See more from Ask Carzone 
When should I change my Yeti's belt?
Thanks for your answer that my car has a timing belt. The dealers advise replacing it at 5 years or a certain mileage. I would like some pointers to reasonable timescales or miles or advice what to look for or hear regarding replacement of belts. Surely an assessment from a good independent garage would be a better way to make a decision. Would appreciate advice.
Our answer:
Hi Isla,
Generally, the manufacturer of a car sets recommendations and it's advised to follow them. If any unusual noise at all comes from a belt then it's probably already causing damage so there is no way for the average person to know when a belt should be changed. A mechanic can remove the top engine cover and examine the belt's condition, but that's rarely a five-minute job in itself.
I've looked up the recommended schedule for your car and apparently the belt should be checked by a mechanic at 240,000km - regardless of time - and then every 30,000km after than until it's deemed necessary to change it. We'd suggest erring on the side of caution and doing it earlier than that, but it's clear that it's ok to go by mileage rather than time for this engine.
Have a motoring question? Ask us here!
Ask us anything motoring related and please provide as much information as possible so we can give you the most accurate advice.