hondaccordexvl

Nearing 60,000. Service manual says it's time for timing belt. It's expensive -- once the engine is dropped, mechanics suggest that the water pump also be replaced, whether or not it is bad. The belt and water pump (plus labor and other parts) come to almost $900. QUESTION: Can I just wait until the timing belt goes or do I have to replace it ahead of time? A friend said that on some engines, when the timing belt goes, it can destroy the engine and on others, the engine simply quits with no harm to engine.

YeuEmMaiMai

if you wait until the t-belt snaps you will have to do major work to the engine. Honda are interference engines.

they do not have to take the engine out, the simply remove the front wheel anad do it all from there and above the engine.

hondaccordexvl

Thanks for your reply Yeu. Should I have the t-belt changed out right at 60,000, or do you think I could wait another 1,000 or 2,000 miles? (I've always maintained this car according to the service recommendations, but the expense of this one is giving me financial pain.)

dorkiedoode

honestly, do not take this as a fact, but i think you can wait 1-2k miles. not sure about your car but my manual suggest 105k to replace t-belt in which the previous owner replaced it at 120k. 99 honda accord ex v6.

hondadude

I think you should go by the service schedule in the owners manual, it sounds to me like you are using a shop that has no idea of T-belt service intervals for Hondas.
Beyond that ...I always recommend that the W/P and seals be changed at the same time the T-belt is changed.
People that actually work on Hondas will tell you that the seals-W/P might not be bad at the first T-belt change........but they rarely make it to the second change.
The belt tensioner bearings are a matter of judgement; Spin them and check for roughness.
Often times you can carefully pry off the bearing shield and insert a little grease and the bearings will be good to go.

frosti108

I just got my 99 accord with 140k miles and the timing belt has never been changed. so i just did it.

hondaccordexvl

Thanks for your replies! It's a 2000 Accord Ex. V-6. I love the car and have maintained it beautifully. I see that some cars do not require t-belt change until 90,000 miles, but the manual that came with this car states it at 60K.

hondadude

You are in the SEVERE conditions??
60k-7years; copy from Honda Interactive Network
Here is the NORMAL conditions;

hondaccordexvl

Thanks for the awesome information -- much different from what I've seen.
Yes, conditions in Sarasota, FL are SEVERE. I would guess that the engine runs over 100 degrees for at least 7 months of the year.