2.0 timing belt inspection

[dusterbd13]

so i picked up a 2002 protege5 with 123000 on it, orevious owner stated that they had done the timing belt, but i want to be certain it was done. is there an inspection procedure for this? id rather not believe them and have it snap, causing me to need to put a lot more work into something that is easily preventable.

so, if there is and inspection procedure, what is it?

thanks
michael

 

[thuzil]

There is no easy way to tell other than look at if the idler, tensioner and belt look new. You will probably only want to take off the valve cover to look though and will only see the top of the belt.

If it is nice and black then that is better than old and grey looking on the back.

This is really subjective at best. Ask for a receipt for the job or assume it was not done to be safe.