Forester Timing Belt Replacement

[glenn greenwood]

I'm new to the newsgroup and have been lurking a bit, but wanted to tap into
the group knowledge base.

I have a 2003 Forester, In January it had it's 60,000 service at a
non-Subaru dealer. Yesterday, I had it at one of the Subaru dealers here in
Austin for a Moonroof repair, it turned out to be not a big deal just some
debris in the roof tracks, which they didn't even charge me for.

However, on the way out I was talking with the service manager and he asked
me where I had my 60,000 mile service done and I told him. He asked if they
had changed the timing belt out. No, I said the Warranty and Maintenance
schedule doesn't call for it until 105,000 miles. He said, "That's written
for the people that live in the northern part of the US, here in the south
(Texas) they wear out much quicker." Then of course he went on to relate
the story of a customer who, with about the same number miles as I have on
mine (69,800) had her timing belt break and of course it damaged the engine
incurring the dreaded $2,000+ repair.

I asked him if they had done an inspection on my timing belt and he admitted
they hadn't.

Any experiences in the group to relate to having to change the timing belt
at 60,000 miles instead of the Subaru recommended 105,000?

Thanks for the help,

Glenn
Austin, Texas

 

[Edward Hayes]

I live in Florida and changed my 2000 Forester at ~100,000. No mention
was ever made to do it sooner nor does Subaru!!!!!!!!!!!!!. That being
said if the belt gets oiled up because of a major oil leak in the TB
area then yes.

 

[Frank]

I live in Florida and changed my 2000 Forester at ~100,000. No mention
was ever made to do it sooner nor does Subaru!!!!!!!!!!!!!. That being
said if the belt gets oiled up because of a major oil leak in the TB
area then yes.

Only reason I can think of for doing service earlier than the Subaru
designated mileage is that you mileage may be low and rubber has a
tendency to rot with time. But, your mileage is high so his argument
does not hold water.

 

[Bradley Walker]

Isn't the Subaru recommended replacement to be either 100,000 miles OR 5
years, whichever comes first?

 

[Edward Hayes]

I have never seen any statement or recommendation from Subaru
referring to a 5 year or xxx mileage timing belt replacement. Could it
be that some dealers are recommending it for their own additional
service agenda?

 

[Dmitriy]

Around 100k miles is when it should be done. It obviously will not hurt
anything to do it now... except your wallet ofcourse.

 

[AJay]

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:37:00 GMT, "Edward Hayes"

I have a 1999 Forester and my Warranty and Maintenance Booklet states
that the camshaft drive belt should be replaced "every 105 MONTHS or
105,000 miles whichever comes first."

So it would appear that dealers who tell their customers that the
drive belt should be replaced every 5 years are either unaware of what
their own literature states or they are trying to rip someone off.
They wouldn't intentionally do that would they? ;-)

 

[Frank]

On Thu, 20 Jul 2006 15:37:00 GMT, "Edward Hayes"

I have a 1999 Forester and my Warranty and Maintenance Booklet states
that the camshaft drive belt should be replaced "every 105 MONTHS or
105,000 miles whichever comes first."

So it would appear that dealers who tell their customers that the
drive belt should be replaced every 5 years are either unaware of what
their own literature states or they are trying to rip someone off.
They wouldn't intentionally do that would they? ;-)

I had a Nissan service manager tell me that routine maintenance should
be done at half the manual intervals. He showed me a sheet where he
had inked in dots and said if I did not abide, it would adversely
affect the warranty. I told him Nissan knew where I lived and would
have told me but I would accept his word if he showed me in print. Of
course he disappeared.

Same dealership could not find a nail in a tire. Another service
manager I knew told me they probably did not even look because they
don't make much money on tire repair.

I still have that 13 year old Sentra and it runs like a top. Dealer
has not seen it since warranty expired.

Frank

 

[G.J.H. Jørgensen]

Since October 2003 I have been driving a 96 Impreza Wagon 2.0 GL Automatic
(I live in Holland).
When I bought it, at 64,000 km (ca. 40,000 m), the (official) dealer changed
the timing belt,
he said: Do that at 100,000 km (ca. 65,000 m) and your engine will last
forever.
He did it included in the price.
It does cost a bit (don't forget to change the waterpump bearing and the
forward main crankshaft oil ring),
it's an investment against costly damage.
My soobie is worth it, we love the car, we drive on average 10-12,000 miles
per year,
and I only see the garage once a year for regular maintenance.
But that wthout restraints....!

Georg Jørgensen, Holland