Hi,

Seeking opinions on the car that I have owned for three months now. It is a 2005 car with around 23,000 miles (dealer service records so it is legitimate) now. As with buying any used car, I have changed all the fluids, and also the alternator belt as it was cracking when inspected. I did not change the timing belt at the same time as it would have taken a day or two to get the job completed. The garages that I have asked all recommend changing a number of parts including the belt, including the balancer belt, bearings, pulleys and water pump, in a job costing hundreds of dollars.

This is where I feel a little doubtful. With the components being so early in their service life, is it necessary to swap out those parts. I can see the point of changing ten-year-old rubber parts like belts, but the remaining parts should be fairly good? Am I being penny-wise and pound foolish to just change the two belts and leave everything else, or should I just bite the bullet and get everything recommended done?

 

they're early in their service life but old in age. it's recommended to change those parts because you're already there. Or the water pump goes bad and now you're spending all that money all over again to do another timing belt job.

i'd spend the money and do it now and not worry about it again until 90k miles

 

^ what he said.

If you're changing one change it all. The Balancer shaft belt is within the timing belt so it would be foolish not to change it and you don't wanna leave it. Most evo sites you can request the parts needed all in a "kit" as it's common and typically pointless to not change it all out while you're in there since all of those parts work together. Yeah one may be good and not the other but do you really wanna take that chance with your motor?

Last I looked at the service manual there was no time recommendation for maintenance, only mileage but just like anything else when stuff sits it ages.

but most people including myself who have done the major maintenance service do it all at once.

 

Other members have seen timing belts deteriate with age, are you wanting to roll the dice?

 

I would change the belts. You can leave the water pump and all the pulleys though.


FYI, the water pump in these cars is NOT timing belt driven and does NOT require a timing belt job to change if it starts leaking later on.

 

this...


personally id change the timing/idler belts and be happy with that

the pulleys should still be in excellent shape as long as no rust is forming on them

 

Usually change em @ 60k

 

Hi, I figured I should at least give a conclusion to the situation. After referring to the timing belt kits available on eBay, and looking at the construction of the OEM original parts, I eventually decided that I would do the belt changes only as an extraordinary part change respecting the age of those parts involved. I plan to do the next change at the original interval (60k miles) changing the belts and associated parts.

That being said, here are how those parts looked when they came out of the car this morning. My garage was nice enough to let me hang around, ask questions and take photos.

*** killed all the photos and will be re-uploading them***

 

Did you change the balance shaft belt? And your pic of the timing belt, isn't...lol

 

Yeah having some problems with the uploads. There are a few more photos but it throws up irrelevant photos that someone else uploaded.

Yes, I changed both the balance shaft belt and the main timing belt. Both were in good shape for being ten years old, they were slightly stretched compared to the originals but were nowhere near failing (no cracks, frays or anything of that sort).

***the forum's image hosting is being a b!tch***

 

Quite the upgrade for a timing belt change

 

What other members have said is true.. Rubber pretty much deteriorates with time, just like tires.

 

Giving it another try:





Force cooling the engine so it is cool enough to be worked on





The original timing belts are revealed. Tension looks good and condition of the belts are fine at a glance. I could have buttoned everything back up at this point, but I didn't want to ride on my luck any longer.





The timing belt is rotated till all the TDC markings lined up, then marked with a paint marker for easy reference.





Cam gear locking tool that the garage used to hold the cams firmly in position.





The pulleys and tensioners begin coming out - and fortunately all feels pretty nice and fresh.





There are no signs of rust or corrosion, so back in they go for another 40k miles of duty





The old balance belt.





Close up of the old balance belt, folded over to reveal any possible cracking. There are none.





The old timing belt. Again, it looks good with only some surface glazing on the smooth side due to contact with the tensioners.





Testament to Mitsubishi's quality?





The new timing belt is in. I'll see you at 60k.