100k Timing Belt

[LotusGT]

Hello, July 2011 I got the interval 4 service done at 97,117k on my Liberty GT. Excluding oil and filter (as I had this done elsewhere) this cost $890.

Recently (last month) I've had the car into another workshop for an oil change (110,000k) and altnerator / powersteering belt changes. They commented I needed to get the cambelt changed to which I told them it had been, and could they please explain why they thought it hadn't. Their main reason is that there in no sticker in the engine bay to suggest it's been done. On it's own I would not be paying much attention to this. Another thing they commented on was that the air filter was 'filthy' which it should not have been given it was (allegedly) replaced only 13,000ks ago when the interval 4 service was done. The funny thing is that at the interval 4 service the mechanic made a big song and dance about how crap the Suby dealers were (where the car had been serviced most of it's life) and that the filter had evidently not been change for a long time. He cited the reason being it's hard to get to and all the dealerships are full of lazy apprentices etc etc. Even showed me the dirty filter in the bin......Funny to say the least, given the filter is filthy again only 13,000 later. Car is driven in suburbia only, by my wife, so not exactly a gravel rally warrior.

I have to say it's got me wondering if the Interval 4 guy has been doing what he said he did. Clearly of most concern is the cambelt.

Long story short, I need to know with certainty if it has been done and would appreciate knowing how this can be done without ripping the covers off the engine to check.

I'll keep the name of the workshop to myself in this post but would be happy to PM it to an experienced member who may be able to give me an opion on their integrity. It was recommended to me from the WRX forum.

Thanks guys.

[dr20t]

No way of knowing without ripping timing cover off

Even then it won't be proof

I'd go back to the original workshop and ask questions

Although i must say it is a bit silly of the second workshop assuming timing belt hasn't been done purely because there is no sticker there

This is my frustration with 80% of mechanics who don't give two hoots about vehicles and don't have a passion for what they're doing so most of the time know less than the customer they're doing work for

Good luck

[PSISUBI]

From what I understand and from speaking to my Subaru mechanic the timing belt should be done at the 125k service.

[dr20t]

From what I understand and from speaking to my Subaru mechanic the timing belt should be done at the 125k service.

That is correct for the 2.5 but not the 2.0 GT

100k should be the limit for 2.0. These are higher revving and thus more susceptible to stretch

[Dropz]

Pre 2006 the belt is changed every 100k. Post 2006 it is changed every 125k. Regardless of turbo or non turbo.

Best way to check if the belt was changed is remove the LH timing cover (very easy to access) and see if you can easily read the writing on the timing belt. A new or near new belt is often quite easy to read, whereas the older the belt is the more the writing has worn off.

Fitting a sticker is very old school. Being in a dealership I've never personally fitted a sticker, but then again, I don't do this at home, nor do I know of a local workshop that does. The only person I know that fits a sticker is a friends dad, who has owned his workshop for over 20 years.

The air filters do tend to get dirty quickly. Oil filled filters tend to turn black where the dust passes through the filter. Soft fluff filters tend to get dusty and trap alot of insects/ leaves etc. It is not recommended to clean out the factory oil filled filters in earlier libertys, however you can rotate them to get a cleaner surface area. The soft fluff filters (gen4/5) you can clean out with compressed air, blowing it in the reverse direction of flow.

To me it sounds like your new mechanic is trying to get some extra coin from you.

[PSISUBI]

Pre 2006 the belt is changed every 100k. Post 2006 it is changed every 125k. Regardless of turbo or non turbo.

Best way to check if the belt was changed is remove the LH timing cover (very easy to access) and see if you can easily read the writing on the timing belt. A new or near new belt is often quite easy to read, whereas the older the belt is the more the writing has worn off.

Fitting a sticker is very old school. Being in a dealership I've never personally fitted a sticker, but then again, I don't do this at home, nor do I know of a local workshop that does. The only person I know that fits a sticker is a friends dad, who has owned his workshop for over 20 years.

The air filters do tend to get dirty quickly. Oil filled filters tend to turn black where the dust passes through the filter. Soft fluff filters tend to get dusty and trap alot of insects/ leaves etc. It is not recommended to clean out the factory oil filled filters in earlier libertys, however you can rotate them to get a cleaner surface area. The soft fluff filters (gen4/5) you can clean out with compressed air, blowing it in the reverse direction of flow.

To me it sounds like your new mechanic is trying to get some extra coin from you.

So you're saying that a car that has a build plate of 12/05 should have the major service including timing belt change at 100k, even though Subaru's own service manual says 125k ?

[Dropz]

No, a 12/05 is an my06 model therefore it will be 125k

Subaru release their new year models in sep/oct each year. So about 09/05 or 10/05 onwards are my06 builds and therefore come under the 2006 service schedule.

[LotusGT]

Thanks guys. Sorry, been off line for a while. I'll take it all on board but given there is some doubt I'll get the covered removed to know for sure. New mechanic said he'd charge an hour to do this so $100 for some peace of mind is not too bad.

Appreciate your replies.

[Dropz]

An hour? That's not right.

Remove the coolant over flow, and the timing cover. That's one clip and 3 bolts, 10 minutes MAX. It would take me an hour to remove the timing belt and associated tensioners, no power tools.