Arrrrggg!!!! Timing belt > 48 months..

[Trimble Epic]

@#$%^

It just occurred to me... I've been paying attention to the mileage on my timing belt. I have 25k miles to go on this belt.

There's a sticker in the engine bay from the previous owner, they had the timing belt service done around 178k miles... so I'm good on miles... but what I hadn't been paying attention to is the AGE of the belt. the service was done in 2010. In April. F(##$%^!!!!!

I got the car in Feb 2013, so it's been sitting quietly for some time now... I work from home so it gets very few miles as a DD. But now, I'm worried.

What is my risk? How often to timing belts fail due to age vs. milage? I'm frazzled that this snuck up on me.. .

The car is currently in the garage undergoing an injector change, and it's taken me over 2 months to do it because I never get any time in the @#$% garage. I'm a father with 4 kids, two of which are babies and my wife is in nursing school (translation: I don't have a wife, I have a thing that comes home at 11pm and slithers into bed, and is gone by 6am.). If I start a timing belt change, it could take even more months to complete...

If I go ahead and order parts, is it young enough, mileage wise, to order the kit without the idler pulleys? I'm thinking that's probably a safe bet.

I'm really curious how "in the red" I am now. I can't believe this snuck up on me... ARGG!!!!

[NolimitZ32]

How in the red depends on too many factors and without inspecting the belt personally I couldnt even begin to tell you because different environmental conditions, storage, use, and initial quality are all factors that will affect condition. One thing I do have to say though is that you should always replace the idlers. If time is an issue the idlers shouldnt be a big deal as replacing those will add 15 min to your T-belt job.

[DCaff300ZX]

How in the red depends on too many factors and without inspecting the belt personally I couldnt even begin to tell you because different environmental conditions, storage, use, and initial quality are all factors that will affect condition. One thing I do have to say though is that you should always replace the idlers. If time is an issue the idlers shouldnt be a big deal as replacing those will add 15 min to your T-belt job.

Agreed on both, and get the Ramey Z idler studs as well- the extra 10-15 bucks and 15-20 minutes for the job are MORE than worth it.

[NolimitZ32]

^ Forgot about the idler stud, I'm running one as well. cheap peace of mind right there.

[Trimble Epic]

I'm going to thank Z1 Motorsports, as I was able to pick up a 120k kit for $100 off this weekend. I have enough vacation time coming up in December that I'll be able to do the belt myself.

I'll just have to be nervous for the next few weeks, I guess... I know I'm on borrowed time