Timing belt changing interval for different cars is 60,000 to 100,000 miles of driving or 6-10 years on average. However, the interval varies with the car brand, model, engine type, driving condition, etc. You may have to change the timing belt sooner than the recommended interval as it can prematurely wear if not maintained properly.
Apart from the replacement interval, some car manufacturers recommend the inspection interval of the timing belt as well. Keep reading to know when to change timing belt on your car and when to inspect it.
When to Change Timing Belt On Toyota?
Timing belts in Toyota cars are typically long-lasting. Most of them go around 90,000 miles to 100,000 miles.
In some of the models of Toyota, the timing belt changing interval is around 60,000 miles, especially for rough driving. Rough driving includes driving at high speed for a long time, and sudden acceleration.
Let’s have a quick look at Toyota timing belt changing intervals depending on the car model.
| Toyota Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Toyota Camry | 60,000 to 90,000 Miles |
| Toyota 4 Runner | 100,000 Miles |
| Toyota Corolla | 60,000 miles |
| Toyota Highlander | 90,000 miles |
| Toyota Sienna | 90,000 to 100,000 Miles |
| Toyota Tundra | 90,000 to 100,000 Miles |
| Toyota Avalon | 60,000 to 90,000 Miles |
| Toyota Solara | 90,000 to 100,000 Miles |
*The timing belt replacement interval varies with the car’s model-year and engine type. Consult the owner’s manual to find the exact interval of your car.
When To Change Timing Belt On Honda?
For normal driving, Honda suggests changing the timing belt every 90,000 miles to 105,000 miles. And for rough driving, the interval is 60,000 miles of driving. The range depends on the car models.
| Honda Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Honda Odyssey | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Accord | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Pilot | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Ridgeline | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Prizm | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Storm | 60,000 to 105000 miles |
| Honda Passport | 75,000 to 100,000 miles |
*The replacement interval will vary with the engine type and the car release year. Check the owner’s manual for the exact intervals.
When To Replace Timing Belt on Chevrolet?
Most Chevrolet car models’ timing belts need to be changed after every 60,000 miles of use. Chevrolet provides the timing belt inspection interval for some models as well.
| Chevrolet Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Chevrolet Optra | 60,000 miles30,000 miles (inspect) |
| Chevrolet Metro | 100,000 miles60,000 miles (inspect) |
| Chevrolet Lumina | 60,000 miles |
*The timing belt replacement interval may differ based on the model year and engine type of your vehicle. Check the owner’s manual for your specific engine to determine the replacement interval.
When To Change Timing Belt on Fiat?
Fiat timing belts are sensitive and require very frequent replacement. The recommended timing belt replacement interval for Fiat cars is 25,000 miles to 35,000 miles on average.
| Fiat Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval |
| Fiat 124 | 25,000 miles |
| Fiat 128 | 36,000 miles |
| Fiat 131 | 25,000 miles |
| Fiat X1/9 | 30,000 miles |
| Fiat Strada | 30,000 miles |
| Fiat Spider | 30,000 miles |
When To Change Timing Belt on Ford?
In most Ford car models after 1997, the timing belt changing interval is 120,000 miles of driving. Models before that require a timing belt change after every 60,000 miles of driving on average.
| Ford Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Ford Focus | 120,000 miles |
| Ford Ranger | 60,000 to 120,000 miles |
| Ford Contour | 60,000 to 120,000 miles |
| Ford Escape | 120,000 miles |
| Ford Escort | 120,000 miles |
| Ford Taurus | 100,000 miles |
*The timing belt replacement interval will vary depending on the model, year and engine type of your vehicle. For specific information, check the owner’s manual.
When To Change Timing Belt on Kia?
The average timing belt changing interval requirement in Kia is 80,000 miles of driving. Also, there are some recommendations for inspection intervals.
Some Kia cars in California (CA) have a different recommended interval than other regions.
| Kia Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Kia Soul | 80,000 miles60,000 miles (inspect) |
| Kia Spectra | 60,000 to 80,000 miles105,000 miles (CA)60,000 miles (inspect) |
| Kia Rio | 60,000 to 80,000 miles105,000 miles (CA)60,000 miles (inspect) |
| Kia Sorento | 40,000 to 60,000 miles |
| Kia Optima | 60,000 to 80,000 miles105,000 miles (CA)60,000 miles (inspect) |
* This interval varies depending on the engine type and usage.
*The replacement interval can be different based on the model year and engine type. Refer to the owner’s manual for your engine to figure out the recommended timing belt replacement interval.
When To Change Timing Belt on Audi?
Audi cars have different timing belt-changing interval requirements depending on the model and engine type. This interval ranges usually from 90,000 miles to 105,000 miles. Also, Audi has a recommendation for timing belt inspection intervals.
| Audi Models | Timing Belt Replacement Interval |
| Audi A3 | 90,000 miles75,000 miles (inspect) |
| Audi A4 | 80,000 to 105,000 miles 75,000 miles (inspect) |
| Audi A6 | 525,00 to 105,000 miles |
When To Change Timing Belt on Volkswagen?
On Volkswagen, the average range for replacing the timing belt is after every 60,000 miles to 90,000 miles of driving.
| Volkswagen Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Volkswagen Golf | 60,000 to 90,000 miles |
| Volkswagen Scirocco | 60,000 miles |
| Volkswagen Phaeton | 80,000 miles |
*The replacement interval can vary depending on the driving condition. Rough driving requires a more frequent inspection and replacement of the timing belt.
When To Change Timing Belt on Volvo?
Most models of Volvo require a timing belt change after every 105,000 miles of driving except for a few models.
| Volvo Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Volvo V40 | 105,000 miles |
| Volvo C30 | 105,000 miles |
| Volvo S60 | 105,000 miles |
| Volvo XC90 | 105,000 to 120,000 miles |
*The replacement interval can vary depending on the engine type in some models.
