Timing chain or belt after 9 years

I have a 1999 Honda CRV with 100,000 miles. I am not sure if I have
a Timing Chain or Timing Belt and was wondering if it might break
with the high mileage I have on the vehicle. Is there any warning I
should look or listen to?
I have had this CRV since it was new and did all the oil changes every
3 to 4 months for the past 9 years. Please advise.

 

It's a timing belt on the 99 CR-Vs. See bkhondaparts.com
and your owner's manual. Your owner's manual says the belt
is due every 105k miles or 7 years, whichever comes first.
IIRC if you drive in extreme cold or heat, it's due at 60k
miles. Either way, yours is overdue. Visual inspection
generally does not reveal the condition of a timing belt.
Change the belt immediately. If it breaks, then the engine
may suffer serious damage to the tune of several thousand
dollars.

 

I just had the timing belt changed on my late wife's 1997 Civic this
past January. My recommendation would be that you get it changed ASAP
because I know someone who failed to change his timing belt, and his
engine ended up damaged beyond repair. After my buddy told me that, I
scheduled my appointment. While they were in there, I had the
dealership change the water pump too.

 

Yes (you are past the maximum number of years (7), too)

Nope, they just let go.

That's great but doesn't do much for the timing belt.

Change it now; replace with Honda parts. Yeah, it's an expensive
maintenance item.

Your next Honda will probably have a timing chain so keep up the oil
change habit.

 

Thanks, the responses here are what I needed.
Local dealers are charging around $800-$1000 in Washington DC area.
Merchants says around $500-$600. Any advise on what is reasonable
price?

 

Sorry, but the prices given are meaningless without knowing what
exactly is inside those prices.

Dealer shop rate will be over $100. The independent will be closer to
$75.

The dealer may be doing the job properly, using all OEM parts, replacing
the water pump, coolant, accessory drive belts and timing belt, and
maybe even the tensioner.

The independent may be using an aftermarket timing belt, re-using the
accessory drive belts and tensioner, and not even touching the cooling
system.

Care to itemize the quotes you received?

 

Use an import shop and roll the dice a bit. The dealer will
probably cover more ground, but some of what they do may be
overboard. So do as Tegger says and find out exactly what
the dealer will do and what the import shop will do. E.g.
it's usual to change the water pump with the timing belt,
but it's possible the import shop will not while the dealer
will. Find out what coolant is used to top off the cooling
system after the water pump is replaced. You want OEM
coolant, only. Report back as needed.

Local dealers are charging around $800-$1000 in Washington
DC area.
Merchants says around $500-$600. Any advise on what is
reasonable
price?

 

========================

While you're at it, get the valves adjusted and be sure to tell them you
want them on the _loose_ side of the specs. Make a note in your owner's
manual. 30,000 miles (50,000 Km) for adjustments. Yes, the manual is
very wrong.

'Curly'

 

I live in Laurel, MD

I'd pay extra not to have Merchants work on my car.
If you don't know a good independent mechanic take it to a dealer. I
know a good independent in Columbia, MD (Benchmark Motors).

Like the Tegger says, know what they're doing for your money. Get a
list, check it twice...

 

I live in Laurel, MD.

You don't want this work done at Merchants.
If you don't know an independent, pay a dealer. Like Tegger says, get
a list and know what's being done. I have an independent in Columbia,
MD (Benchmark Motors) I use and I've had positive experiences with the
Honda dealer in Clarksville, MD (Jim Coleman Honda).

Good luck.

 

Price seems high. Go to Koons Honda in Manassas. $500
http://www.grabthewheel.com/?http://www.koonshonda.com/specials/list.aspx?s=General&t=3&siteMapItemName=49D9756888D1100485F60003BA77F966

Thanks, the responses here are what I needed.
Local dealers are charging around $800-$1000 in Washington DC area.
Merchants says around $500-$600. Any advise on what is reasonable
price?

 

I second that. STAY AWAY FROM MERCHANTS unless you want more headaches than
you went in with. They will find something to charge you extra for; even if
it doesn't exist.

 

someone posted to this NG several weeks back and detailed the costs for
this work. I think it was around $700. I just had this belt replaced on
my 92 Accord Ex. The cost was $741, this includes the water pump
replacement, however at the time of service I had some other non-related
items taken care of.

 

I just had my '99 CRV timing belt and water pump replaced, valves
adjusted,
drive belts changed, spark plugs changed and rear latch fixed, cost me
$519 at local Honda dealer.