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Car Forum / Honda Cars / April 2005Changing Timing Belt on Honda Civic !!!
Hello! I have a 98 Honda Civic DX Hatchback. It has 97k on it right now. Many of my friends are telling me that i should get the timing belt changed. If I do, how much would it cost approximately? And is it true in the same time I should get also the water pump replaced because it's nearby the timing belt? I just bought some new winter tires and would like any advice on what I should do right now? Can I wait until spring time before changing the timing belt? Ok, and the timing belt: how much? how many hours for the labour? Thanks to all responses! Jay > Hello! > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jay ======================= You're the only one who can say, since you know where you live, and whether you qualify as a 'regular' service (Vancouver, garaged) or a 'severe' service schedule user (Winnipeg, no plug-in). You also have access to the exact date the car went into use. You're probably due, just based on age, but if it's been pampered / highway driven / kept in a warm climate, you might push the limits a bit. You should also mention whether you're talking Km or MILES. 'Curly' > Hello! > > I have a 98 Honda Civic DX Hatchback. It has 97k on it right now. Many of my > friends are telling me that i should get the timing belt changed. @108k, IIRC. > If I do, how much would it cost approximately? And is it true in the same > time I should get also the water pump replaced because it's nearby the > timing belt? I just bought some new winter tires and would like any advice > on what I should do right now? id put it off til spring. > Can I wait until spring time before changing the timing belt? Ok, and the > timing belt: how much? how many hours for the labour? if i pay to have it done, im expecting about $600, total. just a wild a.s guess. > Thanks to all responses! > > Jay I have heard that as a rule, you have to change your timing belt around or every 75k miles!.. And that once you're doing it, it will also be convenient for you to change the oil seals and the water pump!..It's better pto have a peace of mind than beeing worried about if that problem will leave you stranded!.. > Hello! > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jay 75K is a new number. Where did you hear that? On 12/9/04 2:58 AM, in article 10rg4tkf2555n3d@corp.supernews.com, > I have heard that as a rule, you have to change your timing belt around or > every 75k miles!.. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> >> Jay I didn't change the water pump on my last timing belt change at 90k miles. I need to change the timing belt again in 3k miles. I don't plan on changing the water pump at this time either. > Hello! > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Jay That's very smart! ... you are saving how much??? >I didn't change the water pump on my last timing belt change at 90k miles. >I [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >> >> Jay I saved some labor...and waste materials to the dump... and energy the manufacturer spent on making it... and fuel transporting it... and some $$. Why replace it when it works well? > That's very smart! ... you are saving how much??? > I saved some labor...and waste materials to the dump... and energy the > manufacturer spent on making it... and fuel transporting it... and some $$. Why > replace it when it works well? if it stops working well suddenly, youll need a new top end. i can see your point, though. dont the pumps leak or squeak before they fail? One failure mode is jammed pump. This is catastrophic. It would damage the timing belt. The other mode is leakage. Since the water pump has built-in seep hole, occasional drops won't be considered failure. If it drips continuously, I would consider that a failure. I've seen one picture of a water pump with fully corroded propellers. I still don't know what that person put into his engine to get those stainless steel props to corrode like that. My point is that I won't consciously recommend someone to spend extra money to replace the water pump because of myth surrounding frequent pump failure. My car is a 92 Civic. It still has original water pump, and possibly original coolant. There is no seepage of coolant from the water pump atm. There is no whining, nor overheating. I don't consider replacing it as a preventative maintenance. I might remove it and take a few pictures in a few months, and then put it back with a new gasket. > if it stops working well suddenly, youll need a new top end. i can see > your point, though. dont the pumps leak or squeak before they fail? I just did my T-Belt and water pump at 210000kms (130000mi). I'm glad i did the pump, as when I pulled it out, I noticed that when I spun it by hand, there was a low squeal coming from the bushing, and alot of play, since the part has alot of mileage on it. I did not notice this when it was in the car, so I replaced it with a new one, and it is nice and tight. Would that be classified as PM? Even my dealership recommended doing it, and they knew i was doing the job myself. (and i didn't buy the pump from them) The t-belt on the other hand, looked brand new. I know, I know, you can't tell when your t-belt is gonna snap. For that matter you can't tell when your pump is gonna fail. They cost the same amount of cash, and take the same amount of labour to do. I think it makes sense to do the pump at every other t-belt change. my 2 bits. t > My point is that I won't consciously recommend someone to spend extra > money to [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > take a few pictures in a few months, and then put it back with a new > gasket. I think of it in terms of cost to take the precaution vs. likelihood of failure times the cost to replace the part if it fails. IIRC my son paid about $40 (I could be wrong, but not way wrong) for the OEM water pump in his Acura. The labor to replace the water pump would run more than 10 times that, plus the unscheduled down time. It wasn't a hard decision, and we replaced the perfectly good cam seals and front main seal at the same time. It wouldn't be crazy to change the water pump at every other timing belt change, but going longer than that is a fool's game for sure. I have never (in 30 years) had any warning of any water pump failure. A pump looks identical if it has years or minutes left. I didn't get too exercised about the subject until I read a post on a Volvo news group by a poor soul who had his timing belt (but not the water pump) replaced at 90K and the water pump seized at a little over 100K. The $6000 dollar repair included a new water pump, though. Honda pumps don't have the nasty reputation for seizing that Ford water pumps have, fortunately. In '90s Escorts the water pump should be changed every 50K miles, and the timing belt may as well be changed while the area is torn down. Do expect to replace your belt tensioner(s), though. The one in the Acura (he bought it with 130K miles and original timing belt) sounded like a roller skate wheel and had been scuffing the outside of the belt. Mike I own a 1998 Honda Civic EX Sedan. I drove my car for 110k miles, 120k miles, 130k miles, etc. Many people told me that I should be thinking about getting the belts changed. I finally decided to get all four belts (timing, alternator, compressor, power steering) and the water pump changed at 146,800. It costed $384 where I live in Michigan. When I requested the parts back, I found that I could have gone longer. Considering they recommend 105k, I got a good run. Perhaps these new belts can get me 150k miles. In article <f30300f0877cf2161cf5c23a1643c2db@localhost.talkaboutautos.com>, > I own a 1998 Honda Civic EX Sedan. I drove my car for 110k miles, 120k > miles, 130k miles, etc. Many people told me that I should be thinking [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Perhaps these new belts can get me 150k miles. Great work. You must be an excellent driver. You made a great decision related to changing the belts. Even if they look great--due to their age--they could have broken at any time and the cost of repairing your vehicle would probably have been much greater than the $384 that you spent. I once found an old garden hose in the storage shed that was probably at least 5 years old. It appeared to me to be in great condition. However, it sprung several leaks the first time that I used it. "Looks" can be deceiving.  SignatureNEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice. We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people. |
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