I know this subject must have been completely beaten to death on this forum, but I've searched and am not really finding any definitive answers beyond bent valves. Last night, the timing belt snapped on my 1993 Prelude Si at about 65 mph. I'm assuming there's no way I could have dodged the bullet on this one, so I'm curious as to what commonly happens under these curcumstances. I've heard bent valves, what else? What am I most likely looking at in repairs and what kind of money are we talking (ballpark). Is this one of those, "cheaper to just replace the motor" things or does it make sense to fix it? I know you never know for sure til you get into it, but I'm looking for some education here. Any help appreciated.

 

i just did a timing belt at work on a civic with the belt broke it sheared every took off the belt and the water pump was seized i put in a new pump and belt and the car ran like new. it was a sohc motor though sometimes it seems with the dohc motors you stand a better chance at breakin more ****. take it off and cross your fingers, you can only tell once you put the new belt on and try to start it. it may run but be a bit noisy or it may have a few bent valves hopefully none contacted the pistons..........good luck

 

deffinetly bent valves are the biggest problem. my friend and i did a 91 prelude that broke a timing belt this last summer and the total cost was near $1000 for replacing 3 exhaust valves and 1 intake valve. and that was taking the head off the car and dropping it off at the machine shop. we also paid crazy prices for genuine honda valves, so i estimate that the cost might have been closer to $800 if we went with the generic valves the machine shop could order. in a worst case scenario, which i have never actually seen, would be if part of the valve actually breaks inside the cylinder. if that happens its not hard to imagine how mangled the pistons can get, which can also mess up the head pretty bad. usually if you can afford to get the head rebuilt, you should be in pretty good shape, but that depends on how many valves were taken out.