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Hit 500 timing belt jobs and it hit me different

Passed the 500 mark on timing belt replacements last month, mostly on Hondas and Toyotas at my shop in Tucson. I didn't think the number mattered until I realized I can now hear a failing tensioner before the customer even starts the car. That milestone made me trust my gut over the factory spec sheet every single time. Has anyone else had a number like that where the repetitions just clicked for you?
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jennifersmith
The interesting part is that milestone number probably should get reset when you switch brands or engine families, because a Subaru boxer timing job taught me that lesson real quick. My gut from Honda work made me overconfident, and I nearly skipped a step that would've toasted the valves. The real clicking moment comes when you realize your intuition is brand specific, not universal. That's when you start treating the factory manuals like a map instead of a rulebook.
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