Honda Car Forum

My Honda Civic is 7 years old but only has 36K miles on it. Does changing the belt depend only on mileage or can time also be a factor?

Time is a factor on all car parts, more for some than others, If the timing belt hasn't been serviced in seven years, I would recommend at least letting a decent mechanic take a look at it, even if you don't replace it. Better safe than sorry.

Timing and mileage on a car is factor, but just to be safe you should have a mechanic look at everything and get a tune up at the same time.

While mileage is quite important time is a factor as well. Over time rubber can brake down and the motor that you have is called an interference engine. This means that if your timing belt brakes then your valves and pistons are on a collision course. This means at the very least new head, or at least a valve job, but usually it you'll end up replacing the motor. Also if the timing belt drives the water pump have it replaced at the same time.

I have several belts hanging in my garage that I have changed, from Nissan's to Honda's and all are 8 years old with 60,000 miles and they look like new! If there is access to have a look at it have a mechanic take a peak, but I would say you are good for a couple more years at least. My CR-V is a 2000 with 65,000 miles, the belts looks like new, I'm going to have another look at it in a year. I have a friend who is a salesman, on the road all day, he changed his Civics belt at 160,000 miles, it was 5 or 6 years old. He had no problems to that point, the manufacturers put a far better belt originally on the car then the aftermarket.

Doesn't really matter open it up and look at the belt if theres signs of deteriation if so then change it and are you sure it only has 36k maybe the clicker got turned back.