YACT - Honda Civic timing belt?

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman
My 90' Civic si says that the timing belt should be changed every 90000 miles.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Nice set of wheels there Aquaman

I have an oil leak prolem I have to take care of though

I may have to just replacec the engine if it's the head gasket

Lucky there are tons of Civic engines so it will be relatively cheap

Cheers,
Aquaman

Time for some VTEC power bro. This

 

[d33pt]

i paid $150 to replace the belt/water pump on a 96 civic

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman
My 90' Civic si says that the timing belt should be changed every 90000 miles.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Nice set of wheels there Aquaman

I have an oil leak prolem I have to take care of though

I may have to just replacec the engine if it's the head gasket

Lucky there are tons of Civic engines so it will be relatively cheap

Cheers,
Aquaman

Time for some VTEC power bro. This

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh :Q

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Cyberian]

Originally posted by: d33pt
i paid $150 to replace the belt/water pump on a 96 civic

That is pretty cheap! Is that for parts and labor?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman
My 90' Civic si says that the timing belt should be changed every 90000 miles.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Nice set of wheels there Aquaman

I have an oil leak prolem I have to take care of though

I may have to just replacec the engine if it's the head gasket

Lucky there are tons of Civic engines so it will be relatively cheap

Cheers,
Aquaman

Time for some VTEC power bro. This

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh :Q

Cheers,
Aquaman

You realize that price is US dollars and that place is in Ontario I believe. Great prices.

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Aquaman
My 90' Civic si says that the timing belt should be changed every 90000 miles.

Cheers,
Aquaman

Nice set of wheels there Aquaman

I have an oil leak prolem I have to take care of though

I may have to just replacec the engine if it's the head gasket

Lucky there are tons of Civic engines so it will be relatively cheap

Cheers,
Aquaman

Time for some VTEC power bro. This

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh :Q

Cheers,
Aquaman

You realize that price is US dollars and that place is in Ontario I believe. Great prices.

I'd rather spend the money on a Ducks Jersey Or a mortgage payment

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[NutBucket]

:camera:

 

[Aquaman]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
:camera:

Only Sealy has the pics of me in the Ducks Jersey with a bald head

Cheers,
Aquaman

 

[Thegonagle]

No matter who does the job, make certain they are using brand new genuine Honda parts. With the engine and so much money to repair it at stake, don?t trust anything less.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
No matter who does the job, make certain they are using brand new genuine Honda parts. With the engine and so much money to repair it at stake, don?t trust anything less.

Genuine Honda will do, but aftermarket is better. Why settle for less?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
No matter who does the job, make certain they are using brand new genuine Honda parts. With the engine and so much money to repair it at stake, don?t trust anything less.

Genuine Honda will do, but aftermarket is better. Why settle for less?

Not for these kinds of parts. ALWAYS use factory parts if you intend to follow the factory service interval. If I used an aftermarket timing belt I'd change it at 60k instead of 80k like the manual recommends.

 

[HokieESM]

I have a '96 Honda Civic EX with 100K miles. Just so you know, the recommended interval is 90K miles. When you change the timing belt, you also change the water pump (well, the external part of the pump--most of it is in the block) and usually the serpentine belt. You also MUST flush the coolant system (if you change the water pump, which is recommended).

We changed the belt on my mom's '94.... its a lengthy process--took about five hours (you have to "remove" quite a bit of things, in addition to flushing the cooling system, which is a relatively slow process). With mine, we paid about $300--using genuine Honda parts (which are a bit more, but probably worth it for the peace of mind). The mechanic took three hours, by the way.

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: NutBucket


Not for these kinds of parts. ALWAYS use factory parts if you intend to follow the factory service interval. If I used an aftermarket timing belt I'd change it at 60k instead of 80k like the manual recommends.

You don't have much experience with cars, do you?

Don't you think it's possible for someone to manufacture a BETTER, more expensive timing belt?

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: NutBucket


Not for these kinds of parts. ALWAYS use factory parts if you intend to follow the factory service interval. If I used an aftermarket timing belt I'd change it at 60k instead of 80k like the manual recommends.

You don't have much experience with cars, do you?

Don't you think it's possible for someone to manufacture a BETTER, more expensive timing belt?

Sure, it's possible, but why is it necessary? Where's the market for it? There's a big market for cheap imitation parts, but can you show us a better, more expensive timing belt and water pump for a Civic than the OEM parts, and explain the benefits of installing these parts in a 125 HP economy car?

IMO, it's best to go with parts that are well known, with proven quality and reliability, for a reasonable price, i.e., Honda parts. He won't need to worry about it again until 180,000 miles, that is, if he even still has the car.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: NutBucket


Not for these kinds of parts. ALWAYS use factory parts if you intend to follow the factory service interval. If I used an aftermarket timing belt I'd change it at 60k instead of 80k like the manual recommends.

You don't have much experience with cars, do you?

Don't you think it's possible for someone to manufacture a BETTER, more expensive timing belt?

Sure, it's possible, but why is it necessary? Where's the market for it? There's a big market for cheap imitation parts, but can you show us a better, more expensive timing belt and water pump for a Civic than the OEM parts, and explain the benefits of installing these parts in a 125 HP economy car?

IMO, it's best to go with parts that are well known, with proven quality and reliability, for a reasonable price, i.e., Honda parts. He won't need to worry about it again until 180,000 miles, that is, if he even still has the car.

My point exactly

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle


Sure, it's possible, but why is it necessary? Where's the market for it? There's a big market for cheap imitation parts, but can you show us a better, more expensive timing belt and water pump for a Civic than the OEM parts, and explain the benefits of installing these parts in a 125 HP economy car?

