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The timing belt on my 97 Legacy Outback 2.5 slipped.  The previous owner misled me on the last time it was replaced.  Anyway, is there any method to assess if there was any valve damage without doing the belt first or popping the heads off for more money?  I can't do the work myself as it is in a shop some distance from me. 

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Miles on engine? Like GD stated, he has never seen one break. It is pretty basic. If you can follow instructions to make cup cakes you can follow instructions to make sure your car has the timing belt set up right and running right. Don't be afraid. Subaru made these cars as if a mechanic designed it. The more you know the  more you will see that it is easy to know if your mechanic really knows what he is talking about or if he is taking you for a ride. I had a girl friend that I taught about Subaru's and she would stub the guy at the parts store. 

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Just pull the valve covers and check the valve lash. If any of them have a really big gap then the valve is bent and not closing. 

 

Valve lash is an often neglected maintenance item on that engine anyway so it should probably be done regardless of the belt slipping or not. Typically the #2 and #4 exhaust valve get tight and need to be reshimmed.

 

GD

Edited by GeneralDisorder
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It's going to require work no matter how you slice it. 

 

installing a belt and cranking is the easiest.  you don't need to reinstall the cover or even the crank and accessory pulleys - use battery power or jump it off another car.  easy.  find someone with a used belt to borrow or post in the parts wanted section, someone might ship you one for next to nothing. 

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