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The Curious Bag
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<h4 class="dechead">On One Hand: Manufacturer's Recommendation
The timing belt on a car is not visible unless someone takes apart some of the engine, so replacing it or even inspecting it is a labor-intensive process. But if the timing belt fails, the car will stop without warning. The manufacturers of most automobiles recommend that the timing belt be changed around 60,000 miles, or every 72 to 84 months if the car's mileage is low, just to be safe. The belt itself isn't expensive; the replacement cost is almost all labor.
On the Other: Costly Replacement
The timing belts on many cars are perfectly fine for 100,000 miles or more. Belts that are replaced earlier often have no signs of wear, and the cars were in no danger of breaking down. Replacing a timing belt can cost several hundred dollars, and the cost of replacing it every 60,000 miles will add up.
Bottom Line
Because it's not visible, you can't check the timing belt for wear as you can with most other belts in a car's engine. It's better to be safe than sorry. Ask a mechanic for his thoughts on when to change the timing belt on your specific make and model. A mechanic's recommendation is often between 80,000 and 90,000 miles.
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