Hi everyone,
I recently bought myself a 2012 Alfa Romeo Mito, manual with a 1.3 JTDM Diesel engine.
It is 9 years old but only has 23.000 miles. It was driven every year but of course not a lot.
I was told it is wise to have the timing belt changed despite the low milage, is that true?
Anything else I should look out for in this situation? Car looks pristine.
Thanks in advance!
Rubber deteriorates over time as well as due to mechanical wear. Best to replace it to prevent the engine from self-destructing. (I'm assuming you have an interference engine, most are.)
I would replace it.
You'll sleep a lot better at night knowing you replaced the timing belt, unless you really like waiting for tow trucks.
The timing belt is one of the crucial parts of the engine; it makes the cam turn over. Ask your mechanic and check it out to see if you need a new timing belt. It's a big job and the labor for that will cost a lot of money.
Thanks for your answer, I was also told that it's hard to see if a timing belt is OK or about to collapse. But I will have it checked out by my trusted mechanic.