buying a 98 dx coupe for a friend who is out of the country. it's in perfect running condition, everything looks great but i'm concerned about the timing belt, which was last changed at around 96,000 miles. the car now has 153,000.

done some google searches for honda civics and have come up with people saying that the timing belt needs to be changed every 60,000, and other people saying 90,000.

for a car that's in this good condition, do you think there's another 30,000 miles left on the timing belt?

(side note: weird driving the hydraulic clutch!..i drive a 96 dx...so different!)

 

Extremely hot or cold weather = 60K miles
Normal conditions = 105K miles

96 and 98 both have hydraulic clutches.

 

inspect the timing belt and go from there.

 

mine doesn't. must have the 95 equipment in it.

thanks. car has been in southern california mostly. san diego, LA.

 

 

civics had hydro-clutches since 92.....

 

Alldata says every 105k miles

 

Check the owner's manual...I think you'll see that for all cars in CA, the belt is supposed to be changed after every 100K or so. I got into an argument over the mechanic about this and showed him the page in the manual of my wife's Miata. Not sure why it would be lower in other states though.

fm

 

Yep, and Integras since '94. I've seen all kinds of differences in where they grabbed and how they felt though, even with stock components.

 

weird. mine sure don't feel like a hydraulic. but i believe y'all.

 

All you have to do is look in the engine bay. If you see a second reservoir next to the brake reservoir then it's hydro. If you see a large thick cable going to the tranny then it's cable style (obviously).

 

Or 7 years, whatever comes first...

 

god, i wish they used timing chains instead. good to know that i've still got some time with my belt though. thanks for the replies!