Timing belt change, what to buy and where?

Hi folks,

No record in my service history of the timing belt being changed (only 46000 miles but 1999) so I'm going to get a friend to change it before it all goes horribly wrong.

Do I just need the belt or do the tensioners etc need changing also? Any other little bits I should get to avoid being car-less due to stuffs going wrong?

I'm assuming my local Suzuki dealer would be the most expensive option (and the only time I ever went there they really pissed me off!) so any online place that I can get the stuff?

I hate dealing with oil and fluids and stuff so I'm going to get my local garage to change all the goo in March when it gets its MOT

*Bah! Why do my posts all end up in the wrong forum!?*

I would get a new tensioner too as if it's bearings seize it'll be the same as the belt snapping. Don't go to Suzuki though. A good motor factors will sell you good quality aftermarket parts from Blueprint or QH, etc.

Gates belts are good and often are OE stuff.

Hope this helps.

Kirkynut

hi there, just wanted to share my experience:
always change the tensioner with the belt.

of those belt/tensioner failures and near misses i've seen (around 10) well over half have been bearing failurers. the only lubrication they ever get is during assembly and its a harsh environment, hot then cold leading to condensation and then surface corrosion which becomes rapid wear. my own on an sj (i would guess very similar) had excessive play after only 40,000 miles and early failure is very common across all makes (i have pesonal experiense of volvo,vw,porche,vauxhall,ford all of which have had premature failures), in my belief both belt and tensioner should always be change much earlier than specified by any manufacturer.

ps. if the jimny is the same as the sj its a nice easy job once the rad is out to make some space.