# Can you see if a timing belt needs replacing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 9, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-see-if-a-timing-belt-needs-replacing/717227 "2015-04-09T16:31:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beauregard\_Porkypine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Beauregard\_Porkypine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauregard_Porkypine)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-see-if-a-timing-belt-needs-replacing/717227/21 "2015-04-10T22:22:55Z")
Agreed,most will rattle on start up, meaning slack has occurred and is slapping the plastic parts. But, based on my experience, it is a small group indeed that recognizes this rattle for what it is and has it looked into. My point was don’t buy a car with a timing chain instead of a belt thinking thinking they don’t fail. I agree with the Toyota, but I’ll raise you a single row chain in a 3.8 Mercedes V8. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-see-if-a-timing-belt-needs-replacing/717227/22 "2015-04-11T18:21:33Z")
> [@GreasyJack](#): > > Although the difference there is that a bad timing chain usually gets noisy and/or causes performance issues due to sloppy valve timing long before anything truly engine-destroying happens. A timing belt usually gives you zero warning before it goes. That’s why timing belts are periodic maintenance items whereas timing chains generally aren’t, even if in some engines they tend to wear out pretty regularly (I’m looking at you, Toyota 22R.) People with hi mile 20R/22R wished the had a belt. To change the chain required removal of the cylinder head. Not because of damage, just because of the design of the timing chest. Nice design Toyota! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-see-if-a-timing-belt-needs-replacing/717227.md?page=1)