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timing belt replacement
Is it a coincidence or have dealers found a new way to rake in some repair/maintenance money? Within a two-week period my '93 lexus sc300 and my '97 Infinity QX4 had recommendations for me to replace my timing belt in order to avoid a future disaster. I've experience no problems and they have offered no test results to indicate any particular problem--both are very low mileage vehicles.
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in generic observation, while not all engines with timing belts have interference engines (meaning high-efficiencies that can only be met with parts that will collide inside the cylinders if the belt breaks or jumps a cog, typically ruining the head, the engine, or both), AFAIK /no/ interference engines use timing chains.
without specific information telling you your engine is or is not an interference engine (gates rubber has a good catalog at or near
http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm
if timing belt for your car has an asterisk, it is an interference engine,) assume the worst.
that's just what the dealer letters were.
read your automaker's owner's manual, follow the guidelines in there on when to have the belt replaced unless you have evidence of oil or other issues, or somebody gives a recall notice or a TSB and meets you at least partway on the price of the replacement.
and don't forget to have the turn signal lights rotated.
Dealers will tell you all kinds of stuff to get money out of you - even selling you maintenance that is not in the maintanance schedule for the vehicle, and not needed. It can be very irritating, and can make you poor quickly if you go for it!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE
Every 3,750 Miles:
Oil and Oil Filter Change
Every 30,000 Miles:
Radiator Coolant Flush/Change
Air Filter Change
BG MOA Oil Additive
BG 44K Fuel Induction Additive
Every 60,000 Miles:
Transmission Fluid Flush/Change
Spark Plugs Change/Tune-Up
Brake Fluid Flush/Change
Power Steering Fluid Flush/Change
Battery Check/Change
Every 90,000 Miles:
Timing Belt Change
Every 1 Year:
Exterior Wax/Detail
Interior Leather/Wood Cleaning and Conditioning/Detail and Carpet Shampoo
Wiper Blade Inserts Change
Co-worker just had that happen...$3500 in repairs, versus about half as much if he done 3 timing belt changes in 180,000 miles.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I'd bump the brake fluid change to 30K, not 60K
I'd change out the air filter more frequently
I'd change all the belts and hoses (after inspection of course) as needed.
I'd swap out the water pump along with the timing belt if it's right there staring at you during the timing belt change.
2. When would you do air filter? 15K?
3. Belts and hoses - I am assuming my mechanic checks these as needed.
4. I got the timing belt done at Lexus and forgot to ask them to do the water pump. I never did ask them if they did it but I assume they inspected it and it was OK. ???
(I do about 20,000 miles per year so a few of my items may be different for me than for someone who does less - since my mileage points will come almost twice as fast)
As for the water pump, you can check it for excessive play but on many cars it is so easy to replace after the timing belt shrouds, belts, hoses, etc. have been removed. You'll feel bad if it goes next year and you have to rip everything out again and pay double labor. Doing the pump with the belt, on many cars (not all) might only add .5 or 1.0 hours labor.
I'm afraid of choosing the wrong shocks. I would like the original ride quality back. And should I replace everything (springs, bearings, mounts)?
I was looking at previous posts, and noticed a service bulletin for the rear shocks only on 97s. It says that the rear bottoms out over bumps. Anyone know about this? Will they replace it for free?