I just bought a 96 turbo wagon. The owners did not know if they changed the timing belt--I'm guessing they probably did not. I emailed them and said the shop repairing the car (mostly a tune up and oil leak fix, etc., erm $1600 worth...but this is Los Angeles...), said they couldn't tell if the belt needed replacing just by looking at it. The owners said that their neighbor, who has a Volvo, told them that the shop can inspect the underside of the belt for wear (the car is now at 146,000).

Is it true you can tell if the belt is relatively new by inspecting underneath it? I couldn't find anything about this in the forums. Is my shop just trying to get me to plunk down $490 for the repair? (btw I did find another guy to do it cheaper...$240 last time I checked).

Should I just be safe and eat the cost or is this possible--to inspect underneath?

Thanks,

S
Los Angeles
(shop recommendations appreciated, although I find the Barrington Motors people to be very competant, altho a bit on the spendy side. I didn't care for the Santa Monica Volvo (the indie) and was somehow put off by the Volvo's Only people, and Tord at Two Guys from Sweden is nice and inexpensive but somehow a little laisez-faire.....)