Would you replace this drive belt?
 

2000 Boxster S, 26K miles, taking care of a variety of little items prior to putting the car away for the winter. Pulled the front engine cover and this is how the belt looks:

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1353975792.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/Belt1353975810.jpg

I have a replacement belt on hand, but the current belt (to my eye, anyway) looks good. Should I just go ahead and replace it, or wait a year or two??

Appreciate your thoughts.

I would add age to your final decision, it's very low mileage but old and it's been subjected to heat a long while now. It's certainly true that a visual check can sometimes reveal small cracks or show something else that would cause you to change it. However, it's also true that a belt can look good and still be near replacement time. If I was sitting on one and had it apart I'd change it.

Belt
 

It's so easy and cheap to replace. I would change it. I did for our 2000 base with 24000mi.

12 years old. Definitely replace regardless of visual condition.

I'll play devil's advocate. If it's not slipping, making noise or showing other signs of failure I'd leave it alone. Ask yourself what the risk is? When is the last time you heard of a catostrophic serpine belt failure, especially without months of warning signs? Save the new belt until the old one (keep it in a climate comtrolled environment) actually shows signs of wear (which will likely be a while).

I may sound cheap, but a hate to see perfectly serviceable parts scraped for no reason. It's not like you have to remove the tranny or engine to get to it.

My moto is, 'if you have to question replacing it - replace it' otherwise you'll drive yourself nuts thinking/worrying about it! LOL I mean its $35 not $3500... besides put the new one on, piece of mind and toss the old good looking one behind the spare tire as a spare :D

Yes. When I purchased my 2K S 23 months ago with 48K mikes the belt was one of the first thing to get changed. Time is not on your side with this part. Put the belt on now or at least in the spring when you do your spring service.

WWPD?
What would Porsche do?

Replace it, no hesitation.

Change it and keep it as an emergency back up.

Answer: charge you 4x the actual cost, change it, and add 5 other items to the bill?

What do I win for the right answer? ;)

Comet

We have a winner! Thanks to everyone for your comments. Even though it looks good, it is 12 years old and I have a new one on hand. I'll change it out and throw the old one in the trunk.

Change the belt. And while you are in there, change the waterpump, thermostat, and coolant. About $300 in parts.

Make sure you mark the direction of rotation on the old belt if you ever plan on reusing it.

I can't believe I'm saying this...I am the guy that has changed everything regardless. But that belt looks/is in really good shape...put the new one in the trunk as a back up :)

If it ain't broke...
There will be plenty of warning signs before it fails, none of which I see. Just a matter of preference, I suppose, but I'd put the new one in the frunk as a spare. If you're worried about it enough to change it, are you really going to want to keep it as a spare?

The belt is not a service item based on miles alone. It's time dependant, too. Your belt is +12 years old. As is your waterpump......and coolant. They all need to be changed.

The day your belt (or waterpump) fails, it will NOT be on a sunny day, in your garage, with all the necessary tools, on your day off with nuttin to do.

We ask a lot of our cars. I know I do. Treat 'em right.

I changed the belt tonight, in addition to completing my IMS Guardian installation. In the end, my gut told me that years trump mileage, and as long as I had the cover off and I had a new belt on hand, it was time to change it.

Thanks for all your comments! I'll put a long post in the DIY section on the IMS-G install, including a bunch of photos, sometime in the next week or so.

The water pump? I'll tackle that sometime next year. The car goes to bed for the winter in another few days...