How long do Gates timing belts last?

How to spot a fake Gates timing belt

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Original Gates products are supplied to the assembly lines of more than 40 automakers around the world, accounting for about 52% of the global market.
Their belts are found on cars from GM, Ford, Daimler-Benz, Caterpillar, Toyota, Nissan, Audi, Volvo, Volkswagen and others. The belts are also suitable for domestic cars, in particular for VAZ, and the new Lada is also being supplied to the assembly line. Since Gates spare parts are of very good quality, there are often positive reviews about them on the Internet. Gates timing belts are also praised. Therefore they are very popular. This is also something that scammers take advantage of by counterfeiting real straps, passing them off as originals, but selling them a little cheaper than the original. Because of this, the question of how to distinguish fake timing belts and Gates accessory belts is always relevant.

The manufacturer is aware of this situation and constantly monitors the level of quality of counterfeits of its products. In order to protect its customers from purchasing counterfeit products, the installation of which can have the worst consequences for the engine, it changes not only the design of the box, but also introduces additional degrees of protection. In order to understand what the difference is and what a Gates timing belt craft looks like, and what the original should look like, carefully examine the packaging, the quality of the belt itself and the timing rollers. And also always have an installed application for reading a QR code or access to the Internet.

Let's look at 5 main methods for identifying a fake Gates belt:

FakeHeader

Comments 20

I have a question for everyone, I found a Gates 5662XS timing belt in an ad, but there are also 1.6 16 V and 1.4 8V, is it really so universal that it fits all types of engines? Why do they all have 96 teeth? Although exist will not offer nonsense...

I have it. the flight is already idk how long, everything is buzzing

Gates is the original for Renault... In addition, Gates is installed on all cars for the Pindosian market!

I changed it at 60, installed Gates, drove 12 thousand, the flight is normal (Gates was also installed from the factory). I didn't change the pump.

Gates produces original belts. Renault only puts its own stamp on them. A year and a half ago I changed the Gates DKIT-11015 K015473XS belt + roller kit. The flight is normal. Maybe the number will be useful to someone.

The original belt is from Geitz, the only difference is that the Renault emblem is stamped on the original one. I had the timing belt changed by the officials twice and both times they put it in Heitz. The photos on the link show both the old belt and the new one. www.drive2.ru/l/5286613/ Regarding the rollers, the Goetz rollers are of good quality. My brother worked at one time in a taxi, the cars were all Logan. The belt and rollers were changed every 100,000 km. Everything was installed by Geitz. For the pump, take SKF. I changed it at home that year and installed SKF. www.drive2.ru/l/3438516/ And here they changed it for me, it might come in handy. www.drive2.ru/l/3455133/

So I installed the Gates belt in November 2013. I changed it when I reached 60 thousand km. in December 2014 and installed the same one. I don’t really remember which pump I installed. I checked the reliability of the belt, Hurray! I’ll explain why: after installing the belt in November 2013, I noticed a slight fogging under the timing cover, citing the fact that the weather was wet, I gave up on this matter until December 2014, i.e. until the belt is replaced according to the regulations after 60 thousand km. After removing the cover, it turned out that the pump cuff was leaking antifreeze and for a very long time, because... the antifreeze had time to dry and stick to the engine housing very strongly (they tore off this antifreeze for me for 2 hours, swearing very strongly). The belt was all wet and lasted 60 thousand km. So for me only Gates

For proper and long-term operation of the car, it is important that all its components are of high quality, including the timing belt. The leaders in the consumables market are Gates. The article discusses Gates belts: reviews about them, selection rules. This information will help you buy a quality belt and teach you how to distinguish a fake from an original.

Packaging overview

Packaging is the first thing a car owner sees when purchasing, and from it you can try to understand whether the product is original or not. Since the Chinese are constantly improving the level of copies, there has been a change in the design of the boxes. New ones now have even more degrees of protection against counterfeiting. So give preference to the new type of boxes with a black line and a control sticker. Although there may also be old ones lying around in warehouses.

A coupon from the original packaging indicating the mileage at which the belt was installed

The original packaging always has a black stripe with white text, which indicates the official website of the manufacturer. But counterfeit packaging does not contain such information. The second thing that immediately catches your eye is that on the back of the original packaging, the large size of the logo on the counterfeit is correspondingly smaller, and it is embossed. And also the inscription “PowerGrip”, there are more in the original. The font in the description on the counterfeit is so-called “bold”, but the original is normal.

