Date stamp on timing belt - yes or no. If not, what is this?

[timsch]

Hello all,

I saw a video a while back (didn't save the link) where a guy was showing how to tell the age of the timing belt. IIRC, it was a VW related video. He mentioned that the last digits of the stamping on the back of the belt was the date of manufacture.

Looking for verification of this on this forum, I found none regarding anything on the timing belt, but a number of people showing the date stamp on the tensioner. I found posts in which a number of our most respected members said that there was nothing on the belt.

I got an Open Box timing belt kit from a reputable vendor late last year knowing that I'd be doing the change soon enough. Well now's the time. I looked on the belt that I got in the kit and saw this stamping

So, the last digits certainly match western coding for the date of m/d/y, in this case, May 20th, 2013. If that's not what it is, then what is it?

 

[AverageAndy]

I think you may have it a little backwards unfortunately. The video from Josh's Jetta's mentions reading is as the 13th week of 2020 from your pictured belt.

 

[timsch]

I think you may have it a little backwards unfortunately. The video from Josh's Jetta's mentions reading is as the 13th week of 2020 from your pictured belt.

That was the video, thanks. Yep, I remembered incorrectly.

So, a timing belt made in 2020 is much better than one made in 2013, but that's still several years old now. The rubber looks new. What's the shelf life on a timing belt?

Other posts state that it is not the belt but the rollers and tensioner that are the real reasons to change the belt with the other components on a schedule, so maybe the date is not such an issue. Still, not wild about getting an almost 4 year old belt when I ordered it in December.

 

[Powder Hound]

If the belt has been sitting outside, uncovered, in the desert outside of Phoenix, Arizona since it was manufactured, then maybe you should worry. Otherwise, sitting in a climate controlled warehouse inside of its shipping packaging, I don't think you have anything about which to worry.

But if it still bothers you, then send it to me. I'll take care of it, and you can go buy a new one. Be sure and ask the sales person to get the stock picker to check the best by date on the belt.

Cheers,

PH