My 2000 SE recently starting pinging really bad under load, so I checked the timing and it was at 20 BTDC. So I reset it to 15 BTDC. How did the timing get off by so much? Does this mean that the timing belt is worn and I need to replace it?
I've had it since October '99 and had no pinging until about 2 months ago. I've always run 87 octane. Yes, it's hot here, but I had no problems duing previous summers.
The Timing Belt doesn't stretch (at least not enough to be a problem) but the teeth can wear and break off but if they did the valves would start hitting the pistons. 5 degrees is alot but not enough for it to be damage. Mine changed about 3 degrees over the course of a year in a half so it may just be that it hasn't been checked often enough.