The side part of the packaging is so different - in the original the logo and the inscription are on the same line, but on the replica they are below each other (that is, the logo is drawn on top, and the trademark inscription is under it.), moreover, there is no address on the black strip manufacturer's website. The catalog number marking on the original Gates timing belt is stamped with dots - the fake is marked with a solid stamp.

All original packaging is always well sealed, including on the “tabs”. In the original box, there is always a small coupon, which is designed to include information about the mileage at which a particular belt was replaced. Usually this coupon is glued in the engine compartment, in the immediate vicinity of the timing belt.

You can also check the quality of the packaging directly. Firstly, you should pay attention to the presence of an adhesive layer

on the lid of the box.
Moreover, not ordinary tape, but applied glue. It should be in the original. Otherwise (if it is sealed with tape), this is a fake. The next check is to identify the Gates factory sticker with the logo
. Moreover, it must have round, not rectangular edges. The fact is that square stickers are cheaper, which is why they are used on fakes.

It is also worth noting that the anti-counterfeit protection on the packaging with the Gates timing belt kit has an additional difference - there must be a QR code, as well as a barcode

.
Moreover, it should be wide enough (on counterfeit packages, the barcode usually has a small width). Also note that often there must be a tag (there are old sets without it, just with a QR code) that needs to be opened, under it there is a verification code for sending an SMS. Well, you definitely need to pay attention to the quality of the print
. First of all, we are talking about applying paint. Original boxes usually have a matte finish, while counterfeit ones have a glossy finish (this is done because glossy paper is cheaper than matte paper). Well, if there are obvious flaws, such as crooked printing and spelling errors, then, of course, this is definitely a fake, and you shouldn’t buy it, no matter how cheap it is.

Reasons why a belt breaks

The most common cause is normal wear and tear. Yes, the timing belt is very durable. It can work for a long time on foreign cars. But everything has an expiration date. During its work, it becomes more vulnerable, worse, and therefore cannot maintain tension. Result - the belt is broken.

People can easily miss the moment when they need to change the belt. Therefore, they inevitably face the fact that it becomes unusable. You also need to understand that on cars from domestic manufacturers such a part will serve noticeably less. For example, about 30-50 thousand km. And this must be taken into account. Especially if the car was bought secondhand. In this case, it is generally better to immediately purchase a new belt.

Incorrect operation of the tension rollers. These rollers are needed to tension the timing belt. And if everything is in order with them, it will not slip and fly off the teeth. In other words, rollers are bearings that have a special layer on top. But they also have their service life! You can notice that it is coming to an end when you hear a noise.

If such rollers are not changed in time, the belt will break very quickly.

It happens that a break does not occur, but the rubber teeth, which are of great importance, break. It is clear that even with such a breakdown, the belt needs to be changed.
On domestically produced cars, the pump sometimes jams. And it can also ruin the belt fabric.
The last reason is low-quality spare parts. Therefore, we strongly advise you to buy parts that are proven and reliable. You need to go and have your car repaired at service stations that inspire confidence and have positive reviews.

Checking the originality of the Gates timing belt via SMS

The level of security is constantly improving, and in 2020 one of the most popular and simplest verification methods is SMS verification. So, on the surface of the box with the Gates strap there is a protective sticker, if you peel it off you will see an alphanumeric code and a short phone number to which you need to send a message (it differs for different countries). The cost of SMS is equal to the price of a regular message within the tariff of your mobile operator. In response, you will receive a similar message with information regarding the authenticity of the belt being tested.

Electronic verification methods

There are three methods for electronically checking GATES POWERGRIP timing belts. Briefly they can be described as follows:

checking the 14-digit code on the package;
using a smartphone with pre-installed software or a special laser barcode scanner;
checking the holographic sticker.

Original packaging with a black stripe indicating the official website of the manufacturer.

