Just got a 98 Civic EX with 42,000 miles on it timing belt has not been changed.


I have read it would be wise to have it changed as the vehicle is 10 years old.

Called the dealer and the want between 750-799 for the
timing belt
water pump
engine seals
drive belts
coolant.

I'm in the NYC area.


Questions are:
Should I have the belt changed or can I wait?
Does the price seem high?
Anyone in the NYC area have the job done cheaper?Is so where?

 

with 42000 miles. u are ok..wait for another 20k or 30k to do timing belt job
price seemed high? it is a dealer price. find a local auto shop. they can do it for much less. a local shop quoted my friend's civic for $450 for the labor and parts to do timing belt job


Modified by Powered by VTEC at 6:19 AM 1/19/2008

 

you are good till about 105,000 miles.... price is 560 for the timing belt package which includes water belt and internal belts

 

The miles are low but he has a point with the age. Rubber dries out.

I would visually inspect the condition of the belt and decide on that. If it's starting to dry rot, get it done by a reputable shop but if it's in good shape don't worry about it yet.

 

Honda recommends replacement at 105,000 miles or 7 years, Whichever comes first. With 10 years on it you're pushing your luck, age is harder on em than miles.

 

Thanks All
My gut told me to have to it changed due to it's age. I guess I'll have to spend the dough.

I don't know of any repair shops I trust to do this type or work so I guess I'll have to give the money to the dealer. I want Honda parts anyway.

 

I'd call around to a few places. $750-800 seems a bit high to me. But i know new york is more expensive.

 

The service interval is 7 years/105,000, whichever comes first. You are pushing that year time, its probably fine but I personally would have it changed.

It was around 950 for the whole job at the dealer for my whole t-belt job, but its more expensive on a b16, the price you were quoted sounds right for a single cam and at the dealer.

 

thats alot of money for a few hours of work. to the op do you own any tools??? and a service manual (helms, chilton) hell you can download the actual Honda Factory service manual. (illegal might i add lol) just check it out and see you could save ur self alot of money. but if you don't think you can do it as stated above call aorund to some other places. hope this helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by turb0teg &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The miles are low but he has a point with the age. Rubber dries out.

I would visually inspect the condition of the belt and decide on that. If it's starting to dry rot, get it done by a reputable shop but if it's in good shape don't worry about it yet.</TD></TR></TABLE>

It does and it doesn't.

It'll dry out if the car sat for awhile (as everything dry rots), but if it was driven every day it'd most likely be fine for another 30 or 40k. My car's 10 years old...but I have no idea how old the engine is so :-\ - though I do know it's around 80k, but even so, I'll push it 10k or so more before I care (or not) about changing the timing belt.

A lot of numbers Honda releases aren't absolute fail numbers, they're fail numbers they know it won't fail before. I don't know how far you can push an original engine with an original t-belt for - but I'm sure the t-belt will last for 100+.

750-800 is ridiculous, my friend spent like 1300 for Audi to do his (and on the new Audis you have to have the dealer do it, unless you want to spend over a grand for the tool which depresses the cams so you can do it). A local shop can do it for ~400 as other people said, I say do it yourself, it's not a hard task, but whatever.

 

You're pushing your luck.............

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It does and it doesn't.

It'll dry out if the car sat for awhile (as everything dry rots), but if it was driven every day it'd most likely be fine for another 30 or 40k. My car's 10 years old...but I have no idea how old the engine is so :-\ - though I do know it's around 80k, but even so, I'll push it 10k or so more before I care (or not) about changing the timing belt.

A lot of numbers Honda releases aren't absolute fail numbers, they're fail numbers they know it won't fail before. I don't know how far you can push an original engine with an original t-belt for - but I'm sure the t-belt will last for 100+.

750-800 is ridiculous, my friend spent like 1300 for Audi to do his (and on the new Audis you have to have the dealer do it, unless you want to spend over a grand for the tool which depresses the cams so you can do it). A local shop can do it for ~400 as other people said, I say do it yourself, it's not a hard task, but whatever.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually hit the 7 year/105K at the same time and the belt was almost toast, half of it was gone and it was extremely dried out. I'll change the belt only 60K down the road next time, that was a little to long imo. So ya, it'll most likely make it, but always good to be safe.

If the op is like myself, I don't trust anyone but the dealer for jobs past my backyard mechanic abilites, all a preference I guess...

 

Thats pricey, but if you had the tools and time.
You would save your self alot of $$$

 

Just to update.
Found a dealer to do the job for 650.00 so its done
Thanks for all the replies!

 

^ RIP OFF!

 

I have a 94 civic, and i changed mined at 135K
that was risky, but i'm just giving you an idea of how long they can last. Definitely shop around.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Syndacate &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
A lot of numbers Honda releases aren't absolute fail numbers, they're fail numbers they know it won't fail before. I don't know how far you can push an original engine with an original t-belt for - but I'm sure the t-belt will last for 100+.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is true. I hate to admit this, but my stock, all original d16y7 has 182k miles on it and as far as I know it's still on the original timing belt. The belt does have some slack in it, but other than that it's not damaged at all (I've checked it). With that being said, I plan on changing it out this weekend before it slips off the gears or breaks. But yeah, Honda parts are tough.

 

yeah 650 is kind of expensive when parts cost around $140. i did mine a few months back and took me a few hours to do the job.

 

if you were in va,dc area id hook you up with a good price

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sleepencivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if you were in va,dc area id hook you up with a good price</TD></TR></TABLE>
were u taking to me ? u mean the price for parts or labor ? cause i do all the work by myself.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 96hb &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

This is true. I hate to admit this, but my stock, all original d16y7 has 182k miles on it and as far as I know it's still on the original timing belt. The belt does have some slack in it, but other than that it's not damaged at all (I've checked it). With that being said, I plan on changing it out this weekend before it slips off the gears or breaks. But yeah, Honda parts are tough. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah i have a stock d16y7 with 209k k/m on it and as far as I know original belt.
Dam thing can blow before i change it lol

 

650 for a belt change haha, why didnt you do it your self? But an then its your money.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Malakai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah i have a stock d16y7 with 209k k/m on it and as far as I know original belt.
Dam thing can blow before i change it lol </TD></TR></TABLE>

HAHA! Glad to know I'm not the only one pushing the envelope.

Edit....hell, I'm WAY past you.

 

i had a 90 accord come to my shop a few years back with about 260k on the original belt. the belt went to half and broke the top timing belt cover, its amazing that it still ran on half the belt.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ufatbasted &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks All
My gut told me to have to it changed due to it's age. I guess I'll have to spend the dough.

I don't know of any repair shops I trust to do this type or work so I guess I'll have to give the money to the dealer. I want Honda parts anyway.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

if your going to spend $700+ on a job like that...I and many other HT members will call you a idot bro. HT is here for a reason, its here so decisions like these wont cost you hundreds of dollars.

What i'd do in this case??? Buy the parts myself (search for the best prices) and find a honda/acura specialist to install them. Or find a buddy who has knowledge with installing these parts and have him help you out. It doesn't hurt to learn a little!