# Do I need to replace the timing belt? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 19, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206 "2024-01-19T17:31:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shervan360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Shervan360](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shervan360)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/1 "2024-01-19T17:31:44Z")
Hello, I bought my car 3.5 years ago. (But it is not a modern car. In our country, new cars are not modern. For example, Peugeot 405 and 206 are still produced here.) The car worked 10,000 km. **Do I need to replace the timing belt?** Because the timing belt is from 3.5 years ago. The car is : [Saipa Saina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipa_Saina) Thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/2 "2024-01-19T17:36:03Z")
The owners manual will reflect when the timing belt should be changed base on time and/or kilometers driven. Tester ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 5:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/3 "2024-01-19T17:39:19Z")
Th usual recommendations are 90,0000 to 100,000 Km or 6 to 7 years ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/4 "2024-01-19T17:54:40Z")
> [@Shervan360](#): > > The car worked 10,000 km. does the car not work now? or does this mean you have driven 10,000 km in the 3.5 years you have had the car? was the timing belt replaced when you bought the car? Are you sure? You didn’t tell us what kind of car you have- are you positive it has a belt and not a chain or gear driven timing? ---
**Author:** ![Shervan360](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Shervan360](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Shervan360)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/5 "2024-01-19T18:10:16Z")
I have driven 10,000 km in the 3.5 years. Yes, the timing belt was new. The car is : [Saipa Saina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipa_Saina) Belt surface is good. ---
**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/6 "2024-01-19T18:15:51Z")
> [@Shervan360](#): > > I have driven 10,000 km in the 3.5 years. > Yes, the timing belt was new. > The car is : > [Saipa Saina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipa_Saina) > > Belt surface is good. are you referring to the accessory belts? or the timing belt? A brief internet search mixed with my zero experience with this engine shows that the timing apparatus is behind a cover. did you remove that cover? or are you just looking down in the engine compartment at the exposed belt? [https://megamotor.ir/en/product/engine-m15gs-eu-iv/](https://megamotor.ir/en/product/engine-m15gs-eu-iv/) ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/7 "2024-01-20T02:10:50Z")
> [@Shervan360](#): > > The car is : > [Saipa Saina - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipa_Saina) > > Belt surface is good. What year is the vehicle?? How many miles on the vehicle (odometer)?? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/8 "2024-01-20T02:16:03Z")
No experience w/your car, but generally timing belts are good for 60-90K miles. They have a time limit as well usually 3-5 years I think. If you are over either limit, time to replace the timing belt. But don’t guess, or wait until something happens, b/c if the timing belt breaks in use it can cause very expensive to repair damage to the engine. Your manufacturer should provide the applicable info either in the owner’s manual or by asking at a dealership. It’s generally not possible to accurately assess the condition of the belt just by looking at it. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/9 "2024-01-20T02:21:38Z")
![srj1q](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/4/84d5fa803819353c3ae9262c6c2325801f61fe6a.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/10 "2024-01-20T02:39:22Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > No experience w/your car, but generally timing belts are good for 60-90K miles. They have a time limit as well usually 3-5 years I think. 3-5 years . . . ?! That’s outdated, George My 2005 Camry has a 9-year replacement interval ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/11 "2024-01-20T03:03:45Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > 3-5 years . . . ?! > > That’s outdated You are correct, my mistake. Even seeing a 10 year timing belt spec sometimes on newer cars. IIRC my Corolla is spec’d at 6 years. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/12 "2024-01-20T15:10:28Z")
Check your owner’s manual. Most of us are in the USA and your car isn’t sold here. I did a web search and the engine is an M15 built by Mega Motor in Iran. I searched the [Gates.com](http://Gates.com) website and didn’t find any reference to your car, even in Europe and the Middle East. If you don’t have the manual, you can probably find it online. That will tell you when to change the timing belt based on time or miles. If it has a timing chain, it likely never has to be replaced. Stop by again and let us know how things are progressing. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/13 "2024-01-20T15:18:59Z")
That engine picture which was posted leads me to believe it has a timing belt ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 3:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/14 "2024-01-20T15:39:42Z")
Here is another good idea, how about calling a few shops in your area that work on your vehicle and ask them… just a thought… ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/15 "2024-01-20T21:32:23Z")
If owner can find car website I image he could find service schedule online. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2024, 10:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/16 "2024-01-20T22:16:04Z")
Anybody remember how Ray and Tom responded to callers on the radio program asking if they should replace their car’s timing belt? Did they say to just look at the owner’s manual, and move on to the next call? ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/17 "2024-01-21T01:20:03Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Did they say to just look at the owner’s manual, and move on to the next call? No, they told a few jokes first. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/18 "2024-01-21T13:23:24Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > No, they told a few jokes first Along with asking the color of the car. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2024, 10:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/19 "2024-01-21T22:05:22Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > No, they told a few jokes first > [@Purebred](#): > > Along with asking the color of the car. I expect they’d do that, but would also address many of the issues mentioned by other posters here above, like while they aren’t familiar w/that particular engine, the usual recommendations for timing belts are … has the caller actually seen the timing belt? … what’s the car’s status now, running, not running? … are you sure you aren’t referring to the accessory belts? … years and miles on the existing belt and likely on the car? … whether a timing belt’s condition can be assessed by looking at it? … owner’s manual or visiting a dealership .. I very much doubt they’d just say “look at the owner’s manual”. Instead they’d try to offer up some actual help, hoping it would prove to be valuable info for both the caller and the listeners. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2024, 2:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206/20 "2024-01-22T02:46:03Z")
George doesn’t know the difference between a call-in radio show and a discussion board. A call-in radio show you get to ask the caller questions and get answers real -time. A discussion board, you can only read what is posted and the information (or lack of) that is provided. And from that you try to provide the most accurate information to the OP. So, the best possible answer to OP would be to look in the owners manual for the timing belt recommended service interval. But in the end, even tho it’s hard to believe, George gave the correct answer too. > [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Your manufacturer should provide the applicable info either in the owner’s manual or by asking at a dealership. Tester [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/do-i-need-to-replace-the-timing-belt/194206.md?page=2)