Civic Timing belt change, cost estimates?????????

[0roo0roo]

ah well, seems a piston ring or something failed. compression checks failed. engine block opened, rod bearings/piston rings replaced, water pump, timing belt, oil, filter.... all for a grand total of $1800.

cause? unknown, probable engine defect/random bad luck.

70k and engine is overhauled on a non riced, non vtech, regularly maintained car...

damn u honda!!

 

[ProfessorFate]

Most times when we have a late model Civic with a no run condition towed into the dealership, someone accidentally filled it up with Diesel fuel.

And if this guy is going to open up your engine, but doesn't know what he's looking for...get another tech.

G/L!

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
ah well, seems a piston ring or something failed. compression checks failed. engine block opened, rod bearings/piston rings replaced, water pump, timing belt, oil, filter.... all for a grand total of $1800.

cause? unknown, probable engine defect/random bad luck.

70k and engine is overhauled on a non riced, non vtech, regularly maintained car...

damn u honda!!

Ugh, you got taken for a ride, sorry to say it.

I guess its possible it was true, but damn. I would've taken it to have a 2nd opinion.

It's always possible for there to be defective parts that get passed QC...

 

[Eli]

Oh, and don't forget to follow proper breakin procedures with your virtually new engine.

This is just me, but I would change the oil/filter once after 250 miles and then again after 500.

That should ensure you get most baddies out. For safe measure, change it again ~1000 miles after that, and then resume your normal oil change schedule.

Improper breakin could've been the cause of its premature failure, although it was more likely it was a defective part... assuming the whole thing wasnt BS in the first place.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, will be following breakin procedure... but wow, 250miles? i guess i could do that.. since i change my own oil anyways.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yup, will be following breakin procedure... but wow, 250miles? i guess i could do that.. since i change my own oil anyways.

Shrug... I guess I just like to err on the "extremely paranoid" side.. it certainly isn't going to hurt anything.

IMO, the less contact your engine internals have with abrasives, the better.

If you REALLY want to break your engine in.... It's quite a bit of work, but if you're a gearhead like me.. it lets you get to know your engine on a more intimate level.

Aquire a compression gauge.

With the engine cold or warm(pick one, your choice, but you have to remember to check the compression in the same state each time)

Disable the ignition,

Remove a spark plug, insert guage, check reading.

Document reading, replace plug. Do this for all 4 cylinders.

Now, follow the same procedure when you change your oil for the first time. Compression should have risen.

You keep doing this until it levels off, probably 500 - 1000 miles. Not only do you know your engine is broken in, but you have a very good table of your engines health at "birth".

The compression levels should now stay virtually the same for many, many miles... until they start dropping off again as the engine ages.

 

[0roo0roo]

guess i'll look into the guage, doesn't sound that hard since i already changed the plugs anyways

 

[OS]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
ah well, seems a piston ring or something failed. compression checks failed. engine block opened, rod bearings/piston rings replaced, water pump, timing belt, oil, filter.... all for a grand total of $1800.

cause? unknown, probable engine defect/random bad luck.

70k and engine is overhauled on a non riced, non vtech, regularly maintained car...

damn u honda!!

Man, it almost would have been cheaper for you to throw away the engine right away and get a b series swap.