# Timing belt

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [January 19, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187 "2009-01-19T19:33:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![judithgoss](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc348/32.png) [@judithgoss](https://community.cartalk.com/u/judithgoss)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187/1 "2009-01-19T19:33:43Z")

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IT IS TIME FOR ME TO REPLACE THE TIMING  
  
 BELT IN MITS.OUTLANDER. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I ALSO NEED TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP - IS  
  
 THIS TRUE?

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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:** [January 19, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187/2 "2009-01-19T19:55:22Z")

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No absolute need to replace the water pump. However it is a preventative maintenance issue and cost very low during a timing belt change. The reason is you should only be paying for the parts for water pump as nearly all the labor is already performed when a timing belt change happens.

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187/3 "2009-01-19T19:58:18Z")

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“as nearly all the labor is already performed when a timing belt change happens.”

…which is why it is a good idea to do the water pump. If you decide not to do it and it blows 6 months down the road you’ll be kicking yourself b/c you’ll be paying the same labor charges twice.

And turn off the all caps on your keyboard - this means that you’re YELLING!! and I doubt that is your intent.

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**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187/4 "2009-01-19T20:02:18Z")

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The dealer’s recommended period for changing the timing belt is, often, much shorter than the car maker’s recommendation. I would go with the car maker’s recommendation.

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**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\
**Post date:** [January 21, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt/25187/5 "2009-01-21T00:40:41Z")

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what does your owner’s manual show?