There is a thing called belt dressing... but its used when the belt is slipping... to prevent it from slipping.

 

yeah belt dressing is good. I don't use WD-40 on belts because it has a drying effect like alcohol.....with repeated use it can cause a belt to dry out prematurly....this isn't a problem though if you're only doing it once or twice in moderation.

 

Have also heard you can rub a bar of soap on the back side of the belts. Yeah gcs118, the belt would slip once in a blue moon if I ran the heater/defroster right after a weekly "application." Anyways, the WD-40 got me through this winter and the new belts are on. Time for another 105K (trouble-free I hope) miles.

 

soap, wd40, etc.....goo dlord people, if your belts are squeaking, just change them...

 

Why change the T-Belt at 60K? The manual says to "inspect" it at 60K and change if necessary. The scheduled change is at 105K as the gentleman above briefly mentions. My car is almost all highways miles...at 65K I haven't even inspected the T-Belt...but I will soon. My original brakes are still good. Did do a Transmission flush and fill at 50K and Spark Plug change at 60K myself...a piece of cake...used a torque wrench as specified. All other fluids look good...and I ain't messin' with nuthin' that's not broke....at least not yet.

 

as far as i know, my car, a 2000 ES with the 1.8 L is schedules for a belt change at 60K. There was a guy on here who didnt change his and it broke and caused him many problems.

I might let it go longer, but well see when the time comes.

maybe you car is different? do you have the 2.0L?

 

the guy above siad he had 105k trouble free miles on is car, not his timing belt.

If you have to do a lot of work to inspect it, you might as well change it while your in there, but i dont know whats involved on these cars as i havent done it yet.

 

You are right...my car is a 2.0 and a 2001...it could be different...sorry about that.

 

BTW, my car less than 2 years old, so time-wise (exposure to the elements, aging of the rubber, etc.) the belt wasn't that old. But in terms of pure mileage it was time to change it going by the book. It's mostly freeway miles, and the old belt looked VERY good. But maybe looks aren't everything. I don't know if the 2.0L FS motor is an "interference" motor or not, and I don't plan on finding out! For what it's worth, my old 2nd generation 1.5L called for 105K also, but I don't know what the 1.8L timing belt interval is "officially." I agree that inspecting it would be 95% as much trouble as changing it, just looking down in there at the tiny space led me to have the work done by a shop. I'm too old for that sh*t anymore. I'm sure glad to see a trend back towards timing chains, as in the new Mazda 3.

 

My understanding about the 2.0L FS motor is that if the timing belt were to brake, nothing will be hurt...I'd just be stranded. Don't know if that makes it an "interference" or "non-interference" engine. All I know is that the Mazda dealer told me that the engine will turn over until it stops (the car slowing down rapidly until it stops too) and that no pistons nor head would be damaged.

 

thats strange why all these other mazdas are calling for belt check at 105K and mine says change it at 60K? Something else strange, my book mentioned if the car was originally sold in certain states (cali, NY, maine, and a couple others) that you didnt have to change the belt at 60K.

So explain that one? maybe low emissions states have stronger belts on the cars sold there? Doesnt make sense.

I might have to dig out the manual to double check all this, but I know its in there somehting like what I described.

Anybody have any idea?

 

Mine is a Calif car. A dealer mechanic (non-mazda) told me once that is has to do with the emission controls warranty. Apparently since the state mandates a 100K warranty on emission controls, I guess theoretically a customer could insist that his 60K mile timing belt replacement should be covered "under warranty" since the car would certainly fail the Smog Check if were out of timing or the belt were to break, or so goes the logic this mechanic explained to me. I can't vouch for the accuracy of this, he is a heavy drinker too. Aren't all hardcore mechanics? It would seem logical though for Mazda to make all the belts good for 105K miles, I mean, why not make them all less of a PITA? I dunno.

 

so I wonder if I should worry about changing mine at 60K or let it ride?

 

I might not have the dealer do it.. however I would at least call them and ask them when it is supposed to be changed.

 

ok, I have the manual in front of me.

It says to change it at 60K miles, unless the following apply:

your vehicle was originally registered in CA, NY,MA,CT,Vermont, NJ, RI, Delaware, NH, PA, Virgina, Maine, washington DC. In this case, the schedule is as such:Inspect at 60K, 90K and replace at 105K.

it goes on to explain it like this: according to state and federal regulations, failure to perform maintenance on these items will not void your emissions warranties. However, mazda recommends that all maintenance services be performed at the recommended time or mileage period to ensure long term reliability.

So it looks like th ebelt will last 105K , but they prefer you to change it at 60K. Hmmmmmmmmm....I guess Ill let mine go until I feel like changing it, at whatever mileage that happens to be...