"Pars" <"sdaro(hotmail)"@hotmail.com> wrote
> Canadian and US Civic have same components (timing belt). The drastic
> weather changes in the northern country might explain the early timing
> belt maintenance schedule (at 60k oppose to 100k).

Yup. As has been disccussed here in the past, the Canadian driving maintenance
schedules lean towards "severe duty." So for example the Canadian Honda site I
gave says for 'normal Canadian driving' to change the oil every 6k km (= 3700
miles) or 3 months, whichever comes first. Contrast this with the American Honda
site (www.hondacars.com ; requires free registration and login), which says for
'normal U.S. driving' to change it every 7500 miles/6 months. (This 7500 mile/6
month interval is the same listed in my 91 Civic's Owner's manual. For other
maintenance items, I have not found the American site consistent with owner's
manuals.)

> Considering that the 98 Civic has potentially 6 years on the belt, I
> would change it. The odds are that previous owner didn't changed it,
> since actual maintenance schedule is at 100k.

Are you reading this from your owner's manual?

I don't have one for a 1998 Civic, but I recall many a poster here stating the
specs. for the timing belt interval for Civics of this vintage for U.S. driving
are 7 years/105k miles

> Apparently, an old timing belt may not show signs of wear, but I'd lean
> toward the cautious side. (unless the engine is a p.o.s and wrecking it
> wouldn't be such a bad thing)
>
> Pars
> 98 Civic Hatch
>
> Caroline wrote:
> >
> > Assuming you drive in the United States, 105k miles.
> >
> >
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...preset663Gates
> >
> > For Canadians, go to
> >
http://www.honda.ca/HondaEng/YouAndY...eCalculator.ht
> > m
> >
> > "Grumpy" <lomland@verizon.net> wrote
> > > I just purchased a 1998 Honda civic with 70000 miles. It did not come with
> > > an owners manual.
> > >
> > > Can someone tell me when the timing belt should be changed.
> > >
> > > Is it past due?
> > >
> > > Thank you in advance for your help