Thread: Subaru timing belt question

2002 Legacy-- about 90k miles. Good time for the timing belt, or can you let it go? I know a timing belt failure is catastrophic, just wondering what the deal is with the recommended service... I mean.. shit, my head gasket was leaking and all they did was pour 2 small bottles of stop-leak in the radiator and called it good.

We have an '04 and had the belt replaced at 80,000
Here is Subaru's official schedule:
http://www.subaru.com/owners/schedul...=SCHEDULE_2002

How much did this cost you guys?

Mine is at 140,000 and starting to squeel all over.

Havent done it yet, but I'll get a decent whine/squeal under load. It's most noticable heading upcanyon with 1 or 2 people in the car. I just had every other belt switched out... I'm guessing it's the timing belt. who's got the beta.

On the older SUbies (EA-82 engines)the timing belt failure is non catastrophic. The engine simply stops running. One of their better features. Don't know about the newer ones. Try Ultimate subaru Message Board.

Stop leak can kill Subie engines as well, so I have heard. Lots of tiny coolant passages that can get jammed up.

At 100K I took mine into BobMc.

Turns out my 2001 Outback Wagon, 3.0 V6 has a timing CHAIN.
Did not need anything done on it so I got a sweet tune up.

Shows how much I know about engines.

I have a 1999 Forester, and was told by several Subaru owners to take it in before the timing belt even needed to be replaced. I'd heard stories of cars being trashed from timing belts failing at 95000 miles even. From what other Subaru owners told me, it's not something to mess around with.

I bought my WRX at 115,000 miles knowing the timing belt needed to be changed. I drove about 300 miles very scared until I had time to bring it in to the shop. The wrx manual says replace the timing belt at 105,000 miles. Timing belts spin on toothed gears. They don't squeak or slip unless something catastrophic happens to the motor simutaneously. If the accessory belts aren't squeaking (like my power steering does before it's warm) then maybe it's something like a bad timing tensioner pulley or other pulley bearings, or water pump, or......

yup. Time for some service. Not worth putting off to buy a new...........

We just purchased a 2000 legacy and the timing belt was in BAD need of replacement. The dealer we bought from (small guy-low volume almost entirely subies) replaced it for us, but he echo'd the catastrophic nature of the beast. As far as if yours has one, I think that the '01 or '02 did move to the timing CHAIN for just the above mentioned reasons. But find out, and my mechanic/dealer said that going much over 100K is big-time gambling.

My 97 Outback has 180k on it now. I did the timing belt/oil pump/water pump at about 70k and it obviously needs to be done again. The problem is the $2k it's gonna cost to fill the oil tank at home this winter. I know, gonna be tough to get to work to make that 2k if the car needs to be replaced. My solution for now is to gamble. I have nothing of any value in the car so that when it craps out I can just have it towed and sell it for scrap.

Timing belts on a Subaru are actually not that hard to do. Should be possible (maybe) for you to do it yourself....though if you're asking this then probably not. Oh, and make sure you don't have a chain....lol.

Look around your area and find an honest dealer or subaru specialist shop with a fixed price timing belt change. Should be right around $300, including the belt. If you want, they can change out the idler pulleys, water pump or other accessable parts while they are in there...but unless it's worn, you don't have to bother.

For something like this, which is very similar for most 4-cylinder subarus, I think you're better off going to a dealer or specialist because they do tons of these belts, which means they have the skills and know-how to get the job done at the quoted price. If you take it a random shop, they will probably take longer and end up costing you more money....or maybe even screw it up.

do you take long tips?If you are close to home maybe a breakdown is no biggy

if you are 500miles form home and the belt kacks it could be expensive in terms of what to do now that you are broke down maybe in the middle of nowhere

I do my T belt on schedule, but then my engine is toast in the TDi if the belt goes,I had a buddy whos V6 toyota kacked a belt ,it wasnt supposed to matter but it did ...I don't know the details but he got rid of the truck.

SO same with the 4-runer I always did all the service cuz I was a road warrior & couldnt afford a break down in the middle of nowhere at -30 ... you have to fix it anyhow so do it on your terms was my take

Originally Posted by XXX-er

do you take long tips?If you are close to home maybe a breakdown is no biggy

if you are 500miles form home and the belt kacks it could be expensive in terms of what to do now that you are broke down maybe in the middle of nowhere

I do my T belt on schedule, but then my engine is toast in the TDi if the belt goes,I had a buddy whos V6 toyota kacked a belt ,it wasnt supposed to matter but it did ...I don't know the details but he got rid of the truck.

SO same with the 4-runer I always did all the service cuz I was a road warrior & couldnt afford a break down in the middle of nowhere at -30 ... you have to fix it anyhow so do it on your terms was my take

I am 99.9% sure that most Subaru flat-4 motors are interference type. Meaning, it is possible for the valves and the pistons to occupy the same place. If the belt breaks, there is an excellent chance of the pistons destroying valves.

Non-interference motors supposededly don't allow this, but I've also heard reports of belt failures causing major damage.

Originally Posted by Damian Sanders

Timing belts on a Subaru are actually not that hard to do. Should be possible (maybe) for you to do it yourself....though if you're asking this then probably not. Oh, and make sure you don't have a chain....lol.

Look around your area and find an honest dealer or subaru specialist shop with a fixed price timing belt change. Should be right around $300, including the belt. If you want, they can change out the idler pulleys, water pump or other accessable parts while they are in there...but unless it's worn, you don't have to bother.

For something like this, which is very similar for most 4-cylinder subarus, I think you're better off going to a dealer or specialist because they do tons of these belts, which means they have the skills and know-how to get the job done at the quoted price. If you take it a random shop, they will probably take longer and end up costing you more money....or maybe even screw it up.

Really? I'd aggree for a timing belt for inline-4 cyl. such as on my old volkswagen, where the 2 to 3 foot long belt goes around a couple pulleys, but on a flat four boxer motor the belt is like 10 feet long and has 8 or 10 pulleys. I considered doing it myself, but was scared. It cost me about $300 in parts -at cost (belts, pulleys, tensioner & h20 pump) and $600 in labor. The dealership wanted $1500.

2002 legacy = Interference Engine.

So the question becomes how long you plan on keeping this thing. I might gamble if it was going to be 10k miles or less. Maybe it will hold out that long. (But if it is the T-belt that is actually making that schreech I'm inclined to think you are already on borrowed time.)

But if it's more than that you are going to have to do it or take it up the poopenhausen when the belt breaks.

If you are going to do it anyway why take the chance and wait? It won't get any cheaper and it may get a hell of a lot more pricey.

yup, doing it soon. Not waiting much longer, at all.

Talked to the 'stealership'.... way cheaper then I had budgeted for. 300 for the belt, all parts and labor, and 200 for all parts and labor for the waterpump.

Stoked on that price, set up the appointment.

Originally Posted by Gerome

Really? I'd aggree for a timing belt for inline-4 cyl. such as on my old volkswagen, where the 2 to 3 foot long belt goes around a couple pulleys, but on a flat four boxer motor the belt is like 10 feet long and has 8 or 10 pulleys. I considered doing it myself, but was scared. It cost me about $300 in parts -at cost (belts, pulleys, tensioner & h20 pump) and $600 in labor. The dealership wanted $1500.

http://www.patrickmotors.com/subarun...ce_special.asp

$279 on special.

$300 for my toyota V-6 last year, at a dealership

That just the belt and labor. It's additional to do pulleys, pump, seals, etc.

I got everything done (belts, idlers, pump, seals, t-stat), brought in most of the parts, overall total was around $800.

..............

I've never done a subaru belt myself, but helped a friend do a short block swap in my garage a few years back.....

Originally Posted by pointedem

Talked to the 'stealership'.... way cheaper then I had budgeted for. 300 for the belt, all parts and labor, and 200 for all parts and labor for the waterpump.

Stoked on that price, set up the appointment.

Cool....! Glad it worked out for you.

Originally Posted by Gerome

I bought my WRX at 115,000 miles knowing the timing belt needed to be changed. I drove about 300 miles very scared until I had time to bring it in to the shop. The wrx manual says replace the timing belt at 105,000 miles. Timing belts spin on toothed gears. They don't squeak or slip unless something catastrophic happens to the motor simutaneously. If the accessory belts aren't squeaking (like my power steering does before it's warm) then maybe it's something like a bad timing tensioner pulley or other pulley bearings, or water pump, or......

dude you bought a wrx with 115,000 miles... risky

Originally Posted by Damian Sanders

I am 99.9% sure that most Subaru flat-4 motors are interference type. Meaning, it is possible for the valves and the pistons to occupy the same place. If the belt breaks, there is an excellent chance of the pistons destroying valves.

Originally Posted by salomonskiier12

dude you bought a wrx with 115,000 miles... risky

I love high mileage vehicles. my van has 210K. I've already put 20K on the wrx w/ no issues. So much more fun than my corrado that just fell apart every other month. I'm all too familiar with exploding superchargers & radiators, noisy wheel bearings & cv joints. I'll let you know if I change my mind, but I know the guy I bought the car from and the general history of that car.

oh, at least you knew the person. because wrx owners are known for driving their cars pretty hard so therefore...

Hi,

I have a Suabry 1995 L Sedan that I recently bought at 114 K miles. I drive everyday to work at 650 miles a week and have already driven more than 116 K miles in around three weeks.

The car is working perfectly fine but I was wondering if I should get the timing belt replaced - it may have already been replaced at < 100 K but there is no sure way of knowing right?

Also there is a faint smell of burnt oil (personally I think its like roasted peanuts!) and I am not sure what to do about it...

Oh, and I love my Subaru!

-Kazim