# Should I sell my car or spend money on timing belt replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 1, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722 "2009-07-01T18:02:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![uncleut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed8c4c/32.png) [@uncleut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/uncleut1)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/1 "2009-07-01T18:02:41Z")
I have a 1999 Acura 3.2 TL. I’ve put almost 200,000 miles on it and according to the owners manual, it’s time for a second timing belt replacement (I replaced it once at around 120,000 miles). I’m trying to decide whether I should sell/trade my car in to get a new one or spend money replacing the timing belt and hope that it will last a few more years. I appreciate your input. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/2 "2009-07-01T18:14:53Z")
How’s it running now?? Any other issues?? Rust?? 200k really isn’t that many miles for this vehicle. Also at 200k you’re averaging less then 20k/yr…so 2-3 more years is only about 50k miles. If the rest of the vehicle is in good shape I say spend the money and get it fixed. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/3 "2009-07-01T18:17:45Z")
As it is, your car has little value, so don’t spend too much time agonizing over this…If you have not replaced the transmission, that back-breaker can not be far off. If you can afford a new car without taking on an uncomfortable debt load, now might be a good time to start shopping… ---
**Author:** ![uncleut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed8c4c/32.png) [@uncleut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/uncleut1)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/4 "2009-07-01T18:22:15Z")
Thanks for your response. No, I haven’t replaced my transmission yet. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/5 "2009-07-01T18:52:25Z")
Usually those timing belts have a 8yr/105,000 mile life. So based off that(last change 120k+105k interval) you are not due until 225,000 miles. I would wait until you hit that mileage and then dump it or replace it. Your vehicle will not change much in value over those 25k miles and a year or so at this point of depreciation. ---
**Author:** ![uncleut1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ed8c4c/32.png) [@uncleut1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/uncleut1)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/6 "2009-07-01T18:59:19Z")
Thanks everyone for your input. I’ve been having a little bit problem with the car but it is not getting worse. The problem I’ve been having is sometime I feel like the car jumps like a horse, pauses and hesitates a little bit during the first gear. But it runs just fine after that. ---
**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:** [July 1, 2009, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/should-i-sell-my-car-or-spend-money-on-timing-belt-replacement/32722/7 "2009-07-01T20:13:57Z")
The timing belt replacement mileage for your engine 105,000 miles. So the first thing I would ask if I were looking into purchasing this vehicle would be, “When was the timing belt/water pump last replaced?”. And since the vehicle is very near the mileage where replacement is required again, You’ld have to knock some money off the asking price before I would buy it. Tester