Dear chugiaknorth,

Hope you're well. Besides changing the timing belt, a change of the timing belt tensioner and the water pump is in order. If either of these fails, the impact is the same as a timing belt failure: bent valves and possibly holes in piston tops.

With an engine having only 7,000 miles on it - despite being 23 years old - there's no reason to take any risks at all.

With all three mission-critical items changed, you'll be good for at least 20,000 miles, possibly more. I'm unsure of the timing belt change interval for 1993 960s.

I recall posts stating that as the 1990s unfolded, there was an increase in the 960 timing belt change interval. I do not know if this longer interval was due to changes in timing belt format (e.g., width) or strength (better materials).

I hope one of the Board's 960 experts will comment.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook