Folks,
I see that reccomended time to replace the timing belt assembly on my STI is at 105k but im currently at around 68k and my mechanic down in San Diego (my wife has the subie while im wasting away at Ft. Huachucha Arizona...) says it should be replaced soon. When i lived in San Diego all the subie and evo guys i know take their car to him...do I really need to make a 800$ replacement now or can this wait...thoughts? Oh and I havent driven or seen my car in a month so I dont know of any noises or performance issues at this time.

 

If he doesn't have a reason for it then absolutely not.

The only way he would know it has any problems is if he pulled the covers off and unless he was in there making another repair I highly doubt that he did.

There is no way in hell I would make a repair that costly until it's needed and at that mileage it should not be needed.

And if you're having it done at a shop it's gonna be a lot more than $800 if it's done right. You're talking bout all the pullies, the belt, the tensioner, water pump and thermostat. It's damn near $800 just in parts.

Honestly... sounds to me like a shop trying to take advantage of someone that doesn't know any better.

I'd call them and ask what their reasoning is and if they pulled the covers and looked at it.

I wouldn't even start thinking about it for another 25k.

 

Yea 68k seems way to early unless something ripped it

 

I did mine at the 90k but that was under the advice of my mechanic, he suspected a broken idler. Sure enough there was one. 70k sounds pretty soon to need it to me. I am no Subaru mechanic however.

Give dude a call and ask why he want's to do it.

As OneManArmy said, all that other stuff should be replaced too.

 

Agreed, under 70k just seems way too early. If you want to do it early, I'd say 90k-105k. You are going to also change out 2 Idlers, a tensioner, water pump and stat along with that belt. Parts alone costed me a little over $400 and thats with a good 'hook up' through a parts warehouse a friend works at.

 

Yeah I did mine around 70k because my water pump was leaking. Then I did it again about 100k later and did everything but the water pump as it was doing fine and I didn't have the money. Parts were probably $470 even without the water pump and that was with a 20% discount.

Then I did it again... well GST did it about 1500 miles later LOL! So I've had 4 timing belts. 2 water pumps. 3 thermostats. 2 radiators. 4 sets of hoses. LOL.

Yeah 90k on the early side. 100-105 is about on time. I wouldn't stretch it much past 110-115. Just not worth it. Snapped a belt on my wife's VW and the motor was toast. Friggin $60 in parts cost us a car.

 

I've been thinking about the timing belt as well, the maintenance schedule says 105k miles or 105 months(8.75 yrs) - whichever comes first. My 04 only has 67k miles but is nearly that age...

 

Pull a cover and check for signs of drying... cracks, etc.

 

i second that!

 

Ask for pictures. :-) People do it all the time where I work and we gladly oblige. A picture is a technicians portfolio imo.

 

thanks folks! Like I said, Its been a month since ive even seen the subie. but i thought it was waaay to early. I think Ill get a second opinion from a shop up in the bay area when me and the wife get back there.