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timing belt visual

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 5:38 pm
by oldae82
I have bought an '88 ae92 gts. the previous owner had no idea if/when the timing belt had been replaced. the shop manual implies (by saying to mark the direction of rotation if one intends to reuse the timing belt) that one can visually inspect the belt and, if satisfied with its appearance, let it keep spinning. I feel I'd know what a bad belt would look like, but if the belt doesn't look bad, how often should it be inspected? Should I just bite the bullet and replace the belt?

Re: timing belt visual

Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2017 10:11 pm
by totta crolla
If the engine is standard then it should be 'non interference' so in theory a snapped belt would'nt be a disaster. If there is any doubt of the engine spec. (skimmed head ?) or the integrity of the belt I would change it.

Re: timing belt visual

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 12:02 am
by jondee86
oldae82 wrote:... if the belt doesn't look bad, how often should it be inspected?

From memory, the recommended changeout was every 50,000 miles. If the engine
is clean and the belt has not been exposed to oil or subject to any kind of mechanical
damage, it will go longer. Best way to check is look for cracking on the inside of the
belt at the bottom of the gap between the teeth. If there are no cracks and the belt
still feels like rubber, I leave them on.

The belt itself is cheap, but it can be a hassle getting the crank pulley off to change it.
Best thing you can do is make sure you check the belt tension every 15-20,000 miles
and inspect the belt while you are in there. As said above, the stock 16v engine is
non-interference, so a broken belt always provides an opportunity to buy an AE86 with
a "blown engine" real cheap ;)

Cheers... jondee86

Re: timing belt visual

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2017 5:17 pm
by oldae82
Thanks to both of you. I swore when I bought this car I would rein in my obsessive tendencies. I'll go with inspections.

Why a belt instead of a chain? Economy? Noise? Overhead cams?