Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 03:44 PM
  #1  
19Wagon91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Default Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Hi all! I recently joined the Civic family and this place came highly recommended for questions, so here I am.

I recently bought a 1991 Civic Wagon with 70,000 original miles on it. It has an exhaustive service history with it and it shows the timing belt was replaced in 1999 at 30,000 miles. The manual recommends replacing at 90,000 miles.

Am I running a huge risk driving the car currently? Is there any way to check the life of a timing belt? Should I focus more on the age of the belt or the miles put on it?

Thanks!
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 03:51 PM
  #2  
2x0's Avatar
2x0
Honda-Tech Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 149
From: Franklin, KY
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Based on the age of the belt, I would go ahead and replace it. Mileage and age are both important.

Welcome to the fam!
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 03:56 PM
  #3  
19Wagon91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Originally Posted by 2x0
Based on the age of the belt, I would go ahead and replace it. Mileage and age are both important.

Welcome to the fam!
I got quoted $750 from the local Honda dealer for parts and labor. Does that sound about right?
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 04:29 PM
  #4  
2x0's Avatar
2x0
Honda-Tech Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 149
From: Franklin, KY
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Originally Posted by 19Wagon91
I got quoted $750 from the local Honda dealer for parts and labor. Does that sound about right?
Not surprising from a dealer. I might shop around other places, or ideally consider doing the job yourself. If you need to have a shop do the work, it might be worth just inspecting the belt to see whether it’s an emergency or not. If there is any fraying or cracking, I’d get it done right away. Make sure the tension on the belt feels good.

If not, maybe wait until you worked yourself up to make it a DIY project.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 04:36 PM
  #5  
19Wagon91's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 16
Likes: 1
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Originally Posted by 2x0


Not surprising from a dealer. I might shop around other places, or ideally consider doing the job yourself. If you need to have a shop do the work, it might be worth just inspecting the belt to see whether it’s an emergency or not. If there is any fraying or cracking, I’d get it done right away. Make sure the tension on the belt feels good.

If not, maybe wait until you worked yourself up to make it a DIY project.
How would I go about checking the belt? Is it under the valve cover?

The dealer made it sound like the job was rather labor intensive, and I'm not completely sure I'm skilled enough for what he was describing.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2018 | 07:05 PM
  #6  
acmoc's Avatar
B*a*n*n*e*d
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,049
Likes: 3
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Originally Posted by 19Wagon91
How would I go about checking the belt? Is it under the valve cover?

The dealer made it sound like the job was rather labor intensive, and I'm not completely sure I'm skilled enough for what he was describing.
it is surprisingly easy.

750 is way too much
The hard part is breaking the crank pulley bolt loose

You can buy all the parts you need and tools for less than 750.00
Reply
Old Jul 20, 2018 | 03:12 AM
  #7  
2x0's Avatar
2x0
Honda-Tech Member
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,373
Likes: 149
From: Franklin, KY
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

Originally Posted by 19Wagon91
How would I go about checking the belt? Is it under the valve cover?

The dealer made it sound like the job was rather labor intensive, and I'm not completely sure I'm skilled enough for what he was describing.
Should just be a plastic timing belt cover that comes off with a couple of bolts.

It's not the easiest of jobs, but the only skills you really need are being able to turn a wrench and follow directions. Plenty of detailed guides online for how to do it. Most important thing is making sure your timing is correct when you install the new belt.
Reply
Old Jul 22, 2018 | 06:20 PM
  #8  
bheinen74's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 366
Likes: 3
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

If you own a car from 1991 and can't replace a simple timing belt on it, then I am going to rain on your parade and tell you to just get a new car as there are many many other more difficulty things that will come up and before you know it, if you can't do simple stuff, the car will have repairs billsi totaling almost 6grand soon if you take it to shops for all the work. Just buy a nw car instead and let the warranty reapir stuff.
Reply
Old Jul 23, 2018 | 10:50 AM
  #9  
Marcos Barrios's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,368
Likes: 64
From: Lincoln Ne
Default Re: Just bought a 1991 Wagon, had a question about timing belts

to answer the real question
to check your timing belt you must remove your valve cover
and then remove the timing belt cover to see what kind of shape its in

tools needed to do this is only a 10mm socket with a racket
and thats it
let me know if you have any questions
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
pmiche
Honda Civic (2001 - 2005)
8
Jul 21, 2021 11:54 PM
major049
Honda Civic (2001 - 2005)
0
Jun 11, 2019 08:07 AM
woo78f
Honda Accord (1990 - 2002)
1
Sep 26, 2006 07:44 AM
csc67
Honda Civic / Del Sol (1992 - 2000)
2
Feb 21, 2005 08:39 AM
Import RP
Honda Prelude
8
Jul 30, 2001 07:30 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:29 PM.