Anybody out there think a 97' 4 cyl EX would still have original timing belts on it at 170,000 miles?

 

It's very possible. Average life of a timing belt may be 2-3 times the change interval. The timing belt interval must be set well below average life to reduce probability of failure to very low level, perhaps 1/1000 to 1/10000.

TB performance is highly variable and you can't have any confidence in reaching the average life (numbers are my speculation, I don't know any hard facts). Considering consequences of an interference engine, performing the TB maintenance is cheap insurance.

Many times cars are sold because owners don't want to pay for TB, water pump, and other key maintenance that arises on "mature" vehicles.

My brother ran a 1984 Accord to about 220K miles before belt failed. Fortunately for him, this engine was not an interference engine, so few consequences.

Your TB is 14 years old or twice the recommended time interval for change.

good luck

 

Very rare case, it should had been changed a while back. I had a 99 TL before with 230k on original timing belt, my brother with his 95 Lexus ES 300 broke the water pump at 170k so he took it to the shop and have them replace water pump and timing belt while they're at it, the tech told us that the timing belt still looks good for 170k.

 

I have a f22b2 with about 200k on it with the original TB. and I have seen a 96 ex have its TB changed at 360k and the belt wasnt that bad looking...it depends on how you drive your car and the climate you live is how long the TB will live.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

 

When I made final belt change on a 90Ex at about 270K miles, I found the tensioner bearings were almost dry. They would not have lasted another 90K miles. These are the weakest link in that a bearing failure would fail the belt in short order.

good luck

 

thannks again