how do i know when it's time to change my timming belt on the 2003 protege?
do i refer to a recommended milage, is there an indicator or some significant other?

 

The owners manual is the best way. Go w/the recommended mileage. Timing belts are notorious fora no warning breakage and then you are gonna have real problems.

 

inspect at 60k miles, replace at 105k miles. if the belt is worn replace it.

If the belt breaks, you'll be fine. the FS-DE is a NON-interference engine. all you have to do is line up the cam timing marks and throw a new belt on, double check the timing and you're good to go.

 

i always just go with a 60k mile interval on timing belts. i am a little hard core on maintenance though.

at 60k, i do timing belt, water pump, fuel filter (not on my protege, since you can't without getting into the tank), check the alternator, flush the coolant, valve cover gasket, and do plug wires.

10k miles, i do plugs, head lights, external belts, and wheel bearings.

3k mile synthetic oil changes

that is waaay above and beyond the suggested service, but i have a pro5 with 80k miles that runs like a sewing machine and hasn't broken down one time. if you don't want to do that, go with the 60k mile inspection/105k mile replacement.

 

'Have ta' disagree w/you there cougar (see the * in the listing)....
http://www.familycar.com/CarCare/GatesFrame.htm
There are very few in the automotive world in general, so I just pretty much assume they all are instead of taking the chance and popping a piston, or bending valves.

And though they state a 105k interval, I agree w/wsoape. 60-80kand done.The belt is cheap enough to not take the chance. As long as you're capable of doing the labor yourself you'll save a ton o' money and your nerves will thank you.
At least it's not like the early days when you were lucky to get 35k out of a t-belt before it broke and had serious engine troubles.

 

there is a lot of shaky ground on this subject. i have always been told that these are non-interference engines by some and interference engines by others. only one way to really tell and that could or could not mess up the valves. i just always treat every car that i own as interference and keep up the maintenance before i need to repair. only one that i am 100% sure of is my rx7 because it doesn't have any valves at all.

 

guys who have taken their motors apart have confirmed, the FS-DE is Non-interference

 

i have heard both from people that have taken their motors apart and i have heard both from dealerships. i believe that they are non-interference.