2000 Daewoo Lanos timing belt?

I just booked my car to be serviced next week and the mechanic asked if my timing belt had been changed. When i said it hadn't he told me that he will look at it and see if it needs to be changed. I know absolutely nothing about cars and want to sound informed and I don't want to get rip off. My car has done 99,000km.

i was just wondering:

what is a timing belt?

how much roughly are they?

are there any signs that it needs to be changed?



thanks2000 Daewoo Lanos timing belt?What is a timing belt? It is a ribbed belt powered by the engine's crank shaft to turn the camshaft(s) exactly half the speed of the crankshaft (using gear reduction of course).

How much are they? The timing belt kit is relatively inexpensive costing around $120 (U.S.). The installation however, requires at least a few hours which can be costly

When to change? Many manufacturers strongly urge (read: voided warranty) you to change your timing belt anywhere from 60-90k miles. Your specific manufacturer will tell you this in the owners guide.

When looking at a timing belt, obvious signs of need for replacement include cracks, missing teeth, heavy wear marks and excessive slack. If your timing belt breaks while the engine is running you run a very high probability of destroying the engine.
2000 Daewoo Lanos timing belt?
I don't want to speak jargin so simply yes you need to have it checked. especially if you haven't changed it the whole time you have had the car. No your not getting ripped off. your mechanic is possibly saving you alot of money in the long run. The engine in your car is whats called an INTERFERENCE engine, Im not going to get in depth but that basically means that if the timing belt breaks your engine for all practical pricing purposes is trashed and it's time to buy a new car. And insurance wont cover that. Invest the money in a good quality belt and get it done because I doubt you can afford not to.