Timing belt replacement based on age?

[Elkins45]

I drove a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander V6 with 34000 original miles today. Sadly Google tells me this engine uses a timing belt instead of a chain. I haven’t paid for a Carfax to see if it’s been done but my guess is that it’s the original from 2007 still in there. The vehicle is in beautiful shape and it's dirt cheap, but it’s over an hour from home and I have visions of the belt snapping and wrecking the valves on the drive home.

Do you preemptively change timing belts based on age? On a related note, how much of a pain is it to change the belt in this engine?

I suppose I could go get it on a trailer and haul it directly to my mechanic LOL.

 

[WobblyElvis]

Why not buy the car fax? Might save you a headache.

 

[supton]

Why not buy the car fax? Might save you a headache.

$45 each time adds up quickly. I totally feel annoyed at lots that don't give free ones.

Belts do age out, but, this should have a lot less heat cycling. I'd read up on the forums and find out if this belt is known for lasting longer than typical. I mean, lots of Hondas trouped well past their 120k mark. Maybe this one is in the same boat--I'd almost be willing to risk it myself.

 

[Passport1]

My 2014 V6 Outlander has the same timing belt configuration. I'm at 84K miles and ten years. Manual says 105K miles for replacement. It is ambiguous about time but does say 84 months if the vehicle is used for 'severe service' what ever that means. Since I bought the car new in June 2015 technically it is still within the ten year warranty period.

I'm agnostic about belts v. chains.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

You Tube is your friend and the belt is cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Comp...f2-a37e-60f1c931b7e1&pd_rd_i=B0D841HZ89&psc=1

 

[Mcbeem5]

Why not buy the car fax? Might save you a headache.

Four years ago I went on ebay and there are sellers on there that you can purchase a Carfax from and the price I paid was 60% off of what the carfax site was.I was wondering if those sellers purchased like a 5 car carfax special deal from the official site or they work for a car dealer and get a discount.The carfax I bought was legit and accurate.

 

[fdcg27]

The Carfax is no more than a collection of data from those third party sources that choose to play.
It is in no way dispositive.
Ask the seller if the belt has been replaced and where this was done.
If it is original than you need to factor that into what you're willing to pay for the car.
I'd plan on replacing it myself, but it is low miles and not that old, so I'd not be too worried about it failing all that quickly.
This should not be a deal-breaker on a car you describe as priced dirt cheap.
Might be other reasons for that, though.

 

[Capt W]

Before fretting about it, determine if the 2007 3.0L is an interference engine. Many folks on the Mitsu forums report the 2007-09 three liters are non-interference. If that's the case, a broken belt only costs you a tow.

I'd have zero qualms about buying/driving that car. I'd bet you a cold one the water pump will bite the dust before that OE timing belt. You can replace it then. And while I haven't done a belt job on an Outlander, I've done about a half-dozen belts on Chrysler products with the Mitsubishi 3.0L. A bit time consuming, but not difficult at all.

 

[Elkins45]

Before fretting about it, determine if the 2007 3.0L is an interference engine. Many folks on the Mitsu forums report the 2007-09 three liters are non-interference. If that's the case, a broken belt only costs you a tow.

I'd have zero qualms about buying/driving that car. I'd bet you a cold one the water pump will bite the dust before that OE timing belt. You can replace it then. And while I haven't done a belt job on an Outlander, I've done about a half-dozen belts on Chrysler products with the Mitsubishi 3.0L. A bit time consuming, but not difficult at all.

When I Googled it I got results indicating it is an interference engine. I wouldn’t worry about it otherwise.

I don’t think I have it in my soul to own an interference design with a rubber belt even if it is cheap.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Oh gosh. 2007-2025, yes it’s time for a new timing belt….rollers and tensioner too.

 

[eljefino]

You might be able to remove the plastic cover enough to eyeball the belt and give yourself piece of mind for the drive.

I'd worry about things "too good to be true" on that low miles car but the timing belt is way down on my worries list.

https://vehiclehistory.bja.ojp.gov/nmvtis_vehiclehistory gives alternatives to Carfax. Believe you could find something for just a couple bucks for one-time-use.

 

[Capt W]

When I Googled it I got results indicating it is an interference engine. I wouldn’t worry about it otherwise.

I don’t think I have it in my soul to own an interference design with a rubber belt even if it is cheap.

Google isn't authoritative. You have to go to a trusted source. There are lots of owners on the Mitsubishi forums who state it's non-interference until the 2010 model year.

https://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/mitsubishi-outlander-10/broken-timing-belt-43065/

Your original query is probably better off posted there than here.

If you're still interested in the car, spend some time and do the research.

 

[Hall]

Download My Car Fax app, input the VIN

 

[AKhan87]

$45 each time adds up quickly. I totally feel annoyed at lots that don't give free ones.

Belts do age out, but, this should have a lot less heat cycling. I'd read up on the forums and find out if this belt is known for lasting longer than typical. I mean, lots of Hondas trouped well past their 120k mark. Maybe this one is in the same boat--I'd almost be willing to risk it myself.

On Facebook, people are selling CarFax for $5, how can they do that? they have access to some dealership CarFax account which gets unlimited CarFax, I have verified the CarFax from actually paying 49.99 and it is the same CarFax.

 

[Elkins45]

Google isn't authoritative. You have to go to a trusted source. There are lots of owners on the Mitsubishi forums who state it's non-interference until the 2010 model year.

https://mitsubishiforum.com/forum/mitsubishi-outlander-10/broken-timing-belt-43065/

Your original query is probably better off posted there than here.

If you're still interested in the car, spend some time and do the research.

I found that too. One guy said it’s non-interference only on the exhaust side and said he had to straighten his intake valves.

 

[Elkins45]

Ask the seller if the belt has been replaced and where this was done.

The seller bought the car from a dealer who took it on trade so he doesn’t know. Carfax is a gamble because it could have been done by an independent shop that doesn’t report.

When I sold my 2007 Corolla one potential buyer paid for a report even though I told her she was wasting her time. It came back with nothing but the sale, the annual registrations, and the airbag and ECU recalls. According to Carfax my oil had never been changed in 180k miles.

 

[Furious]

On interference engines you better not gamble with timing belt age, yes they do go bad based on age.

If it was a non interference engine I would not worry but unfortunately that is an interference engine.

 

[SiRDOHC]

I am all for extending this service because failures are really about heat cycles and mileage., but you are really pushing it for age at this point.

 

[Elkins45]

Oh gosh. 2007-2025, yes it’s time for a new timing belt….rollers and tensioner too.

I would only try to do timing myself if I fell on hard times, so between parts and labor we're probably talking about immediately adding $800-$1000 to the cost of the vehicle.

 

[slybunda]

My fiesta belt I changed after 13 years of service. Did low miles probably around 45k on it. Good thing I changed it cuz the water pump impeller was broke, for the last 4 years I always wondered why when I'm driving on the motorway temps are fine in 5th gear but drop to 3rd gear and redline it out and temp would rise up but when drop to 5th temps lowered again.
Never got close to the red even in hottest day in the UK here over 30c sitting in traffic.
Replaced with metal impeller pump this time.
So good to change belt although my pump doesn't run from the timing belt but still got to remove belt to get to it.