How Long Do You Actually Go Between Timing Belt Service ? | FerrariChat

How Long Do You Actually Go Between Timing Belt Service ?

Discussion in '348/355' started by echo220, Sep 24, 2014.

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  1. echo220

    echo220 Karting

    Apr 19, 2011
    80
    Vancouver, BC
    Just in the final stages of purchasing a 99 355 Berlinetta. The last timing belt was done spring of 2011. Dealer recommends every 3 years as per factory recommendation. Just want to get some feedback on how long 355 owners actually go between timing belt service and if anyone has had any issues stretching it out to 4 or 5 years. Thanks
     
  2. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,630
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    I am still on my original belt from 97
    Belts look great no bearing noise at all, car has been climate controlled garage since day 1, 15K miles


    :)
     
  3. John_K_348

    John_K_348 F1 Rookie

    Sep 20, 2013
    2,753
    Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    John E. Kenney
    I think 5 is probably ok if it's not a daily driver. I've heard of it. Mine was 20 years and only about 3200 miles! Dealer said it would be a waste but I feel very good now that it's done. Got a major engine service with new exhaust TCUs and tons of other stuff. All 32 valves were tight. It sounds great like a well oiled machine now. Belts and a new pulley and tensioner do sound a little squeaky when I blip the throttle after startup. But I had it done by an experienced Ferrari shop and was invited to track days. now I need to get a helmet. I am hoping 5 years is good for 3K a year.
     
  4. drbob101

    drbob101 F1 Rookie
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 26, 2012
    3,821
    Tinton Falls, NJ
    Full Name:
    Bob Ferraris
    I am going to do 5 years and at this rate the car will have put on about 10k miles since the last one.

    Looking forward to doing it in my garage with some help from fchat friends.
     
  5. jochem00

    jochem00 Formula Junior

    Jun 19, 2014
    344
    Netherlands
    also depending on the mileage. spil of acid or fluids on the belt. etc
    but 10 years is safe. these belts are kept on tension by the tensioners anyway.
     
  6. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    Most dealers will tell you off record that 4-5 years is fine.
     
  7. RWP137

    RWP137 Formula 3

    Apr 29, 2013
    1,605
    AZ
    Full Name:
    Rick
    I'm into year 6 and the belts look great, but what would bearing noise sound like and can you hear it from inside the car?
     
  8. fdekeu

    fdekeu Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 19, 2008
    631
    Belzium
    Full Name:
    Frank
    Mine has been done in 2005
    Only 7000km
    Will change in 2-3 yrs unless the bearings start to make noise
     
  9. SoCal1

    SoCal1 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Jun 14, 2011
    8,630
    SoCal LA/OC/New Mexico
    Full Name:
    Tim Dee
    I use a stethoscope with the car running and check all over the engine, you can pretty much hear anything
     
  10. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    11,223
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    On my 308 (bought new) I went longer that I care to admit. A lot longer. Error on my part because the 15k was done by a dealer and when it was done belts were not routinely changed at 15k. With 355 I have no plans for a belt change before 15k miles or 7-8 years past the last major.
     
  11. Eric C

    Eric C F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 20, 2009
    11,062
    St. Louis, MO
    Full Name:
    Eric
    It's not the belt you need to worry about. It's everything in between.
     
  12. F1moving

    F1moving Formula Junior
    BANNED

    May 7, 2014
    781
    BUCKeYe!
    Full Name:
    Marcus
    I'm at 5 1/2 and 2200 miles. Getting done this winter.
     
  13. BOKE

    BOKE Beaks' Gun Rabbi
    Rossa Subscribed

    Jul 13, 2009
    33,965
    600 East Fremont Street
    Full Name:
    Lucky
    Every five years for my 355 GTS and my 575M.
     
  14. AceMaster

    AceMaster Three Time F1 World Champ

    Feb 6, 2009
    34,777
    Ontario, Canada
    Full Name:
    Mike
    Five years is what I've seen on this site to be the majority
     
  15. gf1red

    gf1red Formula Junior

    Mar 5, 2006
    413
    Staten Island N.Y.
    Full Name:
    Mike G.
    I have done mine every 5 yrs.
     
