Timing belt questions... to replace or not replace

[Stangme]

My wife has a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander SUV with 103,000 miles on it and it purrs like a kitten, and as many know, Mitsubishi's if well maintained can exceed 200,000 mile plus, and some up to 300,000 miles.

The Mitsubishi maintenance book recommends changing the timing belt at 100,000 miles and this leads me to these questions as timing belts rarely ever go bad that I have found and heard.

1- Are the chances of this timing belt going bad now, in the near future, far futrure or at all in the life of this Outlander very slim to none? A very good chance it will? or 50-50 chance it will?

2- Would you recomend paying $900.00 plus to change it, all the parts, and water pump for a recommendation, maybe or if?


If interested or if you know anyone looking for a well maintained and good running SUV, it is for sale as my wife has had to reduce her work hours due to health issues and is having a hard time paying on the loan so we must let it go for $5,500.00 or acceptable offer

[BurnTire]

If it runs well and you are looking to sell I wouldn't change it.

[Darkhorse04]

I would not take any changes especially if it runs the water pump. More then likely its an interferance motor and if the timing belt lets go then your pistons will slam the valves and damage everything. And its not a 50/50 chance its a it will break one day! Timing belts are very weird one day they look great and a few weeks later they are starting to fray. Also where did you hear they rarely go bad I have seen more timing belts take a dump from people like you that don't go by recommendations because they think if its not broke don't fix it. So pay hundreds now or thousands later! And your in your post your saying well maintained go 200-300,000 miles, well if your not following the maintain tables then don't expect it to last. Also when you do change your water pump and timing belt and tensioners make sure you get dealer parts! If you go buy an autozone water pump because it has a lifetime warranty and its cheap then just remember your getting what your paying for. So if the water pump seizes and rips the teeth off the belt and the motor free spins it will damage everything. So after thousands of dollars of repairs at least you can get another free water pump!

[Darkhorse04]

If it runs well and you are looking to sell I wouldn't change it.

X2 if your going to sell it in the near future but like I said above if your thinking you may keep it.

[fazm]

X2 if your going to sell it in the near future but like I said above if your thinking you may keep it.

ive had 2 outlanders in my shop with snapped belts. one at 80ish thousand miles and the other at 150k+.

both jobs ended up being nearly 2000 when said and done (16 valves, timing belt, water pump, cylinder head removal and machining, etc)

to do a timing belt and water pump on an outlander shouldnt cost more than 600 out the door (including taxes, fluids, labor, etc)