Now we will describe each of the listed methods in more detail. So, checking the 14-digit code is possible on the official Gates website. To do this, you need to go to the mentioned resource, select “Russian” (or another convenient one) from the list of languages and go to the verification section. After this, enter the 14-digit alphanumeric code indicated on the package in the field and click the corresponding “Check Code” button. After this, information about the authenticity of the product that has the entered code on the packaging will appear directly on the page in the browser. Note! If the letters in the code on the packaging are in capitals, then they must also be entered in capitals in the verification line. Otherwise, the system will perceive this as an error and will not accept the information.

The second verification method is to use a smartphone or laser barcode scanner. Since July 2020, all GATES belt packaging has a unique QR code. To read them, download and install one of two applications on your smartphone - TecIdentify or Neoreader. Their versions are available on both Android and iOS operating systems. Next, using your smartphone camera and appropriate software, read the QR code from the packaging. As a result of these actions, the application will display one of three messages to you - about the authenticity of the product, its outright counterfeit, or the third case - when there is no such code in the database, so additional identification is needed. But most likely, this will mean that the packaging and product are fake.

The third method of identifying counterfeit products is to check the PRIOSPOT holographic sticker. It has a complex security system, so it is quite difficult to fake it. To check you need to use three methods:

The code on the sticker must be unique. No two stickers are the same!
Place the sticker under direct light. Below them, the security code and the manufacturer’s logo should shimmer in the colors of the rainbow. Also, a “moving” number should be visible under the light, which in the original coincides with the last digit of the security code. If you change the viewing angle to a number, it will move up/down on the sticker.
Take a magnifying glass and use it to check that there is a ten-character alphanumeric code under the GATES manufacturer logo. In this case, the last four digits from it must exactly repeat the security code on the sticker, as well as four digits from the main alphanumeric code.

How to distinguish a fake from the original

When the market becomes saturated with various counterfeits, the manufacturer makes changes to the appearance of the packaging. The photo shows different types of packaging for real Gates products. If there is no black stripe on them, then it is obviously a fake. The numbers are 111x19, 111 is the number of teeth, 19 is the width.

Logo and lettering

Consider the Gates logo. On counterfeit packaging it is smaller, on the original it is larger. Also with the inscription. The font of the description text on the box: on the fake it is bold, the original is normal. On the side of the packaging of the original belt, the logo and the inscription are in one line, but on the fake the logo is at the top, the inscription is at the bottom. The designation is printed on the original numbers with spaces, the counterfeit ones are purely black.

Packaging, hologram and tag

The packaging with the original product is sealed, and a lot of glue is applied. On a counterfeit, the box opens easily, as it is weakly glued. Sometimes they even seal it with tape. The most important thing is the presence of a protective hologram. Each belt has its own pattern and is not repeated. The original packaging still has the paper tag. It is glued in the engine compartment so that when you change the belt, you record the mileage. You'll know when to change the belt next time.

Belts are always packed in red and black boxes made of thin cardboard, which in turn are placed 10 pieces per cardboard box. Dayco sells its empty packaging separately. This makes it possible to sell counterfeit low-quality spare parts under their brand.

External view of the Gates timing belt

Now let's look at the products themselves. The font on the original belt is bold. All products must indicate the place of origin. The inscription can be cut off, as on the top strap. There are no differences in the teeth.

On fake belts, the rubber on the outside quickly crumbles, and the inscription is never cut off. If you order and buy a product online, it happens that the site selects the wrong analogues. They only pay attention to the number of teeth and width; no one looks at the shape of the tooth. On Priora and Grant, the teeth are rounded, unlike the VAZ-2109. It is advisable not to confuse this, as the service life will be shorter.

Unique code for authentication

Since July 2020, Gates has added a unique code to each timing belt package. The new labels make it possible to verify a unique code in three ways, thanks to triple security markings. It will help distinguish original Gates belts from counterfeits.

Let's consider each method of protection against counterfeiting. A unique 14-digit alphanumeric code is printed on the belt packaging. It can be entered on the official website to confirm the authenticity of the product. Try this. Authentication works, a message should be displayed that everything is fine, the product is genuine. If the code contains capital letters, then you need to enter them that way.

Check by QR code

You can also scan the QR code, which will help distinguish a genuine product from a fake. This method is questionable because there are many programs on the Internet that can generate any QR code.

Holographic sticker

Another measure against counterfeit timing drives is the addition of the PrioSpot® holographic sticker. It is difficult to counterfeit, as it includes several security elements. By appearance it is easy to understand the authenticity of the product. What security features are in this sticker? Gates is silent about this, but the sticker is unique.

