Difficulty in changing belts for Honda Civic?

[TridenT]

I have a 2000 Honda Civic EX. Anyone know which belts I should be changing regularly/every-<50k-type (i.e. not timing belt since that's every 90k) and the difficulty to do so?

I haven't changed any belts since I owned the car. I've put at least 25,000 miles on it in the past 2 years. I do get some squealing belt noise when turning the steering wheel really far when the car is cold, but it also sounds like the belts are noisy when I am outside of the car. So I think they probably are very due for a change.

 

[jlee]

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2053807

Looks like "inspect and adjust drive belts" comes every 30k. Look at them and see if they're starting to crack or split...wouldn't hurt to replace them anyway, if you wanted to.

 

[5150MyU]

If you have AC=3 belts on that correct?
Visually inspect for cracks-just may need to be tightened.
If they have never been replaced before, you may just wanna do them all.
BTW, none are self adjusting.

 

[TridenT]

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2053807

Looks like "inspect and adjust drive belts" comes every 30k. Look at them and see if they're starting to crack or split...wouldn't hurt to replace them anyway, if you wanted to.

I'm going to have to figure out which belts are 'drive belts', unless that means all belts.

At times, I've also noticed a weird pulsing with my dashboard lights (lights used to keep odometer area light). As if the alternator is not powering everything consistently. :| I don't know if that would be due to belts or just the alternator saying, "ABOUT TO DIE, BRO."

 

[5150MyU]

ABOUT TO DIE, BRO-that could be either, but if you have a/c the compressor could be kicking in(even in defrost) and causing the alternator belt to slip.
Just a thought.

 

[5150MyU]

Drive belts are considered the external belts that you see at the front of the engine.
Though there are others(caddy drives the waterpump from a rear cam pulley that is partially hidden on certain engines).

 

[5150MyU]

P.S(power steering) do not maintain the steering wheel at its stops unless you are bleeding the system-you are causing unneccesary pressure that can cause damage.

Usually hitting the steering stops cause a loud whine from the pump and NOT belt squeal(not always true).

I believe the PS belt is a V belt and the other two are serpetine-again not sure- get out the flashlight.

 

[hanoverphist]

if you have the 1.6L d series motor, the belts are a pain in the ass to work with for the most part. the PS belt is the one nearest the bumper, and the easiest to check and work on. the AC belt change requires the motor mount to be disconnected from the frame to get off, not to mention the need for a skinny hand and wrench (no ratchet and socket there) to get the adjuster down. the alternator isnt horrible, its just tucked in the back between the engine and the firewall. all are accessible to check for tightness and wear tho, the AC belt you may have to look from underneath tho. i have a 98 civic with the D16Y7 motor in it, ive taken all the belts off a bunch of times so far, it isnt an all day project at all, but taking the PS pump off to get to the AC belt stuff is definitely worth it.

 

[hanoverphist]

I'm going to have to figure out which belts are 'drive belts', unless that means all belts.

At times, I've also noticed a weird pulsing with my dashboard lights (lights used to keep odometer area light). As if the alternator is not powering everything consistently. :| I don't know if that would be due to belts or just the alternator saying, "ABOUT TO DIE, BRO."

do you notice the pulsing while listening to music? the alts in those little cars arent really high output alts i bet, i know i see my dash dim when i turn on large draw accessories also. an amplified system without a cap would definitely make the lights pulse with bass hits.

 

[TridenT]

I need to replace the belts ASAP. The one for the alternator is most definitely slipping. It could be that the alternator or a voltage regulator is going bad, but I am thinking it's the belt slipping. I need to replace the belts and then make sure I properly tighten them. It's been over 2 years since any belts have been changed, and that's only assuming the last people even changed the belts.

I need a tutorial or something of the sort to help me out. Anyone have one? I wish there was a better source online for all honda civic maintenance and repair...


It isn't the sound system causing it. I don't have a special setup for the car. Everything is pretty much stock except the head unit now. (And the pulsing happened before that)

 

[PottedMeat]

why not get the Helms Honda Service Manual? It will tell you exactly what you need to do, what parts to take out first, etc.

youtube videos? Isn't a 2000 Civic very common?

 

[TridenT]

why not get the Helms Honda Service Manual? It will tell you exactly what you need to do, what parts to take out first, etc.

youtube videos? Isn't a 2000 Civic very common?

It is common, but apparently no one likes to post videos of how to do things on a car.

 

[alkemyst]

In general for rubber belts on accessories the best maintenance interval is replacing when cracks form.

These are non-catastrophic parts. Replacing earlier than needed is wasting money and more importantly to me, time.

 

[TridenT]

In general for rubber belts on accessories the best maintenance interval is replacing when cracks form.

These are non-catastrophic parts. Replacing earlier than needed is wasting money and more importantly to me, time.

I look at that and I look at your post count...

 

[alkemyst]

I look at that and I look at your post count...

most of my posts happened long ago...

I have a lot of wasted time in my line of work.

That said, when I have free time I don't want to be doing basic maintenance.

Pay it, it's the best bang for buck you can get.

 

[natto fire]

<3 having a serpentine belt. $30 for one, I can change it on the side of the road and I don't have a timing belt so just having one to worry about is great.

That said I never had any trouble changing belts on the numerous B series Hondas I owned. As mentioned, getting the tension correct is key to long lasting quiet belts.