1
The time I bought a car with a timing belt made of rubber that snapped at 60K miles
I used to think all timing belts were pretty much the same, just a piece of rubber you replace every 100K miles or so. Then I bought a 2012 Ford Focus from a used lot in Phoenix, and the belt gave out at exactly 60,000 miles with zero warning. The shop said it was a known flaw where the belt material degrades faster in the heat, and it cost me $2,400 for a new engine. Has anyone else dealt with a car that just wasn't built for the weather where you live?
2 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In2 Comments
the_beth8d agoMost Upvoted
My 2010 Honda Fit from some shady lot in Tucson ate its timing belt at 68K miles, and I felt like I'd been personally roasted by the sun itself. The mechanic basically said rubber belts melt faster in Arizona than a popsicle on the sidewalk, which was zero comfort when I was staring at a $2,100 bill. I guess I learned the hard way that some cars are really just built for Vermont or something.
5