Sun timing belt how to spot a fake

Soon 100 thousand km... That means changing the timing belt soon! And the thought keeps gnawing at me, how it was with the bearing on the outboard, I bought it from a Honda... and in the Koyo package! Obidne, yes! And the idea is simple - everyone knows that Honda doesn’t make any belts! I dug around “THE THINGS”))) And here it is: “belt of the “SUN” brand, article number A394RU22MM. The SUN brand is the largest packager of rubber goods and other components in Japan. The UNITTA plant is owned by Gates, which supplies original timing belts to all factories in Japan that produce cars. The quality of SUN belts is not inferior to original neoprene products: constant quality control and protection against counterfeiting. Belts began to be marked in a new design - with thermal printing on the inside, the boundaries of which are visible at the edges of the stamp. Every year, USHIO expands its range of about 20-30 new models of SUN timing belts throughout the year.”

SUN is a brand that is part of Japan's largest manufacturer of original components. supplies original belts for all factories in Japan that produce cars: TOYOTA, NISSAN, MITSUBISHI, MAZDA, HONDA, SUBARU, etc. For example, TOYOTA uses only two brands as original timing belts - UNITTA and MITSUBOSHI. Other Japanese automakers also predominantly equip their vehicles with timing belts of these brands. Our Company offers belts in TMY packaging - that is, in the form they are sold in the Japanese domestic market. This makes it easier for customers to distinguish genuine Japanese timing belts from counterfeits. SUN timing belts are distinguished by the most complete coverage of the market of Japanese models (the assortment includes belts for the “freshest” Japanese-made cars!) and very competitive prices, which, combined with the highest quality, makes them very attractive for use on Japanese cars.

Products :: “SUN” (UNITTA) – one of the GATES enterprises Belts “SUN” (UNITTA) – one of the GATES enterprises

“SUN” is a trademark of Japan's largest manufacturer of OEM components, which produces original spare parts (belts) for all factories in Japan that produce cars. UNITTA is a joint venture between two leading companies (USA) and NITTA BELT (Japan). GATES is the largest manufacturer of spare parts for automobiles, which has its subsidiaries in many countries around the world. "SUN" (UNITTA) is one of the GATES enterprises, located in Japan and producing original (OEM) spare parts, and in particular timing belts and rivet belts, for the concerns TOYOTA, NISSAN, MITSUBISHI, MAZDA, HONDA, etc.

The distribution of market shares among other manufacturers is approximately as follows:

"SUN" (Unitta) - 70% "Mitsuboshi" - 15% "Tsubakimoto" - 10% "Bando" - 5%

In general, who installs which belts and what is the experience of using them?! Share! Everyone who unsubscribes +30 to Karma))) OriginalFags don’t flood!

After 10k km I need to change the timing kit, I decided to buy it in parts so that it wouldn’t be so hard on my pocket.

Everyone probably already knows that the original timing belt has the inscription Unitta, and that this is a Gates division, I’m thinking of taking it Gates 5612XS, or the reinforced T328RB, but is it necessary for 1.5? and then I saw the SUN H885YU29MM in the list of analogues, and remembered that the reviews about it seemed to be good too, here’s what the Internet writes about this company:

The SUN brand is the largest packager of rubber goods and other components in Japan. The UNITTA plant is owned by Gates, which supplies original timing belts to all factories in Japan that produce cars. The quality of SUN belts is not inferior to original neoprene products: constant quality control and protection against counterfeiting. Belts began to be marked in a new design - with thermal printing on the inside, the boundaries of which are visible at the edges of the stamp. Every year, USHIO expands its range of about 20-30 new models of SUN timing belts throughout the year.

but if it’s the same Gates inside, then why is the price 2-3 times lower? Who will say anything about this?

14 reviews and 24 votes

among 7 manufacturers

The best belt in the World is SUN! (If made in Japan). I changed the belt on my Mitsubishi Galant E52A at 187,000 km, there were only small cracks on the inside. Wound it up in 3 years.

Features of Gates timing belts

Gates has a century-long history of development. In 2020 it will be 100 years since the first V-belt rolled off the production line. The company survived such a long period of time for a reason. Just having our own research center speaks volumes. Today it is the largest supplier of belts for cars and agricultural machinery, not only for conveyors, but also for spare parts.

