When were cars made to have timing belts replaced?

I usually keep my cars for more that 150,000 miles (except a 1994 Buick Skylark). I have never replaced a timing belt. I now have a 2002 Mitsubishi Galant, with 120,000 miles. I mentioned to a friend I am traveling 643 miles one way, and he knows about the mileage on my car. He then told me I need to have the timing belt changed on my car before my trip.|||There is no set time for a timing chain to go out. However you mentioned a belt. Older Toyota%26#039;s had timing belts and they recommended changing it every 60,000 miles. Your Buick has a timing chain. Call the dealer and ask them about the timing belt/chain on the Mitsubishi. Harley motorcycles went from a chain to a kevlar belt years ago, I owned a softail 12 years and never had a problem with the belt. From the sounds of it you take care of your vehicles and maintain them correctly and don%26#039;t abuse them when you do drive them and items will last longer when a vehicle is maintained properly. Sorry I%26#039;m not that familiar with imported vehicles. I thought Toyota was the only one that used a timing belt.|||when ur car reaches 100,000 miles you usally change the timing belt and water pump.|||the General rule for timing belts is every 60000 miles, some may last longer but seeing that if the timing belt were to break you risk serious engine damage its one of those things you would like to stay on schedule with.|||it is a pain to change timing belt you should get a Chilton%26#039;s manual and have on hand for this job. you can get a Chilton%26#039;s manual at auto zone or maybe can rent on from library i know my library has then (thank god) They say your timing belt should be changed any were from 60k-100k but normal cars last allot longer that is just the safe route|||Timing belts were first used in Asian made cars specifically Japanese as far back as 1985. I don%26#039;t know of US made cars using timing belts. They use timing chain instead. Your 1994 Buick I believe has the timing chain. 2002 Mitsubishi has timing belt just like my 2000 Acura 3.2TL. The Owners Manual states that the timing belt should be changed every 100K miles. I think this stinks. It costs around 7-800 dollars for the replacement cause they also replace the water pump and all the other serpentine belts while they are it. I knew a friend who had a Nissan 200SX which ran OK for 250K miles without the belt being replaced. You may get away with not replacing it at all for the life of the car BUT on the other hand it may break on you and your engine is history.|||When the Asians realized people (USA)generally were stupid enough not to research this little item. They can now sell you a new car or charge $1200 for repair or install a new engine, when your engine blows up.|||google will probably know. better safe than sorry. even if you do get away with it, you;ll need to do the belt soon enough anyway,|||Most timing belt manufactures recommend you replace the belt every 60,000 miles. These were figures I learned about 10 years ago though when I worked in an auto parts store. The best resource would be to check with an auto parts store. They have books that will tell them when they should be replaced, or if they don%26#039;t, they can get a hold of the manufacture and ask.





In many situations it is dangerous to let the timing belt go. If it brakes while your engine is running at mid to high RPMs, and it is what they call an %26quot;interference application%26quot;, you run the risk of having a valve getting stuck wide open while the pistons are still moving. If this happens the piston will come up and hit the valve doing grave damage to your engine. On cars equipped with manual transmissions this can happen at any speed because the engine doesn%26#039;t stop turning like it does with an automatic at slow speeds.|||Its a good idea to have it changed, since you really dont get a warning when one is going to go out. It just happens.


If you get above 100,000 miles you are living on borrowed time.


Chances are your car would be fine and make it-but then again you never know.


Ive had several cars that were well over 100,000 miles with the original timing belt. Ive ony had to have it replaced on one car i have owned, and it has like 110,000 miles.


Another problem is on many cars, the engine is a %26quot;Interference Engine%26quot; meaning that if the timing belt breaks, the valves might slam into something and do internal engine damage. Thus its best to replace the belt before it breaks.


If youve got the extra cash right now i%26#039;d say go ahead and do it. Hopefully you can do it yourself or know someone else who can do it for you, as a garage will slam you.