Timing belt impending failure
 

Not sure about everyone else but I inspect my timing belt every so often... Besides finding all kinds of stuff I don't want to fix, I noticed some frayed strands and a crack in my timing belt. I've attached a picture... is this as close as it gets without breaking?I checked out my old timing belt and it seems like this is a production joint and my old belt had a crack running under the tooth. My old old timing belt also had a weak tooth that I removed by hand!

Is this perhaps the weak point of all timing belts? or normal to show a bit of wear here.


Stephen


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Hard to see.

Impossible to make a conclusion? I would rather not see those threads if it were my belt. Can't tell if that's a seem, but perhaps those threads are stitches?

Is this anzoom-in of a larger photo? Do you have the original?

I've heard it said by more than one expert, that visual evaluation of timing belts is not a guarantee of belt integrity. The age/miles rules should apply to your timing/balance belts to be "safe". Age shouldn't exceed 4 to 5 years (and not sitting) and around 35,000 miles should be your safe limits. These are approximate values based on periods of inactivity, tension inspections and quality of the original belt.