Thanks to both of you for the replies. Good information to have when I
bring the car in -- probably this week. I've had the same mechanic for
about 8 years and he's pretty good when it comes to repairs (not a fix
one thing break another type).

Dylan

johngdole@hotmail.com wrote:
> Your mechanic is probably correct, time-wise. Hondas typically have
> 105K mile timing belt intervals. The 2001-04 1.7L Civics, however,
> have 110K mile intervals. (According to the Gates Timing Guide. I must
> add there are occasional errors with their new data source).
>
> That said, you may be over by ~ 1 year, depending on when the car was
> first put into service. I think it's 7-years/110K miles? So check your
> manual.
>
> While at it, change out the water pump, crank/cam oil seals, and all
> belts too. Good time for a new thermostat, radiator cap, and at least
> two radiator hoses (if not all cooling system hoses) since the
> cooling system has to be drained. Get a "package price" in advance so
> they don't nickel and dime you after its apart.
>
> Also, according to the Gates guide, the engine is *interference*. So
> engine damage can occur when the piston smashes into the valves.
>
> See "interference engine":
> http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=3487
>
>
>
>
> On Jan 17, 3:21 pm, poet <p...@nonono.net> wrote:
>> My car has about 104k on it and after the last oil change (every 3k) my
>> mechanic told me that I needed to have the timing belt/water pump
>> changed. I was also told that failure to do this could destroy the
>> engine if the timing belt failed.
>> Is he right?
>>
>> Also, how many miles for this maintence? Some sites seem to say after
>> 60k -- in which case I'm driving on borrowed time here, and others say 100k.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Dylan
>