Engine Belt Replacement

I routinely changed my engine belts and battery on my last car (1985
Buick Century) every 3 years, whether they needed it or not. I
preferred doing that to running the risk of losing either one while on
the road.

What about the engine belt on the 2002 CR-V? For what time or distance
is it rated, and do you recommend the same preventive maintenance that
I followed with my Buick?

 

I don't know of anything special about Honda belts or batteries, so your
conservative 3 year replacement schedule sounds good.

John

 

It is overkill, assuming an average annual mileage.

You can wait until 5th year.

My battery has 69 months. I am due for the TB change too. You don't have
a TB.

 

I would certainly that I admire your attention to detail when it comes to
maintaining your cars. However it may be a little overkill.

Older V style fan belts did need to be adjusted and replaced more often
than current style serpentine belts. Serpentine belts are made the same as
timing belts. Timing belts last a 100,000 miles easy. Even the owner's
manuals will generally state the replacement interval for a timing belt or
serpentine belt to be over 100k 5 years. It is just inspections up till
then.

If serpentine belts have cracks or even small chunks 1/4 inch or less
missing from the belt then that is fine and acceptable without requiring
replacement. The missing chunk thing threw me off to until I read it in a
Ford Factory service manual that missing chunks were acceptable.

I have a 96 Accord with the original belt and 117k miles. Actually I have 2
serpentine belts and they are fine at this point. I inspect them
periodically but they are good to go for now. I certainly maintain my car
well though. I change my own oil with Honda filters/Mobil 1. I have
replaced the timing belt, radiator, master cylinder, battery, check the
lights regularly, and tune it up when needed so I certainly am on top of
things with my car. This is just one area that doesn't need that much
attention. Even if one belt or both breaks I can still drive the car for
a good distance. The only thing my belts run is the A/C p/s and alternator
so the car will not overheat.

CaptainKrunch

 

I read Saintor's post, and, ever curious, I looked at Majestic's online parts
site and randomly checked two models of the 2002 CR-V. Both use chains, not
belts, like Saintor says. See
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/catdisplay.jsp , under
"Camshaft-Cam Chain."

Canada Honda's web site seems to back this up, as it gives neither mileage nor
time intervals for the timing chain. OTOH, I thought timing chains do usually
have a recommended interval; it's just notably longer than that for a belt(?) Or
maybe there are specific symptoms for when a cam (timing) chain must be
replaced?

Canada Honda's web site:
http://www.honda.ca/HondaEng/YouAndYourCar/HondaService/MaintenanceCalculator.ht
m

(Beware that U.S. maintenance requirements differ from Canada's. Canada is
generally considered a "severe duty" climate. The American Honda web site sucks
eggs in its maintenance section: It's full of serious inaccuracies. American
Honda is looking for a lawsuit, from what I can tell.)

Changing the battery every 3 years seems to me to be way overkill. It's a
hardship on the environment as well as one's wallet. I'd go at least four years
and then maybe seek free battery checks from auto parts stores like maybe
Autozone.

My first two 1991 Civic's batteries each lasted 4.5 years (in a northern U.S.
climate), but both had a few jumpstarts which I understand will reduce battery
life. My current battery is almost four years old. I took "benchmark" voltage
readings (while running and then with the engine off) a few months ago. At the
first sign of difficult starting, I will compare the readings or just replace
the battery, especially since I now live in the southwest U.S. and my current
battery is a "northern U.S." make. (I understand batteries are made for northern
and southern U.S. climates.)

This time I will not wait for the battery to die completely, as I understand
this wears down the alternator.