i cant tell if the 60k or 100k timing belt was installed on my 97obw about 4-5 years ago. anyone know when they started the 100k's? and how to tell which one i have???

THANKS

or is there any plain way to just inspect it??

if the part number is on the belt or you can compare belts then have a look. the left and right belt covers come off really easy (just a few 10mm bolts). remove those and have a look.

 

funny thing.... i asked this question about a month ago and really there's no way to know for sure. i think it best to be caustious and install a new one.

 

call the local subaru dealer and ask if they can run the VIN and check the records on it. i've done that before once with good results, though not for timing belt information. requires a nice guy at the dealer of course, but worth a shot.

havent had any service done at the dealer though.. so if there is some sort of part # on it shouldent they know which one it is? i thought u had to get deep into the engine bay to get to the timing belt???

i thought u had to get deep into the engine bay to get to the timing belt???

 

that's close. the problem is with semantics, not facts. what do you mean by "get to"? if you mean to change it, then yes you have to remove quite a bit off the front of the engine to get to the timing belt to completely remove it.

 

if by "get to" you mean to check the timing belt, then that's not correct. it's very easy to "get to" it in terms of just looking at it to inspect. remove a couple 10 mm bolts and you can look at the timing belt in all of 4 minutes or something. but just because you see it, doesnt' mean you're anywhere near close to being able to replace it.

 

pull those few 10mm bolts and have a look. have to turn the motor over by hand, takes a 22mm to turn the engine over as you watch the timing belt. keep turning until you see writing on the belt. i'm not sure if the part number is even printed on the belt though....as many as i've done i just don't recall. after market belts don't always have the part number on it so if it wasn't done by a subaru dealer it could have some no-name brand on there. in which case you could look that brand up and ask them the mileage interval recommended for changing. they should have online resources/recommendations for that.

 

timing belts aren't all that crazy of a job to do. they can be done in an hour or two....not that big of a deal. pretty good pay consider they're charging 600 or more! woot woot. i think the dealer will just tell you to replace it, doubt they'll rely much on checking it.....the last thing they want is to say "oh it's fine" then it breaks next month and you're trying to blame them for ruined valves and cracked pistons. so if you want to check it i'd have a friend look or do it yourself, i wouldn't expect the dealer to directly answer your question...they will say to replace it to protect themself and rightfully so as t-belt failure on these motors can result in major engine damage. i would do the same for anyone i'm doing a tbelt for.

For me with Subaru belt is 100,000 kms (62,000 miles) I replaced after 100,000 kms on my EJ22 and it was still in good condition.

Cheers

AP