Hey, Scotty.
First, let me say that I love your channel. I rarely bother to go anywhere else for car and car repair info any more. Thank you for what you do.
Second, I'm fairly mechanically inclined. I can fix most things car and house related. I'm 59 and did my first oil change and tune-up in 1975 on my dad's 1971 Saab 99E. That thing was a beast - great in the snow, built like a tank, and lasted a long time through my dad, then my mom (who had a tendency to wreck cars), then me. I was young then and beat the c*** out of it, but it still kept going. Like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Jeep, and many others, this early version Saab was better than what came later when they got popular and became status symbols for insecure people. Popularity often seems to ruin things.
That said, modern cars are a different story. Too many electronics and computer components that I don't understand and am not qualified to work on. Our Volvo doesn't even have a dipstick, spare, or jack. And it has that silly plastic engine cover. I like the car and it's great to drive, but it's definitely more complicated than it needs to be... unlike our 2011 Yaris.
Anyway, we recently took the Volvo to our mechanic for the probably unnecessary regular service check. They reminded me that this model has the interference engine design and a timing belt (instead of a chain, unfortunately) that's supposed to be preemptively changed at ~100k miles. This one has ~150k mostly highway miles. They want more than $1200 to fix something that's not broken. The parts are less than $300 so at least $900 of this quote is labor.
It's been a long time, but I've done this kind of work on older cars before. I'm considering doing it myself but, frankly, I'm a little intimidated because this is a complex modern car that doesn't even have traditional timing marks where I'm used to seeing them. Have you done this job before? Is it something that should be left to pros?
I do understand the risk of rubber timing belts and what can happen to an interference engine if it breaks. But I'm wondering how necessary this job really is. What's your opinion?
Thanks and have a great day,
Eric
But I'm wondering how necessary this job really is.
It is 100% necessary unless you want to risk engine sudden death. You'd have to look up the details of what's involved in changing the belt - I'm not familiar with that engine, I drive a Saab with a timing chain that's still good after more than 370,000 miles.
😎
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2AWj2nLfqI
Thanks, Chuck. Without assuming they just don't give a damn about longevity or unnecessary expenses for their customers, it's hard to understand why any manufacturer uses rubber timing belts. A lot of so-called "luxury cars" seem to be designed to be great for people who buy new every few years and crappy for anyone who thinks things should last when you take good care of them.
it's hard to understand why any manufacturer uses rubber timing belts
Rubber timing belts are extremely common. Always have been.
For small low power engines they just make sense because they are simple, inexpensive and sufficient. The operate more quietly than chains, and reduce weight and complexity of the engine. They are replaced before they stretch or wear out , meaning the engine should always have perfect valve timing (which is important for efficient operation)
