# '98 Subaru Forester - how often does timing belt get replaced?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** subaru, forester\
**Created:** [October 8, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808 "2009-10-08T22:42:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![leftcoasttransplant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dec6dc/32.png) [@leftcoasttransplant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/leftcoasttransplant)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808/1 "2009-10-08T22:42:13Z")

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My '98 Subaru Forester has 130,000 miles on it. I had my timing belt replaced at 103,500 miles. Am I due for a new timing belt? How often do they need replacing?

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**Author:** ![jayhawkroy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jayhawkroy/32/33_2.png) [@jayhawkroy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jayhawkroy)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808/2 "2009-10-08T22:53:23Z")

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I believe it is 105K, same as my Subaru. So you should be good until 208K miles or so. Your owner’s manual maintenance schedule would be your authoritative reference.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808/3 "2009-10-08T23:40:52Z")

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Mileage is not the only factor. Time is an element so about 6 years maximum, and even that can vary based on other factors such as engine overheating, any oil or coolant leaks, outside temperature extremes, etc.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/98-subaru-forester-how-often-does-timing-belt-get-replaced/37808/4 "2009-10-09T00:02:31Z")

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Every 8yrs or 105k miles whichever first. No worries it appears.