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Some say the external belts should ONLY BE HONDA BRAND, not aftermarket,
since the honda ones are more consistant, and therefore quieter.

'Curly'

hewhosenamemustnotbespoken2@gmail.com wrote in news:ec56d37b-4a6b-4ea0-
a6f7-28af0dd0d764@w28g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

The very best thing, if you intend on keeping the car for a long time, is
to use ALL dealer parts, and ONLY dealer parts. This includes the coolant.

Besides the cogged timing belt which hides under the timing cover, there
are at least two exposed accessory drive belts (what used to be called "fan
belts" in the old days). These should be replaced with new. You have to
take them off to replace the timing belt, so the only additional cost is
the parts (about $20 each).

*Highly* recommended to be replaced at the same time as the timing belt is
the water pump (about $70 plus $15 for the coolant), since almost all the
same labor is needed to replace that as to replace the timing belt.

Also recommended, but of secondary importance:
1) Inspect the timing belt tensioner bearing. Replace tensioner if it feels
worn.
2) Inspect cam and crank oil seals. If weeping, replace. Now's the time to
do it. They're cheap and you're already all the way in there anyway.
3) If you replace the water pump, replace the rad hoses and thermostat if
they're original. The cooling system will have been drained anyway, so this
is the time to do it.

Doing all of the above will add several hundred dollars to the cost of the
job, but the job will have been done properly, and there will be nothing
left to cause nasty and far more expensive surprises a few years down the
road. And your garage will love you for letting them do the job right.