IMO, it's best to go with parts that are well known, with proven quality and reliability, for a reasonable price, i.e., Honda parts. He won't need to worry about it again until 180,000 miles, that is, if he even still has the car.

Honda has a huge aftermarket. Most of these more expensive, higher quality parts are available from performance shops. The market is the huge racing crowd, which requires parts that can perform beyond what normal parts can do. For instance, you can buy a genuine Honda headgasket, but if you are running a lot of power you will need a better quality headgasket that can hold those higher pressures. Many of those headgaskets are made of metal instead of paper. If you use a performance metal headgasket on a car that doesn't produce much power, it will still last longer since it's made better.

I've worked with cars for years and I find it a bit frustrating hearing people who barely know anything trying to argue with what I have to say. Frankly, I'm surprised that the owner just doesn't change the timing belt himself. How can you be so helpless that you need to take it to a mechanic?

 

[Cyberian]

I've worked with cars for years and I find it a bit frustrating hearing people who barely know anything trying to argue with what I have to say. Frankly, I'm surprised that the owner just doesn't change the timing belt himself. How can you be so helpless that you need to take it to a mechanic?

I started repairing my own cars in 1961. I have replaced engines, done some body work and pretty much everything that can be done to a car. I was also a mechanic for a Jaguar shop.
I am now retired with a heart condition and a prosthetic hip.
I choose not to crawl around underneath my car anymore

 

[Marshallj]

Originally posted by: Cyberian

I've worked with cars for years and I find it a bit frustrating hearing people who barely know anything trying to argue with what I have to say. Frankly, I'm surprised that the owner just doesn't change the timing belt himself. How can you be so helpless that you need to take it to a mechanic?

I started repairing my own cars in 1961. I have replaced engines, done some body work and pretty much everything that can be done to a car. I was also a mechanic for a Jaguar shop.
I am now retired with a heart condition and a prosthetic hip.
I choose not to crawl around underneath my car anymore

Well that makes sense.

But you're still in the minority here. Most are 16-25 year old kids who have no idea what goes on in an engine. They are victims of a consumer society, they're now a bunch of helpless end users.

You have a valid reason why you can't do it yourself, while most others can't do it simply out of lack of knowledge.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Marshallj


Honda has a huge aftermarket. Most of these more expensive, higher quality parts are available from performance shops. The market is the huge racing crowd, which requires parts that can perform beyond what normal parts can do. For instance, you can buy a genuine Honda headgasket, but if you are running a lot of power you will need a better quality headgasket that can hold those higher pressures. Many of those headgaskets are made of metal instead of paper. If you use a performance metal headgasket on a car that doesn't produce much power, it will still last longer since it's made better.

I've worked with cars for years and I find it a bit frustrating hearing people who barely know anything trying to argue with what I have to say. Frankly, I'm surprised that the owner just doesn't change the timing belt himself. How can you be so helpless that you need to take it to a mechanic?

Actually, just because something is suitable for "higher performance" doesn't mean it will last longer. It all depends on the design criterion. For example, the "higher quality head gaskets" (if you were speaking of the carbon-fiber metal-matrix headgaskets that are the rage for drag racing right now) you point out that are designed to run at higher pressures are often VERY susceptible to decay due to ozone exposure. Which is moot for a drag/hipo engine because you'll probably change the headgasket every 12 months. But for someone who is going to put it on a stock Civic--well, he's probably not going to change it for another five or six YEARS. So the standard, Honda OEM part is probably what he should buy (its definitely better than the cheapo aftermarket parts).

But you are right, there are some nice aftermarket parts out there... i'm not negating what you said.

As far as him changing his own timing belt, HERE is the question: is saving $150 worth spending four or five hours on your back on a sunny Saturday? Personally, I'm paid more than that Monday through Friday--I'll take my sunny Saturday and enjoy it. But if you're not--or if you like fooling around with your car--go ahead and change it. Like I said, I've changed a couple Civic timing belts in the past when I was in college.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Marshallj

Originally posted by: Cyberian

I've worked with cars for years and I find it a bit frustrating hearing people who barely know anything trying to argue with what I have to say. Frankly, I'm surprised that the owner just doesn't change the timing belt himself. How can you be so helpless that you need to take it to a mechanic?

I started repairing my own cars in 1961. I have replaced engines, done some body work and pretty much everything that can be done to a car. I was also a mechanic for a Jaguar shop.
I am now retired with a heart condition and a prosthetic hip.
I choose not to crawl around underneath my car anymore

Well that makes sense.

But you're still in the minority here. Most are 16-25 year old kids who have no idea what goes on in an engine. They are victims of a consumer society, they're now a bunch of helpless end users.

About your point about doing it yourself. I'm currently prepping a new motor for my Accord and after changing the timing belt and associated seals/parts I can say I would most likely just take it to a mechanic if the motor was in the car. I've also replaced the clutch with the motor in the car. Its just a pain to do because of space constraints. Also, I do agree there are some higher quality aftermarket parts available. However, when speaking in terms of people doing maintainence because it needs to be done the best route is OEM parts. If you're building something up then yes, you'd want to goto better parts, which in most cases costs more the OEM parts. Aftermarket in this sense refers to stuff you would get at the local auto parts store. The only aftermarket OEM-type parts I put on my car is stuff I get from a friend of mine who works for an independent shop. He gets parts that are guaranteed OEM quality. In most cases they are from the same manufacturer minus the "Honda" branding. I did get timing belts through him. I think his cost was less then $10. They were made in Germany by Continental. To me that's fine. I would use that (except it wound up being the wrong belt so I ended up going to the dealer anyway paying $60).