  16. TrojanFan

    TrojanFan F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Nov 17, 2008
    5,163
    So. CA & NV
    Full Name:
    Peter
    My 355 was done 2 years ago and I'll change in 3 more (5 years). My recently purchased 328 had the belts done 10 years ago. I'm changing them next month. Interestingly, the 1986 owner's manual for the 328 specified to change the cam belts at 52,250 miles. I believe that has since been retracted, if not officially.
     
  17. taz355

    taz355 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Feb 18, 2008
    6,016
    Indio Ca/ Alberta
    Full Name:
    Grant
    I do mine every 5 years but as others have said the belts have always looked almost new. At that time I have always had to do other small things, ie remove and replace alternator, remove and replace ac compressor, water pump removal and check. I do not always replace these things but it's a lot easier to remove check them out and replace. Has not always worked but has saved me some grief many times.
     
  18. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 1, 2004
    7,776
    Redondo Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    Bruce Bogart
    Everything is fine until it's not. And then, it's really not. At 7000 rpm.
    Change the friggin' belt and tensioners.
    Just do it.
    Don't put it off.
    Just do it.
    Love your car.
    Just do it.
    C'mon you can afford it.
    Just do it.
    Ignore the Toyota instead.
     
  19. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    When I first got my 348 I changed the belt out after around 2 years of owning it. Then I went 9, 1/2 years on that belt, having done that service this year. The belt still looked fine, but it was stretched out about 1/4", which changed the cam timing a couple degrees. The other parts how ever did NOT come out fine. Tensioner bearings went south (I could hear them squealing at start up), impeller on the water pump grenaded itself, cam cover seals leaking, rear main seal worn, lower drive pulley bearing completely shot, oil pump chain and drive pulley timing chain wear pads both worn out, front main seal worn, alternator belt tensioner bearing kaput, oil sump galley hole o-ring hard as plastic.

    It's not the belt, it's everything else.

    This time think I'll go 5-7 years.
     
  20. hacker-pschorr

    hacker-pschorr Formula Junior

    Sep 27, 2006
    584
    Land of Lambeau
    This needs to be repeated, over and over.

    "Inspecting" the belt will get you nowhere, they rarely wear out, something else in the system fails. As Ernie pointed out they can stretch out which compromises the performance of the engine.

    Look at the roller, that is a sealed bearing spinning at a very high speed. The dab of grease in there will eventually dry out and then it stops spinning.....there goes the belt.
    If you wait until you can hear it making noise, that's a huge gamble.

    The hydraulic tensioners also fail and when they do the belt looses tension, not good.

    That being said I would have no problem going 7+ years on a car I service myself.
     
  21. cuneo

    cuneo Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 20, 2006
    2,469
    Sweet, something new for us to talk about!! ;)

    I've put over 18,000 miles on my car since the last belt service 3.5 years ago. I'll probably hit 30k on these belts right around the 5 year mark and will do the belts and everything else then.

    You guys need to drive more!! Sheesh... :)
     
  22. fdekeu

    fdekeu Formula Junior
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 19, 2008
    631
    Belzium
    Full Name:
    Frank
    My 348 is at 7yrs now
    18000km
    I am going on the Spa Francorchamps track this weekend
    I will change them this winter
    348 has only 1 belt so more damage when it goes
    Also an older generation belt
    Will use Hill Engineering tensioners
     
  23. Shootfighter65

    Shootfighter65 Formula 3

    May 13, 2014
    1,372
    Charleston SC
    Full Name:
    Randy..alluneedtokno
    Has anyone ever actually had a 355 belt break or know someone that had this happen? I dont mean a internet horror story but a friend or acquaintance that you got the story first hand?
     
  24. WATSON

    WATSON Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Sep 9, 2010
    23,684
    WI
    All of the above.

    My belts are 4 years old. Would easily go another 2 years. BUT, the water pump is leaking and I am not sure how old the tensioners really are (previous mechanic being what he was).

    If the accessories hold up, 5 -6 years seems about right for belts & tensioners. That's my plan after this winter.
     
  25. Dave rocks

    Dave rocks F1 World Champ
    BANNED

    Nov 23, 2012
    16,047
    Orchard Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Dave Lelonek
    It's been posted on the forum before. Aside from the other items, it's clear to me (per Ernie) that belt stretch can effect the timing and that's not something I will let go since I regularly have my car up to 8500 RPM's.
     

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