When it comes to timing belts specifically, Gates offers products with strict requirements for quality and reliability. After all, timing belts operate at high speeds over a wide temperature range, while being exposed to oil. So, the features of Gates timing belts include:

the use of nitrile in a synthetic material with increased wear resistance and protection against oil and aggressive environments;
the use of fiberglass in the cord, spirally placed inside a rubber shell;
a variety of tooth profiles that precisely align with the gears and ensure tight grip and silent operation;
the availability of a variety of repair kits, including not only a tension roller, but also a special tool, and additional spare parts necessary for replacement, for example, pumps;
good protection of products from counterfeiting.

I'll go shoot myself. ABOUT BELTS. Take GATES or MITSUBOSHI or BANDO directly!

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Honda doesn't make parts. ). She assembles cars from ready-made spare parts, and of course, she orders a number of parts from third-party factories specifically and only for herself.

Photos of belts from HONDA in the studio. I only saw one (it is in the photo) on the timing belt and it clearly says UNITTA. In order to write HONDA (on anything) you need to have the right to own the brand!

Honda doesn't make parts. ). She assembles cars from ready-made spare parts, and of course, she orders a number of parts from third-party factories specifically and only for herself.

This is a complete idea. Not laboratory tests. You reassure yourself by thinking that if you paid for a smeared brand sticker. Then this part will magically “travel” five times longer. gee.

Pure nonsense!

A stupid example, knowing the production cycle.

The machine that makes belts, oil seals, bearings, rollers is the SAME. The entire technological chain is also the same. All materials are the same. And the copyright holder of KOYO, say, or NOK or NTN (any.) will not harm himself “digging his own grave” by intentionally changing the technology for products going “to the left” and not in boxes with a brand smeared on them.

By the way, often the label with the brand is blurred out by unscrupulous sorters and the existentialist himself, thus making a profitability of 500-600 percent.

As has been known since ancient times, in the West there is no sorting, as there was in the USSR; in the West, all goods are of high quality. And there is NO selection of varieties at the output!

If the machine and technology are set up, then the machine produces only goods of the same quality. Nothing is distributed by variety.

Timing belt GATES

I want to replace the timing belt on my car. Engine 4S-FE. They offer the Gates Power Grip belt. Who can say anything about these belts.

PS: I’m interested in opinions specifically on the timing belt, and not on other belts. I've had one of these running on my generator for about a year now, but it's not a problem area.

There will be no problems with the timing belt either, Gates is one of the leaders in this area, good belts.

What about fakes? What is the probability of running into something? And then on the Internet one person spoke badly about such a belt, writing that it broke at a crucial moment and was trash. )

I won’t say anything about this, because... I've never seen these belts being fake.

Gates are good belts, you can easily install them.

I can also recommend Good-Year and Sun, if they are available in your area.

And when I changed the belts, I installed the original timing belt, the rest were Gates. I won’t speak for them, but I’ll give you a point. Next time I will install all original belts and rollers

So why point here? These straps are changed once or twice (power steering and alternator); if they break, nothing too bad will happen. Unless the power steering belt breaks, you will need to hold the steering wheel with an iron grip. (I think it is most likely to break during a turn, when the load on the pump is maximum). )))

Draft
The person asks about the timing belt, and not about the attachment belt.

Then I'm for the original!

a good company makes high-quality spare parts (at one time it was a blessing to get it for TAZs - one word quality - set it and forget it), but the chances of running into a fake are probably 90% - and I’m not sure that a fake can’t get on Exist. (from Exist they brought me an air vent and an oil vent for a Subaru - Knecht - the oil vent seems to be normal, but even the Chinese cover the top with a film so that dirt does not get inside during transportation, but the vent is a complete scribe - there is only branded packaging, and the contents - or Knecht to moreover lowered or pale specific.

I installed Gates for myself and my friends three times and never had any problems, the belts were Belgian

Gates installed it for himself, immediately after the purchase in Novosibirsk, it went 74 t.km., a break, although the belt is like new, I told the guys it was not original, 80 t.km., but they said that according to the new data, the current is 60 t.km., so and think. p.s. when they changed it in Novosib, they removed the original, all cracked but working, it felt like more than 140t.km. but it passed!! and maybe more. So it depends.

