Honda Car Forum

loewent via CarKB.com wrote:
> I've heard theories that the slant six almost put dodge outta business due to
> lack of parts sales and longevity....

I'd believe that. I've only ever seen one die - buddy's '69 Valiant threw a rod
doing aboud 100km/h on the freeway. Thankfully the engine didn't seize on the
spot... #6 had a lovely gaping hole with the bottom of of the rod sticking
through about an inch below the sleeve...


> Matt Ion wrote:
>
>>>>Toyota 4-cylinders have been chain-driven since the late 90s (starting
>>>>with
>>
>>[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>>
>>>the timing chain cover as a result of "stretching" (pivot wear) and that
>>>those covers were at a premium on the used market for that reason.
>>
>>Well the opposite end of that scale would be the trusty old Dodge "Slant-6"
>>engines... my dad had one in his '81 pickup, never had it replaced that I know
>>of... when he retired the truck in '87 with over 450,000km, the chain was
>>streched enough to be constantly rubbing in its guideway... but it just kept on
>>running (the engine was also drinking a liter of oil with every tank of gas
>>after my sister ran it dry of oil once). Thin was damn near indestructable.
>
>

Michael Rose wrote:
> I was looking at a 2006 Honda Civic and I asked the saleman if the engine
> was a Non-interference engine and I got a blank look
> So guys help me out here...is it or isn't it!....Thanks

Yeah, it's an interference engine. Uses a timing chain to reduce risk
of catastrophic failure. Keep that oil clean.

High Tech Misfit wrote:
> Michael Rose wrote:
>
> > I was looking at a 2006 Honda Civic and I asked the saleman if the engine
> > was a Non-interference engine and I got a blank look
> > So guys help me out here...is it or isn't it!....Thanks
>
> I don't know, but it doesn't matter because the engine uses a timing chain
> instead of a belt.

Right. Google "saturn timing chain"
I'm not saying Honda's as bad. But timing chains do fail.

Body Roll wrote:

> High Tech Misfit wrote:
>> Michael Rose wrote:
>>
>>> I was looking at a 2006 Honda Civic and I asked the saleman if the engine
>>> was a Non-interference engine and I got a blank look
>>> So guys help me out here...is it or isn't it!....Thanks
>>
>> I don't know, but it doesn't matter because the engine uses a timing chain
>> instead of a belt.
>
> Right. Google "saturn timing chain"
> I'm not saying Honda's as bad. But timing chains do fail.

But that is Saturn, which is crap to begin with. I believe I mentioned
elsewhere that Toyota's 4-cylinders, for example have been chain-driven for
almost a decade, and I am not aware of timing chain failures on those.

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:11:55 -0600, 'Curly Q. Links' wrote:

> Joe LaVigne wrote:
>> The salesman that sold me my 06 Si said that it was a timing belt, and the
>> scheduled maintenance for it was 100K. Is that incorrect?
>>
>
> --------------------------------
>
> The 06 Si comes with a FINE manual. Read The Fine Manual.
>
> Read this too, regarding the 'art' of car salesmanship. It's LONG:
> http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying...2/article.html
>
> 'Curly'

The manual doesn't mention the timing belt or chain at all, so far as I can
tell.

I have never expected a salesman to be extremely knowledgeable about cars.
It really isn't their job. That article is pretty good, but to be honest,
this was my first time at a Honda dealership, and the salesan was the best
auto salesman I have ever dealt with (from a buyers point of view). Didn't
push anything, was helpful in every respect.

I wasn't able to bring the price down, but I didn't expect to considering
it was a Civic Si in a year where they were named car of the year, and the
Si has had so many favorable reviews. They don't last long at sticker, and
true to my expectations, when I tried to negotiate a better price, they
were more than willing to walk away from the sale.

--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/17/2006 3:33:40 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

"If you were waiting for the oppurtune moment ... that was it."
--Jack Sparrow, "Pirates of the Carribean"

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 08:22:47 -0400, High Tech Misfit wrote:

> Joe LaVigne wrote:
>
>> The salesman that sold me my 06 Si said that it was a timing belt, and the
>> scheduled maintenance for it was 100K. Is that incorrect?
>
> It is incorrect. It uses a timing chain.

Thanks.

Does this mean that there is no scheduled maintenance for the chain?

If so, it looks like just fluids, brakes and 100K tune-ups. Not bad for
maintenance costs...

--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/17/2006 3:37:06 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

Scarecrow (Ray Bolger): I haven't got a brain... only straw.
Dorothy (Judy Garland): How can you talk if you haven't got a brain?
Scarecrow: I don't know... But some people without brains do an awful lot
of talking... don't they?
Dorothy: Yes, I guess you're right.
~ "Wizard of Oz "

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:37:04 -0400, Joe LaVigne
<jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com> wrote:

>
>The manual doesn't mention the timing belt or chain at all, so far as I can
>tell.
>
>I have never expected a salesman to be extremely knowledgeable about cars.
>It really isn't their job.

Of course it is their job. It's just easier to guess or make stuff
up.

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 21:04:56 GMT, Gordon McGrew wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 03:37:04 -0400, Joe LaVigne
> <jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>The manual doesn't mention the timing belt or chain at all, so far as I can
>>tell.
>>
>>I have never expected a salesman to be extremely knowledgeable about cars.
>>It really isn't their job.
>
> Of course it is their job. It's just easier to guess or make stuff
> up.

That depends on the technicality of the questions.

Salesmen are not mechanics. A good salesman will often have you wait while
he gets the answer for you, but there are very few of those in the world.
Especially with the fear that you'll leave while waiting, or consider their
need to seek help a problem.

In my industry (server/networking engineer), we find this all the time.
Our salespeople often sell things that are damned near ridiculous, and rely
on us to make it happen. We try to make them better, but the allure of the
almighty buck is a great barrier.

As I said, this was the best sales experience I have ever had. And Honda's
always had a belt before. So his not knowing off-hand about a single
technical change, from a sales standpoint, is inconsequential. Especially
since he got the sale, anyhow... ;-)

--
Joseph M. LaVigne
jlavigne@hits-buffalo.com
http://www.thelavignefamily.us/MyPipePages/ - 8/19/2006 1:42:12 AM
Tobacconist Brick and Mortar Database: http://bam.tobaccocellar.org/

¡§I never trusted a man who never smoked or drank.¡¨ ¡V Abraham Lincoln.