Changing Timing Belt on Honda Civic !!!

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.

 

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.