Has anyone had to change their timing belt at less than 50K miles?

Question

I had to change my timing belt at 47K and then my thermostat housing at 54K plus my belt tensioner.

Answer 1

its slightly uncommon but it happens

Answer 2

I would be fuming.  But that's General Motors.  Is it any wonder that their stock is now junk status?

Your car should be covered under it's warranty.  Unless  you have one of those Chrysler like 3 year 30k miles.  If you didn't buy an extended warranty, you are gambling.  I bought a 2007 Honda Fit, out since 2002 as the Jazz, and still got the Ext W.  I have already put over 40K miles on my car and expect it to last well past 200K miles, just like my other Honda and Subaru.

Don't feel too bad, even Merceds Benz's quality is down too.  You would think with all this "6 sigma" and "Kaisan" BS that manufacturers would get something done correctly.

Answer 3

Nope.  I usually buy my cars at 100,000 or so and run them into the ground, and never replaced a timing belt.  But my

GEO is about 190,000 and I sometimes wonder about it.  It matters more if you have an interference engine, where a piston could strike a valve left open when the cam drive fails.  I had a '74 Capri and the cam drive gears failed (they had nylon teeth on an aluminum hub and the toothed rings flew off) but the engine was okay.  Other engines might not survive this though, so it pays to know which kind of engine you have.  There's a big difference between coasting to the shoulder and having your engine destroyed.  If you have an interference engine, keep after that belt.  If you do it yourself, look into quality aftermarket belts made for 100,000 miles plus.  There's no excuse for having to change a belt at 50,000.  I always check reliability guides online before buying a car because they can clue you in to things like this, especially if it's a used car because they know the model's history.  If money is an issue, a brand new model has the deck stacked against it.  Not a good bet at all.  Ever.

Answer 4

It's rediculous to have to do this at 50,000. My 1993 GMC truck that I bought at 109,000 miles still hasen't had it changed at 320,000 miles.

Answer 5

i chaned mine @ 390K miles on my 02 hummer

Answer 6

T997 Toyota Canry manual says change timing belt at 65K -- not sure about the newer models

Answer 7

As per GM maintenance schedule on your car, they require it to be changed every 60,000 miles.