Why do California timing belts last longer ?

I was thumbing through the manual, and it states the timing belt should be
changed at 60k, but specifies 100k for cars originally sold in California
(and a few other states, which I now forget)..

What gives ? did they ACTUALLY put better belts in some cars, or what ?

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 09:54:20 -0700, "Chief_Wiggum" >
wrote:

>I was thumbing through the manual, and it states the timing belt should be
>changed at 60k, but specifies 100k for cars originally sold in California
>(and a few other states, which I now forget)..
>
>What gives ? did they ACTUALLY put better belts in some cars, or what ?
>
>
No they are the same belt. Calif and Mass passed laws saying that
timing belts had to last 100K. So Mazda changed a line in the owner's
manual and VOILA, the timing belts in those states are now "good" for
100k.

In article >,
(Natman) wrote:

> >What gives ? did they ACTUALLY put better belts in some cars, or what ?
> >
> >
> No they are the same belt. Calif and Mass passed laws saying that
> timing belts had to last 100K. So Mazda changed a line in the owner's
> manual and VOILA, the timing belts in those states are now "good" for
> 100k.

That doesn't mean some won't fail before 100k, of course. Mazda's
choices were a) eating a few timing belt jobs under warranty, or b) not
selling cars in California (Massachusetts is probably inconsequential).
A classic, purely-economic business decision...and a no-brainer.

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

Lanny Chambers wrote:

> That doesn't mean some won't fail before 100k, of course. Mazda's
> choices were a) eating a few timing belt jobs under warranty, or b) not
> selling cars in California (Massachusetts is probably inconsequential).
> A classic, purely-economic business decision...and a no-brainer.
>

Of course not. We had someone on here whose stock engine gave out at
approximately 40K miles, very unusual for a miata.
I decided to replace my belt halfway between the two, at about 80K to
85K miles. I have heard of very few, if any timing belts that have
failed before that time, though once again, being a mechanical part, a
defective one could break at any time.

Pat
'96M

Lanny:
There's plenty of Miatas here in Massachusetts, that's how we get around when
peeping at the leaves on all those country roads.
Frank Sawin

In article >,
ojunk (Frank Sawin) wrote:

> There's plenty of Miatas here in Massachusetts, that's how we get around when
> peeping at the leaves on all those country roads.

No kidding? I thought all those Miatas came from New Jersey and New
York... <ducking>

--
Lanny Chambers, St. Louis, USA
'94C
the alignment page:
http://www.hummingbirds.net/alignment.html

At 60,000 -- From what I've seen--
The belt should be normal with a noticeable amount of rubber dust. The belt
tooth profile will show slight rounding when compared to a new belt. The
Idler and Tension pulleys should be checked for play. Your call on the water
pump.
At 100,000 if the belt was not replaced at 60,000. -- More rounding on belt,
possible delamination just starting.
Replace pulleys, water pump, tension spring, etc.

"Frank Sawin" > wrote in message
...
> Lanny:
> There's plenty of Miatas here in Massachusetts, that's how we get around
> when
> peeping at the leaves on all those country roads.
> Frank Sawin


---
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Lanny:
They are here too, tourists from NY and NJ, we sell them pretty colored leaves
to take home.
Frank Sawin

That seems to agree with my observations. As a point of reference:

Our kids have a 1997 Mazda Protégé which we bought used. The previous owner
had never changed the timing belt so I did it at a little over 100K. On this
belt, the base material could be seen in the flat areas between the teeth.
Clearly, there was more wear than the two that I replaced on the Miata. I
would agree from this experience that 60 - 80K sounds right for the Protégé
as well as the Miata.

Next one coming up is the 60K belt swap in the 2000 Audi A4.


"chuckk" > wrote in message
...
> At 60,000 -- From what I've seen--
> The belt should be normal with a noticeable amount of rubber dust. The
belt
> tooth profile will show slight rounding when compared to a new belt. The
> Idler and Tension pulleys should be checked for play. Your call on the
water
> pump.
> At 100,000 if the belt was not replaced at 60,000. -- More rounding on
belt,
> possible delamination just starting.
> Replace pulleys, water pump, tension spring, etc.
>
> "Frank Sawin" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Lanny:
> > There's plenty of Miatas here in Massachusetts, that's how we get around
> > when
> > peeping at the leaves on all those country roads.
> > Frank Sawin
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is AVG certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.775 / Virus Database: 522 - Release Date: 10/8/2004
>
>

>Lanny:
>They are here too, tourists from NY and NJ, we sell them pretty colored
>leaves
>to take home.
>Frank Sawin

Righty,
You are too funny ;-)

Lefty
~Cissy :-)