Dear Tom and Ray:

My Toyota dealer keeps sending advertisements warning me of the dire consequences that may befall me if I do not change my timing belt at 60,000 miles. Do I really need to replace the timing belt on my 1990 Corolla (which now has 60,000 miles) or is this just hype? -- Bruce

Tom: It all depends upon whether or not you consider getting stranded a dire consequence, Bruce.

Ray: Timing belts do last about 60,000 miles. And after that, they're likely to break with absolutely no warning. One minute they're fine; the next minute you're twiddling your thumbs by the side of the road.

Tom: And on certain, specific cars, the consequences are, in fact, quite dire. Honda engines and many Nissan engines, for example, crush their own valves when the timing belt breaks, leading to very expensive engine rebuilds -- or last rites (for the cars, that is).

Ray: But on your Toyota, it's simply a matter of getting stranded, Bruce. So if you never go further than walking distance from home or public transportation, and if you can afford to be without the car for a few days (or over a weekend) with no notice when the belt breaks, then don't change it. Just wait it out.

Tom: But if it would be inconvenient or detrimental to your health to be making a left turn in front of an oncoming tractor trailer when the belt decides to break, I'd go ahead and change it. It only costs a couple of hundred dollars. Plus, you're going to have to do it eventually anyway. Why not do it now and save yourself the trouble of having to try to make intelligent conversation about Rottweilers with the guy who drives the tow truck?

Spending a little money now on "preventive maintenance" can save you big bucks down the road. Find out how by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1996 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Back to the September 1996 index