I have a 97 Civic LX SOHC non-VTEC, and I really have to do my timing belt (325,000+ km and never done!). Just got the car from my Dad and he's never been one for much preventative maintenance. Anyways, I've been looking around at different kits, and I'm not completely clear on all of the seals and gaskets I'll need. Some kits include cam and crank seals, some include the valve cover gasket, spark plug seals, and some only include the timing belt, water pump, and water pump gasket. The kit I am looking at now includes the timing belt, water pump, water pump gasket, alternator belt, and power steering belt, but no cam or crank seal. Are these seals required to be replaced when doing the timing belt, or just recommended? And if recommended, how difficult are they to change/how much extra work is it? Also, is there a gasket of any kind that goes around the timing cover/casing that one removes to get to the timing belt? Thanks for any help.

-Andy

 

Check out the Pro Street timing belt kits being offered in the Sponsor's Marketplace. They include basically everything you'll need for the job.

 

I've been seeing lots of kits on eBay that even include the PS and Alt. belts as well in the price range of $120, and they claim to be OEM. The only thing I haven't seen included in one of those is the tensioner spring. How important is it to change this part? Also, if they say OEM parts, does this mean that they are made by the manufacturer that supplies them for Honda, or just that it meets Honda's standards?

 

I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be sourcing timing belt parts from eBay, but as for the OEM designation, you'd have to check with each vendor to confirm exactly what that denotes in in their advertising.

Generally, you'll want the timing belt, water pump, tensioner pulley, and spring.

 

So other than the water pump gasket, there are no other gaskets that need to be replaced during this job? If they don't need to be changed, how difficult is it to change the cam and crank seals? Is this another hour or two of labour, or a quick job?

 

AUTO ZONE OR ADVANCE AUTO PARTS. Ijust replaced a timing belt on a Lx sedan and a Dx hatch. Its not that much fun.

 

I'm all the way up in Canada, and I don't believe we have those stores here. I work at Canadian Tire and I've checked up on the cheapest stuff I can find locally, and all together for timing belt, tensioner, water pump, and PS and Alt. belts I'm looking at over $220 easy. Online I've been seeing this same stuff for half the price, and supposedly all either Honda genuine parts, or Honda suppliers like Koyo.

I'm liking the one kit I see with the timing belt, water pump and gasket, tensioner, and PS and Alt. belts, but just trying to find out if the cam and crank seals need or should be replaced at the same time.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by andy_sayers &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but just trying to find out if the cam and crank seals need or should be replaced at the same time.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Some people choose to change them, others don't. If you're already replacing the timing belt and your kit includes them, you might as well change them out. I've never done it personally, so I honestly can't say exactly what is involved, but from what I've read, it will indeed add a bit of time to the whole job.