New to me S40, 112k mi. What do I have to do to find out if it has a new timing belt? PO is no source of info. Is there an inspection port or way to sneak a peek easily? Do newer ones look significantly different than old ones?

Thanks,

M

 

You can take the top cover off and look at the belt to see if it has cracks, glazing etc . there are 6 allen type screws on the cover to remove

While you have it removed check your wires and spark plugs.

 

Thanks, I have to figure out how to do spark plugs this weekend anyway. Its hard to start sometimes but runs find otherwise...

 

Remove the upper plastic engine beauty cover then the upper/inner timing belt cover. IIRC, 6 torx bolts and you can see the timing belt as it goes over the intake and exhaust cam gears. Whether it's new or not might be hard to tell depending on how many miles the car has since changing. Personally, if there is any question I'd replace it along with the tensioner and idler. The cost of a broken timing belt is 8 bent exhaust valves.

 

Yea, most PO's brag about the maintenance. If there was no bragging, there was no maintenance. Thus the hard starting issues. As said, better safe than sorry with a damaged motor.

 

It's not usually the belt that fails, it's the tensioners/ rollers. They crap out and toss the belt.
Replace it all.

 

I pulled the covers and it looks like it needs a timing belt. The outside has tiny cracks all over it. Looks like you go in from the wheel well. Replace tensioners also right - What brands are ok? Is it a straight forward job like a 940. Pull the serpentine belt, harmonic balancer and cover. It looks like a seal is gone in the area. Is there a seal that can be replaced while I'm in there? What else should be replaced while I'm there. Water pump??? Do I need any gaskets - special tools?

 

LOL, man, you need to google some instructions. If it's like the 960 and 850 belt, you will NOT have to pull the harmonic balancer. The motor is an interfierence motor so you will NEED to align the timing before you do anything. Most people replace the water pump but I don't unless it's leaking. Also, if you see oil back there you should probably replace the cam seals. Changes the skill level of the job, bigger chance of messing up the timing and causing major damage.

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