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Repair, replace or purchase after timing belt failure?

L

lykaon78

Golden Member
On Friday the timing belt on my 2005 Civic LX with 162,000 miles failed causing valve damage in my interference engine (apparently the pistons collided with the valves damaging the valves).

So it seems I have 4 options.

1. Have the valves re-machined. Pros: Cheapest. Cons: I'd be putting new valves on a 160,000+ miles engine.

2. Replace the engine with a new one. Pros: Most reliable. Cons: Most expensive repair.

3. Replace the engine with a used one. Pros: Cheaper engine replacement. Cons: The unknown of a used engine.

4. Buy a new car.

Anyone been down this path? Which did you chose and why? I was planning to run this car into the ground so I wouldn't have a car payment for as long as possible. While I can afford a new car payment I'd like to avoid it unless throwing money at this car would be a waste.


Some details:
The car is paid for and in good shape other than this problem.
This is the first major mechanical problem I've had (no previous repair more than $300).
I've got 4 new tires and a complete set of brakes with less than 10k miles.
My brother is a mechanic. He has replaced two Civic engines on other cars and will basically do this work for peanuts plus the cost of parts.

Thanks for the time.
 
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My brother is a mechanic. He has replaced two Civic engines on other cars and will basically do this work for peanuts plus the cost of parts.
Click to expand...

sounds like a big plus there - i'd get him to find a good used engine (never had a timing belt failure) and put that in.
 
I would think of it as a good time to move on to something new. Especially when you could lease a new one for $240 a month.
 
I would most certainly stay away from #1 - the pistons could very well be damaged from the collision with the valves as well. I wouldn't even bother with that.

I'd only do #3 or #4. If you do #3, put a new belt in that engine, safer that way.

But heck, I would never buy another car with a retarded timing belt again. Well, I would never get one in the first place 😛
 
Looks like we are reaching some agreement on this one, but another vote for a used motor. While it's out I'd make sure it gets a new timing belt, water pump and plugs just for good measure. Again, this is assuming the rest of the car is good working order. I'm also going to assume it has an automatic transmission, and if so, how has it been shifting recently? If you're awesome and own a manual, don't even worry about it, clutches aren't a big deal.
 
I'd have the head inspected and valves replaced. I've never heard of any serious piston damage from valves hitting them. They might get scratched a bit, but the valve and its weak stem are going to give before a piston gets damaged.
 
Taking the head and inspect the damage first before deciding.

I'd go with option 1, and change your timing belt like you're suppose to!
 
Yeah, I was going to post something similar to what slag said. Given you have the time, might as well pull the head and see what happened. I too do not think there should be any damage aside from the valves themselves.
 
I was basing my post off of a friend's experience. Chipped his piston when his belt broke. Which, by the way, had been changed on schedule, it decided to break anyway.
 
Drop in a used motor with low mileage. Might as well see if you can get a SI engine complete with harness and ECU to give yourself a upgrade at the same time.
 
I'd go with a used engine out of the choices given, one other possibility is to have you brother rebuild the original engine.
 
PottedMeat said:
sounds like a big plus there - i'd get him to find a good used engine (never had a timing belt failure) and put that in.
Click to expand...

Its definitely a plus. The only downside of this option is the time frame. At best I'm looking at two weeks without a car. I'm not sure what the normal time frame from a dealer would for this kind of work.

To the others who asked/mentioned it: The timing belt was changed at 95k. This one failed with 35k left on its life (according to the owner's guide).
 
That is odd for a newly replaced belt to fail with only about 65K miles (+/-) on it. I would opt for a used engine and install the new belt as suggested. You want a low miles one, say under 75K if you can find one. The install can be done in 2 days at most. And I agree, any replacement should include radiator flush, coolant, t-stat, water pump, have the alternator output tested or new brushes installed.

Here is on with only 36K miles on it for under $900 (free shipping) It is in VA
JDM HONDA CIVIC 01 02 03 04 05 ENGINE D17A MOTOR LX EX

Item number: 160660891454
Item location: Manassas Park, VA, United State

http://compare.ebay.com/like/160660891454?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y
 
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Used motor, good learning lesson to not be cheap on maintenance. Honda says 110K/7 years.

If you have hook up for cheap labor, try swapping the head first. Little indents on the pistons don't make any difference.
 
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