General Information & Maintenance

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND TUNE-UP

Timing Belt

The cogged timing belt at the front of all Subaru engines is a combination of woven fabric and rubber. Although this type of belt offers many advantages over the traditional timing chain, including extended service intervals and a smoother more quiet running engines, this type of belt should be inspected on a regular basis, and changed according to the manufacturer change interval.

The recommended timing belt change interval for all engines covered by this manual is 60,000 miles (96,000 km).

INSPECTION
See Figure 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Fig. 1: Do not bend, twist or turn a timing belt inside out. Never expose a timing belt to oil, water or steam

Fig. 2: Remove the timing belt covers (1 and 2), and measure the timing belt width (W)

Fig. 3: Check for premature parting of the timing belt

Fig. 4: Check the teeth of the timing belt for cracks or damage

Fig. 5: Check the belt face for noticeable cracks or wear

Fig. 6: If the timing belt is damaged only on one side, a pulley may be the culprit

1. Remove both left and right side timing belt covers by unfastening the retaining bolts.
2. Disconnect the high tension wire from the coil.
3. Have an assistant crank the engine at least four rotations while you inspect the timing belt. Inspect the back surface of the timing belt for cracks or damage. Inspect the inside of the belt for cracks, missing teeth or other signs of damage.
4. Measure the timing belt width. If the width is less than 1.06 in. (27mm), inspect the idler, tension, water pump and cam pulley for proper alignment.
5. If during inspection, the timing belt shows any sign of wear or damage, replace the belt immediately. Refer to the procedure in Section 3 for more details.

END OF SECTION