Timing Belt change - time not mileage?

[TeryT]

This actually is regarding my other vehicle, a 99 Camry. We just inherited this vehicle with only 64k miles on it. The book says the timing belt should be changed at 90k, but I heard somewhere that there is also a time duration of like 6-7 years. Obviously, this low mileage Camry is 12 years old.

Has anyone heard of the need to change a timing belt according to time instead of mileage? I can't find anything on it.

Thanks!

 

[borgzman]

Time factor when its 12 yrs old.

 

[TeryT]

Time factor when its 12 yrs old.

Thanks. What do you base that on - why not 10 years or 14? I obviously don't want to just do it on a whim, as it will cost a couple bucks to do. I had never heard of the time factor until just recently, and wonder where it comes from.

BTW: The Camry has a noninterference engine, so it shouldn't be harmed if the belt does break.

 

[DaveS]

The timing belt is in part made of rubber compounds which age over time regardless of use. I would definitely get it done - you may not need to replace the water pump though (which most people do at the same time since it is not much labour when you are doing the timing belt but expensive to replace on its own.) You should probably replace the serpentine belt and have the hoses checked for ageing of the rubber in them as well at that age.

 

[TeryT]

The rubber on the car seems pretty good. I went ahead and replaced the tires, because even though they had OK tread, they were going on 7 years. But they really didn't show any cracking. The same with rubber under the hood. The car was under a car port most of the time and the front end got some winter sun, but I'm just not seeing anything obviously bad rubber-wise.