Im looking at a 99.5 2.8 with 86000 miles on it, the dealer doesn't know if the timeing belt was changed, is there anyway to find out for sure?

 

 

No way to find out unless you can figure out who the previous owner was. If it was a local car, you could try calling around to the different dealers and give the vin number and see if there is any maint. history, but thats doubtful.

 

only by service history have the dealer replace the belt/tensioner or don't buy

 

checking for new parts, most visible would be the ribbed belt which is usually replaced when a timing service is done.

but in my opinion if they don't know if that service has been done i would keep looking.

 

you can jew him down and tell him that you will have to get it replaced, at the dealer its close to a 1500 hundred dollar service.

 

if it in fact wasn't done, should i just skip on this buy or would it be ok to change the belt right away?

 

Do it asap. Timing belt goes, motor goes to. The belts are good for about 80k to 90k at the most. So replace it now and have no worries for the next 80,000 miles. The best thing to do IMO

 

as long as the belt didnt ever break your fine its not a big deal that its not done, just do it right away

 

Your going to have a hard time finding a used car at the dealer with timing belt replacement history. Id try to find a private sale. The odds of getting service history are much higher and the price you will pay will be much lower. New car=dealer used car=private sale... Common sense to me.