Cheap Timing Belt Discussion

[Ozark Lee]

As a practical matter I don't think there are that many manufacturers of timing belts. Continental, Dayco, and Gates come to mind. I've put a Gates belt on a Volvo and didn't loose a minute of sleep over it.

I have never seen a belt itself just break. I'm sure it can happen but in my experience it is always something else that causes it to fail like a water pump locking up or a tensioner failing.

The real peace of mind comes when the items in the belt path are changed.

...Lee

[wizechatmgr]

Last time I personally witnessed a timing belt go of it's own accord was on a K car. On a non-interference who cares, but on these, you're screwed. Better safe than sorry.

[mrbrian200]

Last time I personally witnessed a timing belt go of it's own accord was on a K car. On a non-interference who cares, but on these, you're screwed. Better safe than sorry.

That's where I've seen it too: 1987 Dodge short caravan with the L4. Which is practically a K-car. I picked it up non running for $100, sometime around 2005. I felt sorry for the PO who sold it to me, his mechanic couldn't diagnose a timing belt where the teeth on the belt stripped out around the crank and was convinced that the car had an electrical/wiring loom issue under the hood and went so far as to replace the engine harness. But got hold of the wrong harness (couple of the connectors were different + several circuits were wired different). Being a non inteference engine $20 at a pick and pull for the correct harness and a new TB and it started right up.

Sometimes I wish I'd kept that van - it was before the rear seat 'stow and go' business, the back seats unlatched from the floor and came all the way out giving you a mini cargo van which was quite useful. It was clean with no rust, however the engine developed a bad piston slap, was burning lots-o oil, then when the head gasket went out I decided to let it go. Those early caravans were known 'death traps' so in that respect it's probably better that I got rid of it.

[tardcart]

I have seen many belts go for reason of only age. I will say that I haven't seen this in the last 12 years so many belts are better now.
my friend has a t5 in 2006 xc90 and he replaced the belt at 180k and the belt looked like new. He was a little pissed I had bugged him to do it.

[erikv11]

But hopefully he also replcaed the timing path parts? Since that's the whole point of the service.

[tardcart]

Yes he did.

[WhatAmIDoing]

Did a full timing service today on my S70 because I was always suspicious of the PO's quality of work. Turned out he did a total hack job and didn't even replace the tensioner pulley which had a bad bearing and was going out.

Cheaping out on the timing service doesn't just screw you, it also screws the next owner, especially if you tell them you "did the full timing service".

[abscate]

I’m convinced , with some data to back in the timing belt MTBF thread, the later timing belt system mtbf is > 150k miles. Of course, running to the the mtbf is the ~50% failure rate, so that’s a poor strategy , but if the components are 100k old, no reason to panic and go DEFCON 1 that weekend.

You can drive a new to you Volvo home and dothe job on your time. Keep you karmic bucket full too.

[callahanoffroad]

I'm a bit confused here.

Continental timing belts are only $12... That's pretty cheap to me. Well when I say cheap I mean affordable... Is there a lower cost option? A pack of rubber bands tied together???

[bmdubya1198]

I'm a bit confused here.

Continental timing belts are only $12... That's pretty cheap to me. Well when I say cheap I mean affordable... Is there a lower cost option? A pack of rubber bands tied together???

Yeah, it's really not worth cheaping out. When you buy the full kit, what could you be saving by going with Dayco or Gates over Continental, $50 max? It's just not worth it to save that $50 in the long run.
To clarify, the belts aren't the problem with those kits. I'm more concerned about potentially poor quality pulleys/bearings.