Belt changes: miles, years or appearance?

[Elkins45]

What prompts you to change the drive belts on your car? When it reaches a certain age, a certain number of miles, or when it starts showing visible signs of cracking or other wear? I was looking at the manual for my 2016 Mazda today it it just says “inspect” every few OCIs. So I guess it just lasts forever LOL…

 

[ctechbob]

My Honda/Acura's get changed with the timing belt (100k).

Not sure what I'm going to do on the Ranger. Probably won't be before 100k unless it starts showing cracks or noises.

 

[2010Civic]

When they look old/dry.

 

[MHartfield]

Every 100,000, or, if my mechanic is working "in the area" and it doesn't look relatively new......

 

[atikovi]

Before I sell the car.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Looks or 100k

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

What prompts you to change the drive belts on your car? When it reaches a certain age, a certain number of miles, or when it starts showing visible signs of cracking or other wear? I was looking at the manual for my 2016 Mazda today it it just says “inspect” every few OCIs. So I guess it just lasts forever LOL…

When it snaps or otherwise departs the pulleys

 

[slacktide_bitog]

If it looks old and cracked, or when replacing something driven by the belt

 

[cptbarkey]

12 years then its probably ready for retirement. Maybe it would last longer but its a guaranteed and avoidable failure.

 

[Dave9]

Replace it any time you have a good reason to. If I found a good sale price, and/or was shopping on Rock Auto, buying other things from same warehouse to cut down shipping cost, and it was over a decade old, then I'd get a new belt and replace it the next time i was under the hood doing more than fluid checks and a general inspection. It also depends on cost of belt and effort to replace it. Some take less than 10 minutes and $30.

I've never had a belt that really needed replaced at only a dozen years old, but I don't put that many miles on any one vehicle to rack the miles up by that age.

 

[bunnspecial]

I did the one on the MKZ a few years ago at about 95K. I was changing the alternator(that was a fun job) and figured if I was pulling the belt, I might as well put a new one back on. I got a quick education in "stretch to fit" belts then, as it has one driving the water pump?-I bought that one as well but opted not to change it at the time. Belt access on the whole is easy enough from the wheel well.

On my previous Lincoln, the '04 LS, I changed it at around 100K as well because it was squealing badly.

The MG got a new V belt maybe 5 years ago. The old one is in the trunk, along with an even older one. There was no particular reason I changed it other than the engine was out and I didn't know how old the old one was.

 

[edyvw]

Whatever interval, minus 10,000 miles.

 

[UncleDave]

When they start cracking or develop " bumps" you can feel by letting a finger ride very lightly on it.

Environment has a lot to do with how long they last. In Arizona throw the suggested interval out the window.

 

[CBR.worm]

It's interesting to me to see all of these 100K intervals. It never would have occurred to me to let them go that long. Of course, I still think of timing belts as 60K intervals, and I still think of some cars from 1989 as 'modern' cars.

 

[D60]

Serp belts are tough, at least the bigger ones on V8s. 100k seems fine, and even then they don't always look bad.

I think serps are one of the greatest "modern" things to happen to vehicles, in the same ballpark as EFI and DIS

 

[burbguy82]

When it snaps or otherwise departs the pulleys

I agree, with exception to if it is "old" and you are taking it of anyway. Yes, it is an important part of the system, but have seen some pretty ugly belts that work just fine. I assume you mean "depart the pulleys" meaning taking it off for a water pump change or like service? Or jsut plain snap?

 

[Urshurak776]

I used to do them every 60K. For some reason, the OEM belt on the KIA started making some noise during winter at around 36,000 miles. I replaced it with a Continental belt (new goodyear gatorback belt.) Should probably replace that as car is at 150K........

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

I agree, with exception to if it is "old" and you are taking it of anyway. Yes, it is an important part of the system, but have seen some pretty ugly belts that work just fine. I assume you mean "depart the pulleys" meaning taking it off for a water pump change or like service? Or jsut plain snap?

Anything… if it throws the belt, if you have it off for something else (several belts are “stretch”) and I don’t trust those if installed and removed several times, if it shreds. Etc. otherwise, let it ride til it slips!

 

[vavavroom]

What prompts you to change the drive belts on your car? When it reaches a certain age, a certain number of miles, or when it starts showing visible signs of cracking or other wear? I was looking at the manual for my 2016 Mazda today it it just says “inspect” every few OCIs. So I guess it just lasts forever LOL…

What belt? Timing belt or drive belt? My daily-wear leather belt is 30 years old!


Timing belt:

Appearance: replace as soon as there is more than superficial wear noticeable or if the belt has hardened

Age and milage: Replace every 5-7 years or every 120k miles whichever occurs first, even if the belt appears in good condition


Drive belt:

I go by appearance but after 150k miles it's time anyway or my level of relaxation is compromised.

 

[Egg_Head]

What prompts you to change the drive belts on your car? When it reaches a certain age, a certain number of miles, or when it starts showing visible signs of cracking or other wear?

yes, that is what "inspect" means.