timing belt on Civic '97, 62k

Discussion in 'Civic' started by l-talk, Sep 27, 2004.

  1. l-talk

    l-talk Guest

    Hi all,
    Most mechanics say 60k change of timing belt may save a lot of trouble.
    I have a Honda Civic '97 with 62k on it and timing belt has never been
    changed. For different reasons I can't take it to mechanic the next a
    month or so.

    Don't have the manual at hand, but saw somewhere on the web being quoted
    that the recommended timing belt change (Civic '97) is 105 k miles?

    Will it be ok to keep driving it for another 300-500 mi, or I better head
    for a mechanic ASAP?
    Thank you for reading & replying.
     
    l-talk, Sep 27, 2004
    #1
  2. l-talk

    Caroline Guest

    For a 97 Civic, the interval is 7 years or 105k miles, whichever comes first. If
    the car has seen severe duty, then the frequency is every 60k miles

    People have posted here with their reports of their Honda's timing belt failing.
    It potentially can damage the engine, particularly the valves, because when the
    timing belt fails, the valves' openings and closings are out of synch with the
    pistons' motion. On a 1997 Civic and many other Honda models, the pistons may
    hit the valves. Repairing such damage can run into the thousands of dollars.

    You're rolling the dice. There's no saying for sure how long the timing belt
    will last. It might very well fail tomorrow. It might last a few more months or
    even longer. You have to decide how much risk you want to take.
     
    Caroline, Sep 27, 2004
    #2
  3. l-talk

    Randolph Guest

    Yeah, if you change it now he won't fall behind on his boat payment.
    The factory service manual specifies 105k miles or 7 years, whichever
    comes first.
    You can safely wait a few months, even if you cram 40k miles of driving
    into those few months.

    For my car the recommendation is every 90k miles or 6 years. I changed
    it at 94k miles and 9 years. Exceeding the recommended time by 50% was
    probably not a good idea, but running a few months over is harmless.
     
    Randolph, Sep 27, 2004
    #3
  4. Some, Great fellow Said I remember in this NW that, Timing belt may
    not break today or even in a year to come, but surely it will break if
    you ignore it . if you belong to Cold Country like I do in Finland, do
    it on 75000 miles or 120,000 KM I am not sure how much mileage depends
    on size of Engine, mine is Accord 2.0
     
    George Kinley, Sep 27, 2004
    #4
  5. l-talk

    Strike Guest

    The book on my 97 Civic says 90,000 miles.
     
    Strike, Oct 6, 2004
    #5
  6. l-talk

    Jon Guest

    It deepends on whether you have a main seal oil leak onto the belt or not.
    If it has, get it done and the seals asap. If it not no harm in the little
    extra time,
    but try and get the genuine belt for the car.
    I'd have the seals done too at that time.
     
    Jon, Oct 6, 2004
    #6
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