock Diameter Crank Pulley and 2 belts : )

 

Age is more important than mileage.

 

oh and when you say use vtec often... are you talking about the trip tronic clutch thingamajig to keep her at 4k rpm? and then you're saying to drain and refill the Power steering pump at home? lol abbreviations I swear

I wonder what enhancer they use... I'll just ask them tomorrow... He also said my rear engine mount was cracked so I paid to have that replaced and the front one looked old too so guess I'll be doing that when I get my timing belt done in a month or so.