Thread: Forester timing belts

Thought.


I hope your Forester lasts as long as my Brumby

that depends whether the motor is a 'free-spinner' or an 'interference' type (i.e. pistons will hit valves if the timing belt breaks requiring some expensive work). If it's a free-spinner and you don't get anywhere remote, then it's probably worth the risk as the worst you'll be faced with is a tow somewhere to get the belt replaced. The issue of age is legit - mate of mine had a timing belt in a 7-year-old Astra let go despite under 60K k on the clock - the result was $3K worth of repairs...

was the Astra a Premium runner??



oops sorry WhiteD3...

Hmm, I'd like to know, too. Our daughter is driving our 2005 Forester. It has about 40,000km on the clock.

Im seconding the freespinner thing, if its got the non interference engine run it till it pops and then tow it to get it fixed, if its the interference job change every 3 years or (and I might be wrong with this I wasnt paying all that much attention to the conversation) 100,000Km. whichever comes first.

I know a guy at work who drives one with the noninterferance engine who thinks that just cause I happen to have a landy and a heap of recovery gear in the car that Im going to come get him when it lets go.

The real answer is, was there a a recall on that model for the belt?
were there known belt problems?

"I would think" you should get around 80K on the original if there are no known probs,,,





It still could be the the replacement of a belt on a Forester is expensive

It takes about an hour to change a Forester timing belt (I used to work at a Dealer). They are dead easy to do. The engines are an interference design and the WILL bend valves if the belt fails. The repair cost after that will easily reach $3000 plus... Don't take a chance, get the belt replaced!!

major service at 200,000 on our '02 forester included timing belt, cranks shaft pulley and every tensioner and idler, plugs and all fluids (did NOT check valve clearance...) $1800