timing belt life
 

Hi,
I have heard that millenia S has a non-interference engine. i.e. if timing belt breaks valves and pistons wont come in contact. Can anyone confirm that. I have got now 121K miles on ma 02 S. No problem at all and car runs lika dream.I have also heard that for CA state, the timing belt change time is 105 K and for other states its 60 K. I dont think so mazda manufactured different millenia for CA state. However, keeping in mind 105 K I think these belts last much longer dan that.
Thanks,
Somali

RE: timing belt life
 

you are correct. the engine is NON-interference. our(99) owner's manual, and the factory service manual, state that the belt is recommended to be changed at 105k. dont matter what state. it also says under SEVERE conditions, inspect the belt at 60k. one of the reasons people think the belt needs to be changed at 60k, is, besides plain ignorance, they havent read the manual. also, the dealer tells new owners that that belt needs to be changed at 60k. they also tell them that the oil needs to be changed at 3k. why? because they hope the owner will bring the car there for service. that was the old days, when the service was customer pay. nowdays, with total maintenance, they tell you the oil change interval is 7500k. why? because THEY are paying for it now.
i have never heard of a belt breaking on the millenia. i had 2 mitsubishi's, both with 4G63T motors, and they WERE interference. i had one belt break after 30k, broke 2 valves and 1 piston. i changed belts well before the recommended 60k on those cars because i knew what could happen.
you can change the belt for peace of mind, i am going to wait until i have to. however, you should be looking for stuff like oil/coolant leaks in that area, which can kill the belt. also, i have heard of tensioner/pulleys going.

RE: timing belt life
 

Back when I had mine I did my timing belt at the scheduled service.. cost me a fortune to have it done, I felt like a chump afterwards.

It is an NI engine, so there is no real worry other then being stranded on the side of the road.

RE: timing belt life
 

Thanks for the replies. Timing belts on these cars are very expensive ($1200). I have to change break pads as well and parts prices are skyhigh. I hope I get money to do this maintenance before timing belt breaks:P.
somali

RE: timing belt life
 

1200 for a timing belt? i hope that includes labor and a free trip to hawaii.
for brake pads, i recommend akebono ceramics. they look/feel/smell/taste/work like oem. you can find fronts for about 50 bucks, i forget what for rears. watch out, all ceramics are not the same. some will dust like there is no tomorrow.

RE: timing belt life
 

Yep! 1170 is the amounton quote which includes timing belt kit ( belt + bearings+...)+ waterpump + 5 hrs of labor.and he said he is the cheaptest guy for milleniain Des Moines, Iowa.
somali

RE: timing belt life
 

im confused, i am reading right here in my manual that the timing belt needs to be done at 60k and thedrive belt at 105k ( oh, I am in an 02' millenia s). also the extended warranty that i got states that if i dont change it at that interval and it breaks its not a covered item.

RE: timing belt life
 

How many miles you have got on your car? ( Please read what keninn wrote) I have got around 121K and NOW I am thinking to replce it.

RE: timing belt life
 

in both our owners' handbook, and the service manual, it says recommended change interval is 60k IF(read the fine print) #1. if 2/3, then 105k. both our cars are 99, my service manual is also 99. again, i have never heard of a timing belt breaking. a few tensioners/pulleys, but no belt. now, on the mitsu, EVERYONE was talking about changing the belt, and there are many posts about the belt breaking and fubar the motor. i also had this happen on my mitsu. so, if the belt was prone to breaking, lots of posts would already be out there.

RE: timing belt life
 

i am just under 60 k at this point and i am getting both belts done at the same time as a precausionary measure. I may be wasting my money but i always baby my cars. have you done anything to your car to enhance the performance at all. i have been talking to a friend who is in the process of upgrading his 300 zx tt up to 500 hp and i (of course) said man i wish my car was or could be that fast. im sure thats a huge stretch but a little extra pep would be a lot of fun.