My car's manual recommends a timing belt replaced at 105,000 miles and I am now at about 108,000. How soon do I really need to change the belt? Am I on 'borrowed' time? Or will I probably be fine for a while since it's not an exact science that the belts will fail after 105,000 miles.

 

wow, really, here in Canada it's a god idea to change it every 90-100 thousand kilometers....thats like 60 thousands miles.

I wouldn't let that slide!!

 

Cheaper to change the belt than the engine.

 

Yep, change it!!

 

Change time!! ASAP.

 

I would have changed it about 20,000 miles ago, you are on borrowed time right now

 

yes and no... I seriously doubt that you have immediately imminent breakage in your future.

I know Honda says around 100K for most cars. Personally, I change mine around 100-130K.

However, 100K is a VERY conservative estimate that Honda set based on the fact that a broke timing belt completely wrecks a Honda engine. Since it's such a bad thing to happen, they figured out the average expected life of the belt, and set the interval much lower than one will actually break at without external influences... in most cases.

In actuality, I have a B20 sitting around that I know for a fact went 240K on the original timing belt and water pump, and when I pulled the timing cover, they both looked flawless. Do I recommend it? Obviously not, but it is a very good indication that Honda set the maintenance interval very low - for the very good reason that a broke timing belt is catastrophic on these engines.

Do what you want, calculating the risks with full knowledge of the potential consequences. If I were you, I'd start budgeting to change it within the next 10K miles.

 

better safe than sorry, my first civic broke the 2nd timing belt after 93,000 miles, 187,000 on the car, luckily there was no damage, sold the car when it hit 276,000 miles, the TB was put on by honda, so I guess its luck of the draw

gl

 

most times people suggest 60,000 miles and i would stick with that cause i have seen some bad things happen when you don't change them and they fail... like everyone says better off safe then sorry

 

I am at 137,XXX on an original timing belt I believe.
Is it complicated to change on your own or do you guys think I should have a mechanic do it for me?

 

the hardest part is getting the crank pully bolt off, go to a shop and get them to break it loose the tighten it by hand, drive home then do the belt

gl

 

^^^??
No offence, but OP please do not drive home on a broke-free crank pulley bolt....it's just not a good idea. Pay the money to get it done, or better yet, rent an air compressor for a weekend, rent a 1/2" Impact and do it yourself. You can even utilize your own spare tire jack to remove the Left Front Wheel for access! lol
And if you do this, or pay to get it done, DO NOT buy cheap parts (assuming you are also going to do the water pump as well, which you should be)
Buy an OEM belt and an OEM water pump!!
Don't use autozone or Napa junk. It is just not worth it, i have seen so many premature failures due to quality and i always stress to anyone doing these repairs to be smart and buy OEM. Or Beck Arnley also has an excellent track record for Quality.
IMO. GL

 

my 99 si is at 90 thousand.....sooooo i should change water pump and timing soon?
lol oem?

 

yes. change both now.
and yes on the OEM. LOL

 

you think someone with a little common sense would know not to drive with it loose but if you break it loose then tighten to the factory spec you will be ok, many people do this. no you don't want it loose like its about to fall off but after 100k it can take 300ft/lbs or more to break it loose. guess you can't teach common sense

 

I would change it soon, i had a original timing belt in a D16Y7 last me to 153k, but i wouldn't suggest it. change it asap. i wouldn't let it pass 115-125k miles before changing IMO.

 

all i know and can say is that id rather spend a few hours and a two-hundred bucks now, versus, a few days and a grand. my tb and wp from hond was 120 with tax (d15b7), so a d series shouldnt be much more. i know a b-series tb and wp is a lil more, since a friend of mine changed his about 2-3 months ago.

 

Its actually pretty easy to change.
If you know how to put your engine at tdc and have jack and some socket wrenches your good to go.

 

Looks can be deceiving

 

i think its more fun to let your timing belt break so you have a good excuse to finish building your second motor for boost....


oh wait thats just me

if you want to keep your motor alive a good idea is to change it every 90k miles

granted the timing belt on my car has 120k miles on it hasnt broken yet

i have seen them break at 60k miles and i have seen them break at 200k miles

 

why change water pump if nothing is wrong with it haha thats dumb, you dnt replace a water pump when u do a timing belt lol lol ive had stock waterpumps last forever my last car have like 185k on stock pump

 

Me too, this is what is important for other to take into consideration!

Also, AGE plays a role too, after a certain period of time, say 10 years, replacement would be wise!

 

i agree.

the only reason to do this is if you are paying someone else to do your timing belt as preventative maint.

if you do it yourself it is not necessary.

 

Because the water pump bearing can go bad and seize. Pretty sure that when this happens your timing belt breaks because the engine keeps trying to turn the water pump gear. Better safe than sorry. If you're not going to change the pump, you might as well not even change the belt.

Also change your tensioner. Same reason, IIRC.


You've had water pumps last 185k miles... so what? Honda doesn't put a time bomb embedded inside of their timing belts. People have had timing belts last 185k miles too. It's the same concept, it's preventive maintenance.

 

Is it really that easy? Haha.
I always thought it was a lot harder. Ha