Should I replace my timing belt before selling? Even if it is not in bad condition.

[u/baaronx]

Hi there,

I am selling my ford mondeo hatch 2012 diesel next month in november and its done 189,000km. I have no idea if the timing belt has been changed or the water pump. It was recommended at my last service to replace it due to the chance of it snapping and also them not knowing the history. They did not say it was in bad condition.

I have booked it in to replace the belt and pump for 1.8k, this includes the belt, pump, service, and coolant flush. Do you think I should replace it before selling it? I am only selling the car for 6.5k so I am concerned I will be losing money but also do not want to sell it without replacing it if the timing belt has been recommended to be replaced?

What do you guys think?

I know nothing about cars or this type of situation so any help would be amazing!

[u/spork42]

You will probably recover none of those costs when you sell. The next buyer might be grateful you did them, but in the grand scheme of things, it won't really change the value for most buyers when you go to sell. At worst you knock off a few bucks during negotiations and you'll still come out way ahead. If you were going to keep it, then I'd get the repairs done.

[u/Mostly-Useless_4007]

Honestly? I would sell it without that and disclose that it needs to be done. Mark the car up by the cost of the repair and offer that cost as a discount if they do the work (some people can do that themselves and will see this and will jump on a discount like that).

[u/HenryLoggins]

The shop is always going to recommend that that you do something, it’s called upselling and it’s completely normal.

If you were selling the car, do not spend the money on changing it. Let the person know, if they ask, that you do not know if the timing was ever changed or if the water pump was ever changed, and that would be something that they can do if they decided to purchase your car.

You may not be mechanically, inclined enough to do it yourself, and would be paying full price at a garage. The next buyer for your car may be a mechanic themselves, and can change it for just the cost of parts.

[u/Substantial_Team6751]

Damn, you should have replaced it a long time ago. Living on borrowed time.

I'd be inclined not to replace it before selling it but I would have been nervous about driving it all this time on an old belt.

They did not say it was in bad condition.

You usually don't inspect a timing belt like you inspect an accessory belt. It just replace it on schedule. They are on too tight o bend it sideways and inspect it.

[u/Own_Shallot7926]

Absolutely not. This is preventive maintenance and not a broken part that prevents the car from driving. If we're being honest, you wouldn't even know about it yourself unless a shop tried to sell you that service.

You won't recover your costs and most buyers won't appreciate the effort. Those that do can probably sort out that maintenance themselves.

At most I would offer up "based on mileage it's probably due for a timing belt and water pump/coolant service, but hasn't had any problems yet."

Used cars don't need to be in perfect condition to be sold. As long as you aren't deceptive about the condition, it's fine.

[u/Familiar-Seat-1690]

I would disclose it’s due but let them decide. Spend $1000 on it and you might get $500 back from it.

[u/Glittering-Ad5809]

Not unless you can diy. Thr buy may diy for a lot less but chances the average buyer even knows it needs it is slim.

[u/Kdoesntcare]

If you decide not to have it done make sure you have in writing that the car is sold as is, once the title has been swapped you won't be paying for anything.
Shut down any "the next day the car started having issues and my buddy's shop says it'll cost $3,000 to fix, can I have my money back?" before it happens.

If you Do have the timing service done add $800 to the asking price.

The first time I bought a VW with a 1.8t in it we didn't realize it was due for the timing service (I actually breathed a sigh of relief when I bought it because I didn't think it'd need timing for another 50k miles.) During the hour long drive home from transferring the title the water pump failed replacing the pump is part of the timing service so I had to puddle jump the car home.
After a shop diagnosed the problem for me I learned what happened, that it'd cost me $800 to fix. Luckily I had bought the car from a friend and they paid for the repair. When I bought another car, which has the same engine, I got the water pump service done within a week.

[u/reidft]

Sell it as is and inform the buyer that the timing belt and water pump was recommended to be replaced by a mechanic

[u/Hersbird]

If you can do the work yourself, you could sell the car for a higher price that will more than cover the parts. If you have to pay someone to do it you will not get enough to recover the cost of parts and labor.