My girlfriend has to get her timing belt replaced. Shes driving a 97 Civic Sedan and the place she bought it from said it would be $400 to have it replaced, but I am looking at timing belts online for $25. Does the engine have to be taken apart for the large price, or is she just getting ripped off?

Thanks.

 

that 400 is probably including about 2 to 3 hours labor on disassemblying the engine and reassymbling it. So, ya the half the engine gets taken apart and put back together basically.

 

it shouldnt cost that much.... maybe half of that

 

All you have to do for the t belt is pull off the valve cover, remove accessory belts from crank pulley, remove t belt cover, and spend 1/2 hour removing and replacing t belt. It only takes about 1 hour if you know what you're doing. And on the SOHC, they're the easiest. Find an independent guy that will do it for cheap.