OT: Timing Belt

[SarinaP]

Mods, please feel free to take this down if it's inappropriate, but I just wanted to warn people about their timing belts. This summer, my mechanic suggested I replace mine because it was overdue and I put it off because it's about $900 for my make/model. This morning, well before sunrise, mine snapped in the 18 degree cold and I had to walk half a mile in a skirt suit with no tights and a knee-length coat to a daycare center that thankfully was open. In my preoccupation with a morning meeting at work, I had left the house without my cell phone so I was REALLY lucky that I took that route and not say, I-95 like I usually do.

That said, please keep an eye out for belts, car repairs that you think you can't afford, and keep emergency stuff in your car! *end of PSA*

[sppsp]

Sarina, that's good advice and thanks for sharing....
I'm real sorry you experience such an ordeal with car maintenance on a very cold day.

[fruitnut]

Wow, sorry to hear of that. I hope the repairs aren't way more than $900. I've heard they can be. Mine was in bad shape when changed last. Just dodged that bullet

[SarinaP]

Yup... Thank you for the concern. I've never had a belt break like that! I'm putting an extra pair of sweatpants and a sweater in my car as soon as I get it back.

[don_sanders]

On man, that sucks! I'm sorry.

[sppsp]

Yup... Thank you for the concern. I've never had a belt break like that! I'm putting an extra pair of sweatpants and a sweater in my car as soon as I get it back.

You should also keep several hand-warmer packs and flashlight... (I was stuck in a winter storm at night few years back).

[SarinaP]

I can't even imagine! I'm the biggest crybaby when it comes to car stuff... I'm so clueless about what's truly important and what can wait. Hand warmers are definitely going on the list, thank you! I have a small flashlight in my roadside kit.

[DBJohnson]

Ouch! Definitely good advice. Sorry you had to go through that and glad you're safe.

[WillsC]

Add a big candle as well and kitty litter.

[DBJohnson]

Here's what I keep in my emergency kit:

Sleeping bag
Box of protien bars
Several candy bars (I prefer Payday)
5 liters of water
Kitty litter
Folding trenching shovel
Knife
Come-Along
100' Paracord
Hand warmers
Knit mittens
Thinsulate gloves
Thinsulate balaclava
Knit cap
Large crochet afghan (roll it up to use as scarf)
Printed list of emergency contacts and all phone contact list (laser printer and laminated)
Supplemental USB power supply that takes AA batteries
Large pack of AA batteries
Handheld ham radio with power adapter and battery pack that takes AA batteries
First Aid kit

[DBJohnson]

That's what stays in the trunk of my primary vehicle pretty much year round. I drive a company car many miles each year and freshen the food/water/batteries every equinox (fall and spring). If I take a longer trip in my personal vehicle, I move the supplies over for the trip.

WalMart is only 6 miles away along a very populated road, so I don't worry about that drive.

[Needaclone]

Throw a lighter and a 1-man tent in there and you're good to go, Survivor Man! ;-)
Seriously, though -- everyone should have the forethought to pack a small kit like that...

[DBJohnson]

Lighters stay in my car, my coat pockets, my jeans, and in my travel humidor with the cigars. 8x16 tarp and another 100' of paracord is in my EDC backpack. Also have a magnesium striker and a sealed tin of fire starters in the EDC pack.

[COGardener]

I sure hope the your engine is a non interference set up. If it is not, a broken timing belt usually damages the top end of the engine, the $900 repair can now be 2 of 3 thousand, even more on some cars.

Sorry to hear this, I hope all works out well for you.

[F. Bennett]

Sorry to hear that! Just curious..how many miles are on the vehicle?

[SarinaP]

182K! I'd gotten all of the other stuff done, but this one I didn't because of the price tag.