"Gordon McGrew" <gRmEcMgOrVeEw@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:54obi2pkjl2o8d705k4td645i5dmorbbea@4ax.com...
>
> The car only has 75K on it but it is eight years old. I am going to
> have my mechanic do it but he suggested that I get the parts and ask
> the parts counter what they recommend changing. He wasn't sure if the
> idler pulley should be changed, for example. I have never heard of
> people doing that on Hondas. I was thinking that I need the
> following:
>
> Timing Belt
> Balance Shaft Belt
> Water Pump
> Coolant
>
> Any thoughts?
>
>

That sounds good to me. The idler(s) may need to be changed, but it is much
more a mileage issue than a year issue and I'd expect it to be in decent
shape after 75K miles. By the next timing belt change the idlers (yours has
one for the timing belt and one for the balance, IIRC) will probably sound
like cheap roller skate wheels and will need to be changed so they don't
seize and burn through the belt from the back. They are expensive enough
that you don't want to buy them if you don't have to.

Some recommend changing the crank and cam front seals, since they are right
there. At 75K miles that seems like overkill. But definitely do the water
pump, because if it seizes it will destroy the timing belt and there will be
wailing and gnashing of teeth... yours.

Replacing the thermostat with an OEM thermostat is a good thing while
changing the coolant. But even an old OEM like the one you have now is
better than a new aftermarket 'stat.

A couple good resources are http://tegger.com/hondafaq/cranktool/index.html
and http://tegger.com/hondafaq/engines.html#beltmark

Mike