When to Replace Timing Belt on Acura?
Changing the timing belt is recommended after every 90,000 miles to 105,000 miles of driving in most Acura cars.
| Accura Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Acura MDX | 60,000 to 105,000 miles |
| Acura TL | 60,000 to 105,000 miles |
*The timing belt replacement interval may need to be more frequent if you love rough driving. In such cases, it’s also necessary to inspect the timing belt more often.
When To Change Timing Belt on Hyundai?
Most Hyundai car models have a required timing belt replacement of 60,000 miles of driving. However, the Hyundai Santa Fe has a different requirement than that.
| Hyundai Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval* |
| Hyundai Accent | 60,000 miles |
| Hyundai Elantra | 60,000 miles |
| Hyundai Santa Fe | 60,000 to 97,500 miles |
*The interval varies depending on the driving condition, engine type, and release year of the car. For more specific information, check the owner’s manual.
When To Change Timing Belt on Suzuki?
Most Suzuki cars require a timing belt change after every 60,000 miles of driving. However, inspecting the timing belt for damage after every 30,000 miles of driving is recommended.
| Suzuki Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval |
| Suzuki Grand Vitara | 60,000 miles30,000 miles (inspect) |
| Suzuki Swift | 60,000 miles30,000 miles (inspect) |
When To Replace Timing Belt On Subaru?
Subaru lineups before 1998 require a timing belt change after every 60,000 miles of driving. In newer models after 1998, the interval is 105,000 miles of driving. Some models of Subaru are exceptional to this rule.
| Subaru Model | Timing Belt Replacement Interval |
| Subaru Legacy | 60,000 to 105,000 miles |
| Subaru Loyale | 52,000 miles |
Summary:
On average, a car timing belt must be changed at 60,000 miles to 100,000 miles of driving. However, the interval varies widely depending on the car brand and model.
When To Replace Timing Belt Sooner Than Recommended?
There are some situations when you may need to change the timing belt before the recommended time. Let’s discuss how do you know when to change the timing belt.
- The engine light on can be an indicator of a bad timing belt. Although this can indicate problems in the engine as well, this sign will be there when it’s time to change the belt.
- You will notice a lower fuel economy.
- There will be knocking or tapping noises coming from the engine. These sounds can indicate other problems as well.
- Excessive white smoke emission will occur through the exhaust pipe of your car.
- The engine will overheat.
If you notice these signs, inspect the timing belt. If you find any wear or tear on the belt, replace it immediately.
Moreover, even if the timing belt is visibly not damaged, you can still notice these signs for some other relevant reasons. For example, the timing belt is tensioned too tight or too loose, the timing belt alignment is wrong, the pulley bearings are damaged, and the valves are faulty. If you notice these signs, consult a technician to fix the problem.
Additionally, don’t get confused while dealing with driving belts, they’re different from timing belts.
Summary:
Overheated engines, unusual noises, and excess emissions are common timing belt warning signs.
What Causes Your Timing Belt to Wear Out Faster?
Although there is a recommended timing belt replacement interval, the belt can still go bad faster than it should. The reasons behind this are given below.
- If the timing belt is not tensioned correctly, it can cause excessive stress on the belt and cause it to wear out faster.
- If the timing belt is exposed to oil or dirt, it can wear out faster than it should.
- If your car’s engine remains overheated for a long time for some reason, it can cause the timing belt to stretch.
- Using a lower-quality timing belt can cause it to wear out faster than a higher-quality belt.
- If the timing belt alignment is not correct, the belt can wear out faster.
- The timing belt can wear out faster depending on the rough driving, such as driving at a high speed for a long time.
These are some of the reasons for the timing belt might show signs of failure earlier than it should. Other problems like the timing being off on your engine might show up sometimes, make sure you have a clear idea about that.
What Happens If You Don’t Replace the Timing Belt?
If the timing belt is not replaced when it is supposed to be, it can break or fail prematurely.
In an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, the engine will stop running and will likely suffer severe damage. The pistons and valves in an interference engine share the same space in the cylinder head. And if the timing belt breaks, the pistons can collide with the valves.
This can bend or break the valves, damage the pistons, or cause other serious damage to the engine.
In a non-interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, the engine will stop running but the pistons and valves will not collide. However, it is still important to replace the timing belt as soon as possible, as the engine will not run until it is repaired.
so, it is important to replace the timing belt after the recommended interval or if you notice the sign of the belt failing.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost
On average, you may have to pay anywhere from $100 to $350 for a timing belt kit. A timing belt kit includes a timing belt, a tensioner pulley, an idler pulley, and a water pump pulley. These components are recommended to replace together.
If you want to replace the timing belt in a mechanic shop, the total replacement cost can range from $500 to $1,000 or more. The timing belt cost and the labor cost highly depend on the car mode, the region, and the belt quality.
FAQs
When To Change Timing Belt Lexus?
Since 1998, All the Lexus cars, including ES 350, RX 470, RX 300, and RX 350, require a timing belt change after every 90,000 miles of driving. Models that were released before 1998 require a timing belt change after every 60000 miles of driving.
When To Change Timing Belt Nissan?
All Nissan cars require a timing belt change after every 60,000 miles of driving. The only exception is for Nissan 300ZX, non-turbo engines. They require a timing belt replacement after every 105,000 miles of driving.
When To Replace Timing Belt on BMW?
If you own a BMW car, you must replace the timing belt after every 60,000 miles of driving, regardless of the car model.
Conclusion
I hope now you know when to change timing belt on your car. Make sure you inspect and replace the belt within the recommended interval. This will help the smooth operation and increase the longevity of your car engine.
That’s it for today. Have a good day!
