Can timing belt be checked?
Timing belt is made of rubber compound and tensile chords just like any other drive belts such as alternator belt, power steering belt and air conditioning belt. Mechanics most often check your drive belt, but very few mechanic will offer to check your timing belt. Most often the mechanic will tell you to replace the timing belt at the recommended interval, if you bought a used car and not sure if it was done before most mechanic will say it's best to replace it. Why does your mechanic tell you to replace the timing belt rather than checking it? There are many reasons:
1)Most timing belts are enclosed, to access the timing belt required removal of many other parts, unlike drive belt where it's exposed.
2)Charging customer just for checking can alienate client.
3)No body want to get blame, if your mechanic check your belt and it breaks sometime later, his customer will feel betrayal and he will be blame for the engine damage, no body wants to be blamed.
4)Most mechanics don't have the equipments or the expertise to properly inspect and analyze the belt.
5) There's more money to be made by replacing than inspecting.
1)Most timing belts are enclosed, to access the timing belt required removal of many other parts, unlike drive belt where it's exposed.
2)Charging customer just for checking can alienate client.
3)No body want to get blame, if your mechanic check your belt and it breaks sometime later, his customer will feel betrayal and he will be blame for the engine damage, no body wants to be blamed.
4)Most mechanics don't have the equipments or the expertise to properly inspect and analyze the belt.
5) There's more money to be made by replacing than inspecting.