Remember when timing belts had a service interval you could actually trust?

Back in 2008 I was working at a shop outside of Akron, Ohio. Had a customer come in with a 97 Honda Accord, 180,000 miles on it, original timing belt. He wanted me to just do a tune-up and send him on his way. I told him that belt was a time bomb, but he said he'd take his chances. Three weeks later he called me from a gas station off Route 8. Engine went clunk and died on the highway. I had to tow it in and replace the whole head because the valves got bent. Cost him $1,200 instead of the $350 belt job I quoted. These days the intervals are longer but the belts themselves seem thinner and more brittle. Has anyone else noticed the quality going downhill on the new OEM belts?

2 comments

2 Comments

wyattmitchell14h ago

Yeah, the quality on the new OEM belts is definitely not what it used to be. I remember back when I worked at a parts counter, we sold Gates belts that would go 90k miles easy, but now people come in with broken belts way before the recommended interval. My buddy's 2019 Civic snapped its belt at 85k miles, barely made it to the dealer lot. The rubber just feels cheaper, like they're using more filler material to save money. I've been seeing more Gates kits with chipped teeth even before installation, just sitting on the shelf. It's a real bummer because you used to set it and forget it, now you're holding your breath every time you recommend one.

the_charlie7h ago

Oh man, you're singing my song with this one. I actually read a pretty interesting article in one of the trade magazines a few months back that talked about how manufacturers are switching to a different rubber compound to meet new environmental rules. The thing is, these new belts might be more eco-friendly to produce, but they just don't hold up the same way. I heard the same thing from a retired engineer who used to work for a belt company, he said they're basically using recycled rubber filler now instead of the virgin stuff they used in the older Gates belts. The chipped teeth you're seeing on the shelf is a dead giveaway, that never used to happen. It's frustrating because you're right, it used to be a part you'd install and never worry about, but now it's just another thing that can leave you stranded.