Honda Car Forum

My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it changed? Is
it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What happens
if I skip it and it breaks while driving?

This was my first new car, and I want to make sure I take care of it, but
don't want to throw money away.

That looks like a very high price to pay even on Canadian dollars, for
a timing belt and water pump change. I can't recall the price of that
change on my Integra 91 , on a Acura dealer , less than a year ago,
but wasn't that much.

Vlad


On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:47:51 -0400, "Andy H" <athorvath@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
>change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it changed? Is
>it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What happens
>if I skip it and it breaks while driving?
>
>This was my first new car, and I want to make sure I take care of it, but
>don't want to throw money away.
>
>
>

My '98 CL 2.3 manual says replace timing belt at 104,000 miles, but inspect
and adjust drive belts every 30,000 miles. I am confused. Would this check
include the timing belt? My mechanic says Hondas need timing belt checks
(there's more than one, for balance shafts and such) at 100,000 km and that
the labour cost is more than the parts so if it costs money to crack the
engine open to look at it, might as well replace at least the main one.
What is the proper interval?

"Vlad" <Vlad@bla.Bla.com> wrote in message
news:ll6fjvg579gsq3a4nmjdrm036h00abh63k@4ax.com...
> That looks like a very high price to pay even on Canadian dollars, for
> a timing belt and water pump change. I can't recall the price of that
> change on my Integra 91 , on a Acura dealer , less than a year ago,
> but wasn't that much.
>
> Vlad
>
>
> On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:47:51 -0400, "Andy H" <athorvath@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
> >My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
> >change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it changed?
Is
> >it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What
happens
> >if I skip it and it breaks while driving?
> >
> >This was my first new car, and I want to make sure I take care of it, but
> >don't want to throw money away.
> >
> >
> >
>

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:47:51 -0400, "Andy H" <athorvath@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
>change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it changed? Is
>it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What happens
>if I skip it and it breaks while driving?

I'd advised getting it changed. If it fails, you risk serious engine
damage.

I've done a couple. See http://timingbelt.soben.com for an idea of
what is involved.

Belt is around $70 USD and the "labor time" is supposedly about 3
hours. My labor time ended up being a little different. I recommend
inspecting/replacing the water pump while doing the timing belt.

Also, $700 is what dealers like to charge for a 90k/105k/major service
or similar -- get a breakdown of what it covers and shop around.

__________________
Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

When they say inspect and adjust drive belts, they mean the accessory belts
- the ones that used to be called fan belts. There is no requirement to
routinely check the timing belt.

Honda lengthened the interval for changing the timing belt from 60,000 miles
(100,000 KM) to 90,000 miles, then to 105,000 miles (130,000 km). Your
mechanic is about 10 years out of date on the mileage.

Some of the four cylinder engines have balancer belts. I believe yours is
one of them. When you change the timing belt, it is a good idea to change
the balancer belt and the water pump as well, since they are all in there
together with the timing belt.

On 8/11/03 9:37 PM, in article gpYZa.1304$yL3.865@nntp-post.primus.ca,
"Dan-O" <dardeline@primus.ca> wrote:

> My '98 CL 2.3 manual says replace timing belt at 104,000 miles, but inspect
> and adjust drive belts every 30,000 miles. I am confused. Would this check
> include the timing belt? My mechanic says Hondas need timing belt checks
> (there's more than one, for balance shafts and such) at 100,000 km and that
> the labour cost is more than the parts so if it costs money to crack the
> engine open to look at it, might as well replace at least the main one.
> What is the proper interval?
>
> "Vlad" <Vlad@bla.Bla.com> wrote in message
> news:ll6fjvg579gsq3a4nmjdrm036h00abh63k@4ax.com...
>> That looks like a very high price to pay even on Canadian dollars, for
>> a timing belt and water pump change. I can't recall the price of that
>> change on my Integra 91 , on a Acura dealer , less than a year ago,
>> but wasn't that much.
>>
>> Vlad
>>
>>
>> On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:47:51 -0400, "Andy H" <athorvath@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
>>> change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it changed?
> Is
>>> it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What
> happens
>>> if I skip it and it breaks while driving?
>>>
>>> This was my first new car, and I want to make sure I take care of it, but
>>> don't want to throw money away.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Yup, looks like I have another 30,000 km to go.. Most people had told me
100,000 km. I think this 2.3 definitely has balance shafts. Incidentally,
I heard that the Acura RSX and Honda Civic SI-R have the same engine but the
RSX lacks a balance shaft.. strange.


"E. Meyer" <e.meyer@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:BB5EA91F.ADF6%e.meyer@ieee.org...
> When they say inspect and adjust drive belts, they mean the accessory
belts
> - the ones that used to be called fan belts. There is no requirement to
> routinely check the timing belt.
>
> Honda lengthened the interval for changing the timing belt from 60,000
miles
> (100,000 KM) to 90,000 miles, then to 105,000 miles (130,000 km). Your
> mechanic is about 10 years out of date on the mileage.
>
> Some of the four cylinder engines have balancer belts. I believe yours is
> one of them. When you change the timing belt, it is a good idea to change
> the balancer belt and the water pump as well, since they are all in there
> together with the timing belt.
>
> On 8/11/03 9:37 PM, in article gpYZa.1304$yL3.865@nntp-post.primus.ca,
> "Dan-O" <dardeline@primus.ca> wrote:
>
> > My '98 CL 2.3 manual says replace timing belt at 104,000 miles, but
inspect
> > and adjust drive belts every 30,000 miles. I am confused. Would this
check
> > include the timing belt? My mechanic says Hondas need timing belt
checks
> > (there's more than one, for balance shafts and such) at 100,000 km and
that
> > the labour cost is more than the parts so if it costs money to crack the
> > engine open to look at it, might as well replace at least the main one.
> > What is the proper interval?
> >
> > "Vlad" <Vlad@bla.Bla.com> wrote in message
> > news:ll6fjvg579gsq3a4nmjdrm036h00abh63k@4ax.com...
> >> That looks like a very high price to pay even on Canadian dollars, for
> >> a timing belt and water pump change. I can't recall the price of that
> >> change on my Integra 91 , on a Acura dealer , less than a year ago,
> >> but wasn't that much.
> >>
> >> Vlad
> >>
> >>
> >> On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 18:47:51 -0400, "Andy H" <athorvath@yahoo.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> My 98 LS 5 speed (96K miles) is nearing the interval for a timing belt
> >>> change (105K). What are the thoughts out there about getting it
changed?
> > Is
> >>> it worth the big price tag ($700)? Has anyone not replaced it? What
> > happens
> >>> if I skip it and it breaks while driving?
> >>>
> >>> This was my first new car, and I want to make sure I take care of it,
but
> >>> don't want to throw money away.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >
> >
>