I read the Gates on the attachment, took care of it without problems and still walks. The timing belt is important, so in order to install the original without any surprises, it actually ran for 110 thousand km.

Sun timing belt how to spot a fake

Greetings to the owners of the ninth Lancers from the glorious city of Kostroma! I bought my Lancer about six months ago.

Now I’m about to do 90,000 maintenance. I studied the relevant topic and bought, among other things, a SUN A343YU100 timing belt.

The order arrived without packaging! Everyone knows that the timing belt cannot be bent; in fact, the packaging actually prevents deformation, but this is the case here. In addition, supposedly SUN belts have thermal printing on the reverse side - a kind of protection against counterfeiting. There is no thermal printing on the inside of the belt that was sent.

There are reasonable doubts about the advisability of installing this belt. However, maybe SUN without packaging and without printing is now the order of the day?

I appeal to the forum participants to help me figure this out. Who recently changed the timing belt and installed a SUN belt: was the belt in the characteristic blue packaging, was there a thermal print on the reverse side?

Characteristics and Features

The Gates company was founded in 1911. In 1917, the V-belt was first produced. Since then, the company has been producing drive belts and hoses for cars. It is one of the largest suppliers of products for conveyors of auto manufacturers around the world, including AvtoVAZ. The quality of the products fully complies with the manufacturer's requirements for the original. The use of the latest technologies makes it possible to create new products with improved characteristics.

Gates Supplies

The following types of belts are produced under the Gates brand:

Wedges. The products have a cross section and transmit force through the side surface. Made from oil and petrol resistant rubber. Non-reinforced belts with molded ribs have a V-shaped profile and have high lateral strength. High-strength polyester cord provides increased flexibility, which makes it possible to use products on small diameter pulleys. Used on passenger cars and small minibuses. For V-belts, reverse bends, which cause tension on the inner surface, are unacceptable. In some cases, multiple belts may need to be installed to provide the required tension and flexibility.

Polycline. Made from several low profile V-belts. Thus, these products have good flexibility and are resistant to both forward and reverse bending. They can withstand heavy loads, so they are used to transmit serious forces. The flexibility and strength of poly V-belts makes it possible to use them on all mounted units, ensuring their rotation. Advantages of these products:

elasticity;
strength;
tensile strength;
tolerate high temperatures and oil well;
resistant to abrasive effects;
reduce vibration;
help reduce noise.

“MICRO-V” belts facilitate the return of the tensioner and automatically tighten it, while they control auxiliary units in zigzag transmissions.

Variator belts. The cord of these products is made of aramid or polyester, the coating is made of a special compound elastomer or a high-strength fabric base. The innovative components used in manufacturing ensure the operation of the variator in any conditions. The products have the same width along the entire length, which guarantees the necessary inclination of the teeth, ensuring soft running and reliable operation of the variator at high speeds. Aramid fibers and FLEXWEAVE coating provide the following advantages:

wear resistance;
flexibility;
preservation of properties under any operating parameters of the variator;
resistance to compression and tension;
high resistance to loads for different driving styles;
fracture strength;
good grip;
durability.

Original variator belt Gates
Timing belts. Designed for a gas distribution mechanism in which it is necessary to synchronize the operation of shafts where rotation occurs over a wide range of speeds. Thanks to the fiberglass cord, the belts have increased elasticity and are resistant to stretching. Durable lining protects against moisture, high temperatures and oils.

Branded timing belt

The improved series of timing belts are made from highly saturated nitrile, they last longer when operating in extreme conditions. Disadvantage - they do not tolerate jerks well. Advantages:

reduce the load on engine shafts and bearings;
almost not subject to stretching and vibration;
do not require lubrication;
durable;
help reduce noise:
Corrosion resistant.

Due to the fact that the teeth are molded with high precision, perfect engagement of the grooves on the sprocket is guaranteed and the noise level is reduced.

The PowerGrip timing gear repair kit includes timing belts and metal parts: tension rollers, support plates. Since modern engines are very demanding on consumables, for reliable operation of the car the belt should be changed along with metal parts. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the products. They should not be allowed to have cracks, bends, unevenness on the outer surface, folds, etc. If any defects are detected, the components should preferably be replaced as a set.