Honda Car Forum

How long miles/years should I wait to change this on my 1998 Civic ?

--
Bill Kiene

Kiene's Fly Shop
Sacramento, CA, USA
www.kiene.com

60,000 miles unless you know you have one of the 90,000 mile belts. THESE
ARE INTERFERENCE ENGINES so at very least look at it and see how it looks.
wolf
"Bill Kiene" <bkiene@pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:e3GOb.12957$jW.12746@newssvr27.news.prodigy.c om...
> How long miles/years should I wait to change this on my 1998 Civic ?
>
> --
> Bill Kiene
>
> Kiene's Fly Shop
> Sacramento, CA, USA
> www.kiene.com
>
>

"Bill Kiene" <bkiene@pacbell.net> spake unto the masses in
news:e3GOb.12957$jW.12746@newssvr27.news.prodigy.c om:

> How long miles/years should I wait to change this on my 1998 Civic ?
>


Read The Owner's Manual.

It probably says 72 months or 90,000 miles, whichever comes first.

As Wolfgang says, this IS an interference engine, meaning that if the belt
breaks, the valves could smack into the pistons and result in very
expensive engine work.

Extending the interval beyond that specified is a gamble. *I* wouldn't do
it. The odds are not in your favor.

--
TeGGeR®

"Wolfgang Bley" <wolfgang@sonic.net> wrote in message
news:x2IOb.9449$XF6.195690@typhoon.sonic.net...
> 60,000 miles unless you know you have one of the 90,000 mile belts. THESE
> ARE INTERFERENCE ENGINES so at very least look at it and see how it looks.
> wolf
> "Bill Kiene" <bkiene@pacbell.net> wrote in message
> news:e3GOb.12957$jW.12746@newssvr27.news.prodigy.c om...
> > How long miles/years should I wait to change this on my 1998 Civic ?
> >
> > --
> >
I own a 98 Civic LX. The owner's manual says 60,000, I believe, but I had
seen differing opinions(I have seen a Honda dealer's site saying 110,000).
I called the local Honda dealer, and he said 110,000. He said Maine did not
qualify as extreme conditions. After the weather over the past 2 weeks, I
am not so sure.

I actually have a local mechanic who will replace the timing belt and
waterpump for $280. That doesn't sound THAT bad. I plan on changing mine
in the next few months(will probably be around 85-90K.
>

On my first Honda Civic (an 87) I didn't change the belt because I didn't
realize it was an interference engine until I got that HUGE repair bill.
With all my other imports (older Nissan's), I just let the belt break
because it was the same price to replace a broken belt -and no internal
engine damage was caused.

FYI, that original cam belt on my 88 Civic lasted 6 years/180,000 miles
before it broke, but I plan on changing the belt on my current Honda every
60,000 miles, WITHOUT FAIL.

Rob

"Tegger®" <teggeratistopdotcom@changetheobvious.invalid> wrote in message
news:Xns94754F3684875teggeratistop@207.14.113.17.. .
> "Bill Kiene" <bkiene@pacbell.net> spake unto the masses in
> news:e3GOb.12957$jW.12746@newssvr27.news.prodigy.c om:
>
> > How long miles/years should I wait to change this on my 1998 Civic ?
> >
>
>
> Read The Owner's Manual.
>
> It probably says 72 months or 90,000 miles, whichever comes first.
>
> As Wolfgang says, this IS an interference engine, meaning that if the belt
> breaks, the valves could smack into the pistons and result in very
> expensive engine work.
>
> Extending the interval beyond that specified is a gamble. *I* wouldn't do
> it. The odds are not in your favor.
>
> --
> TeGGeR®

While you are at it dont forget the crank seal and the cam seal. Oil and
rubber belts dont mix, and these seals get very hard after 100k miles.
Also swapping the water pump at the same time will save you some later
aggravation.

-SP