Timing Belt!

I have a 1997 Accord in the shop at this moment with 100k miles. They
recommend that I replace the timing belt since the car is 7 years old...at a
cost of over $600. I'm just a poor college student, and no matter how I
cock my head, that looks like a ton of money. My question is: how important
is that part, and what should I expect in the case of its failure? Thanks
for any help.

 

If it fails,you could bend your valves,maybe even break a connecting
rod,destroy your motor.Then you're talking BIG money.
Maybe you could find a reputable non-dealer shop that will do it for less.

 

Some cars have a system that allows all the valves to close when the
timing belt fails. My '93 Accord does not. Your '97 may. If your car
does not have such a system, there is the potential for serious engine
damage when the timing belt fails, such as valves crashing into the
top of pistons, bent valves, damaged guides. broken cam, that sort of
thing. The timing belt is rubber. It will eventually wear out. A new
engine would cost thousands. The manufacturer's recommendation on my
car was to replace at 90k miles.

The quoted price is probably about right. A local dealer did mine for
$500, but that was a couple of years ago.

Elliot Richmond
Freelance Science Writer and Editor

 

Ok, thank you both for your responses. I recall the subject of valves coming
up in my conversation. And yes, it is in a dealership service center, maybe
I can find a less costly alternative elsewhere.

 

It's also a good idea to replace the water pump since it's easy to do during
a timing belt change. Of course, that adds to the $$$.

Bearman

 

Get the new timing belt. Elaboration:

The shop is right that the timing belt is due for replacement, assuming it's
never been replaced before. This is in your owner's manual, if you still have
it.

My online sources indicate your 1997 Accord most likely has what's called an
"interference engine." This means that, should the timing belt suddenly fail,
the engine's valves, which admit and exhaust fuel and air and exhaust gases,
will likely be damaged. To repair this is extremely expensive.

More, from a kindly other Usenet poster a few years ago:

"An 'interference engine' means that the valves extend down into the area
that the piston sweeps. This means that if the timing belt breaks
which stops the camshaft leaving some valves extended, they will be hit
by the piston when it comes up next time. Since engines don't stop
instantly when the belt breaks, this guarantees at least some bent
valves and maybe some holes punched in pistons or bent connecting rods."

If the price quoted is a dealer service department price, you might be able to
get this done more cheaply (couple hundred dollars less, maybe) at a non-dealer
shop. Call around, if you have time. It's an item that is frequently quoted by
shops, as they're well acquainted with this maintenance.

If you post again, please provide as much info about the type of Accord you
have: Is it DX, LX, or something else? Engine displacement, in liters? 6
cylinder or 4 cylinder? Coupe, sedan, wagon?

Good luck.

 

Sure thing Caroline, at this point all I opted for was an oilchange lol!
When I get the car back I'll post more about it. I really do have the cash
to throw down for this robbery, errr, I mean maintenance, but I want to be
sure it's well worth it. On that note I owe it to myself to at least try to
find a better deal out there. The car: 2 door coupe, LX, 4 cylinder. Not
sure about the engine displacement though.

 

I've never changed a Honda timing belt but I have done it twice before on a
Suzuki Swift GT that had a dual overhead cam engine. I found it to be quite
easy job with basic hand tools. Maybe you can do it yourself with the
assistance of a service manual.

 

:
: : > Get the new timing belt. Elaboration:
: >
: > The shop is right that the timing belt is due for replacement, assuming
: it's
: > never been replaced before. This is in your owner's manual, if you still
: have
: > it.
: >
: > My online sources indicate your 1997 Accord most likely has what's
called
: an
: > "interference engine." This means that, should the timing belt suddenly
: fail,
: > the engine's valves, which admit and exhaust fuel and air and exhaust
: gases,
: > will likely be damaged. To repair this is extremely expensive.
: >
: > More, from a kindly other Usenet poster a few years ago:
: >
: > "An 'interference engine' means that the valves extend down into the
area
: > that the piston sweeps. This means that if the timing belt breaks
: > which stops the camshaft leaving some valves extended, they will be hit
: > by the piston when it comes up next time. Since engines don't stop
: > instantly when the belt breaks, this guarantees at least some bent
: > valves and maybe some holes punched in pistons or bent connecting rods."
: >
: > If the price quoted is a dealer service department price, you might be
: able to
: > get this done more cheaply (couple hundred dollars less, maybe) at a
: non-dealer
: > shop. Call around, if you have time. It's an item that is frequently
: quoted by
: > shops, as they're well acquainted with this maintenance.
: >
: > If you post again, please provide as much info about the type of Accord
: you
: > have: Is it DX, LX, or something else?
:
: Sure thing Caroline, at this point all I opted for was an oilchange lol!
: When I get the car back I'll post more about it. I really do have the cash
: to throw down for this robbery, errr, I mean maintenance, but I want to be
: sure it's well worth it. On that note I owe it to myself to at least try
to
: find a better deal out there. The car: 2 door coupe, LX, 4 cylinder. Not
: sure about the engine displacement though.
:
:

It is not an easy task, believe me. You need more than just a few tools. I
found a small Honda shop and they have a rate of 60/hr or something like
that.
I ordered all the parts online -around 100 for belt, seals, water pump, 3
exterior belts, all gaskets, antifreeze and thermostat (optional) from
hparts.com.
My mechanic charged me 3 hrs of labor, using all my OEM parts. Total
expense: 300.00

 

Like I said I did it on a suzuki. I had to lossen one motor mount and
remove all the pulley's and stuff of the engine then remove the timing belt
cover... not too hard. obviously the Honda is different.

 

The car's getting old. Here in mid-life, a few major expenditures are necessary
to make it last.

Bob's right that this is not an easy task on Hondas. One should have a fair
amount of mechanical experience before attempting it. I managed to remove and
re-install the timing belt on my 91 Civic a few weeks ago, as part of a crank
seal replacement, but I researched the matter for months and had a lot of help,
particularly with the crankshaft bolt removal, from this newsgroup.

What the shops, even the dealer, charge for this is really not robbery, IMO.
Changing the timing belt is pretty intense work.

$600 is not the worst I've seen, but I've seen better, too.

I also echo Bob's suggestion about buying the parts online. Majestic auto parts
online is pretty competitive with other online parts sites for a job like this.
Online parts prices are much better than any price I could get locally. For
Majestic, see http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/catdisplay.jsp .
I used Majestic recently and was pleased.

For your reference, my googling indicates that your 2-Door LX Accord Coupe (2.2
liter, if my sources are correct) is an interference engine.

 

With a 7 year old Honda, you have to worry about 1:\ rusted nuts 2:\ how to
remove the timing belt cover, 3.\ tight space 4.\ how to loosen and tighten
the huge flywheel nut. This means you will need some tools a layman won't
have like a flexible socket drive, a long Johnson bar or air tools, socket
extensions, jack stands.

I replaced mine (95 Odyssey) plus the water pump in 4 hours as a first time
experience without any air tools.