Question on 105K service for a 99 SUS

[ismlv]

Hi all,

I'm going in for my 105K service next week and wanted to ask a question. The service manual and website mentions changing the CAM shaft belt
and the drive belt..... I didn't realize I had two belts to be dealing with. One's the timing belt, right? Also, it says they have to check
valve clearance. Since the head covers will be off, is it safe to assume they're replace the head gaskets? You can't reuse those (or
shouldn't, right?) Also - it doesn't mention anything about replacing the water pump - what do others think? Should it be done since they're
in there messing with everything else? I'm also having the oil changed and inspection of all the other odds and ends but since this is a 99
and I'd like to get at least 4 more years out of it, want to make sure I get all the proper maintenance done. I have my oil changed every 3K
- 3.5K miles as well as checking tire pressure and all fluids once / week so I keep up on all the basic maintenance.

Thanks!

 

[lkreh]

The cam belt is the timing belt. I believe that there is more than one
drive belt and drive belts are on a more frequent service interval than
the t-belt. There have been several threads on 105,000 mile service on
the 2.5L in just the recent past. I've responded to a couple myself
and explained what all I had replaced on my 99. Rather than retype it
all, I suggest doing an archive search.

LK

 

[Edward Hayes]

There is one camshaft (timing belt) and two assory belts to drive the
alternator, power steering and air conditioner. The timing belt must
be changed and many others including me recommend the water pump. The
water pump get its power from the timing belt and if the water pump
freezes up you often lose the timing belt which means big dollars. If
the valve clearance is checked, then they should put on new valve
cover gaskets and spark plug o-ring seals. They do not remove the
cylinder heads so no head gaskets to replace. Others say replace the
timing belt tensioner and idler pulleys, but I'll let others comment
on these items. eddie

 

[hippo]

There is one camshaft (timing belt) and two assory belts to drive the
alternator, power steering and air conditioner. The timing belt must
be changed and many others including me recommend the water pump. The
water pump get its power from the timing belt and if the water pump
freezes up you often lose the timing belt which means big dollars. If
the valve clearance is checked, then they should put on new valve
cover gaskets and spark plug o-ring seals. They do not remove the
cylinder heads so no head gaskets to replace. Others say replace the
timing belt tensioner and idler pulleys, but I'll let others comment
on these items. eddie

IME fom Aus - dealers will routinely pick up seized idlers etc at this
service and either advise they've replaced them or ask if you want it done
(silly not to though ....)

Lots of people advise changing water pumps every major and even more every
second one (105k) I always thought this was a bit excessive becuase
I haven't had a water pump fail in either of mine (323,000km and
144,000km). Then again, I suppose if one had failed on me inside 70k miles
I'd view it differently .... BTW I *will* probably get the one in the
Outback changed at 200k Km! Cheers

 

[lkreh]

one more suggestion. if/when you replace your drive belts, tell the
mechanic to give you the used belts. keep them in the storage
compartment in the cargo area of your car. if you need a new drive
belt on a road trip, you'll have a spare to get you home.

 

[l.lichtman]

I would not replace a broken timing belt with one that was removed
because of mileage, unless NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE EXISTS. It's a big
job--sure, it would oprobably get you home, but then you would have to
do it again. If you drive a car with an interference engine, as I do,
needing a timing belt would also mean you need expensive major rebuild
work on the engine. The availability of an old used belt would not be
helpful.

BTW, my mechanic showed me some broken belts from his garbage. Except
from the break, there was no evidence that there was anything wrong.
He showed me the timing belt that came out of my engine, with 112,000
miles on it--no evidence that it might be in the verge of failure. I
would not judge the serviceability of a timing belt based on how it
looks.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

I feel certain he was refering to the accessory belts ('fan' belts - we
called them in the past before they became electric).

Carl

 

[l.lichtman]

Carl, in rereading the posts, I think you must be right. The "timing
belt" is not a "drive belt." I'm sorry if I sounded preachy and
simple-minded.

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

wel, I didn;t intend to sound terse. I admit, drive belt kinda threw me
but perhaps it is now a common term? Serpentine is of course also
becoming common. I only know of timing belts by TBs or maybe cam timing
belts.

it's all cool!

Carl

 

[lkreh]

the scenario I posed was one in which no alternative existed, but
regardless, there's a difference between drive belts (plural) and the
timing belt (singular). See my earlier post in this same thread.