# Drive belt **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** belts\ **Created:** [September 24, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946 "2008-09-24T04:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markspizman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecc23a/32.png) [@markspizman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markspizman)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/1 "2008-09-24T04:08:36Z")
I took my 2005 corolla in for a 60,000 mile check up. They called me later to say my drive belt was dry and/or cracked and it needed replacing at $149. I live in Phoenix. 60,000 miles seems soon for the drive belt to go bad. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 4:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/2 "2008-09-24T04:18:40Z")
Not much to say except that it lasted a long time. Some are stretched out at 20,000 miles. You really don’t want to pay a $75 towing fee to go with a belt coming apart on the road. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/3 "2008-09-24T12:12:42Z")
I don’t think that 60k is too soon for belt replacement, and, in fact, I have replaced belts by that number of miles on more than one car. My thoughts: You could ignore their advice, continue to drive with a bad drive belt, and take your chances on being stranded in an inconvenient location, at an inconvenient time. I don’t recommend that you do this, but I don’t see an alternative to replacing a bad belt, no matter what the odometer mileage might be. ---
**Author:** ![art1966](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/77aa72/32.png) [@art1966](https://community.cartalk.com/u/art1966)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/4 "2008-09-24T12:45:28Z")
The other responders are right, but the price seems steep, and I infer that you took it to a Dealer for the checkup. You can probably find a competent independent mechanic who can do this job – and lots of other maintenance and repairs – cheaper than the dealer, and you will still meet the warranty service requirements. ---
**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 12:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/5 "2008-09-24T12:55:47Z")
I replace mine every 3 years/30k miles which is a little overkill. Is this a dealer? The price seems a little high. I suggest you replace it yourself for ~$30 or take it to an independent mechanic for ~$80 to $100. Ed B. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/6 "2008-09-24T18:21:13Z")
Ditto ditto ditto. You may also want to check your owner’s manual to see if you have a timing belt replacement coming due, and if so have them done together (the serpentine belt needs to ebe removed in the process anyway). I can’t recall whether the '05 has a belt or a chain. ---
**Author:** ![mbogart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/54ee81/32.png) [@mbogart](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mbogart)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2008, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/drive-belt/19946/7 "2008-09-24T21:56:38Z")
That’s significant mileage for a 2005. Count your blessings. I agree with everyone about the price. Buy the belt yourself (just googled for $19 average price). Ask around for recommended mechanics and I bet you can find one to put it in for $30 if you hand him the belt.