Timing belt change???

[anchor man]

I have a 2000 Honda Accord with 73k miles. I've heard some say to replace the timing belt as a maintenance precaution before it goes out, as it'll cost many times more in engine damage than to replace and keep a "fresh" belt. Is this typically an issue with these cars around the 100k mile mark? Have a hard time forking out 600 as maintenance, but maybe it's necessary????

any thought?

[MntkaFishin]

I'm not a mechanic by any means, but I will give you my personal story on timing belts. As a senior in high school, about 10 year ago, I was driving the olds mans Plymouth Laser down the freeway at about 65 mph and the timing belt went out. Let's just say everything came to a grinding halt right then and there. It was about $2500 to overhaul the entire engine, all of the pistons where completely shot. I believe the car had about 75k miles at the time. I had to wake the old man up at 11 pm, and he wasn't happy.

[fivebucks]

I replace them every 60,000 miles for piece of mind. Sure they can last longer but you don't want to go 1 minute too long.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I blew one at 150,000 on my old '87 Accord although I don't know if that was the original or if it had been replaced at some point. If I rememeber correctly, it cost me < $300 to replace.

[Ham]

This is for a 2.3 engine Replace Timing Belt, Balancer Belt, and inspect Water Pump every 105,000 miles. We normally put the idlers for timing belt and do water pump.

[Scott K]

100k is about the right time to do it, $600 seems steep, its about a 3.5 job and the belt isnt that costly. BUT its a wearing item and if you ride it hard it can bust st anytime, but a new one can also! I would wait!

[jltimm]

It would depend upon if your engine is an interference engine or not. In other words if your engine will be junk if the timing belt goes I would replace it as soon as the manual suggests. Otherwise if it breaks and causes no damage other than getting towed to the shop, then you don't have to worry about it, unless you don't want to stall someday when it does break?

[anchor man]

thanks for the input. Is there any way for the belt to be inspected, or is that where the cost comes from...labor to get at it?

[ChuckN]

Have 2 cars (Toyota and Mazda) that have timing belts. Every 60-70,000 miles I change the belt, water pump and if the pulleys need changing I change..

It's about $350 each vehicle.

[Scott K]

Its not a phisical thing you can see usually, sometimes you will see cracks, but its best to just change it at the recomended interval, and yes this is an interference engine! The recomended interval is 105k as noted before, unless you ride it hard then change it now! But for normal driving it should go beyond the recomandation of 105K.

[McGurk]

I'd get a little closer to the 100,000 mile mark. $5-600 isn't too bad if it includes the belt, a water pump, a belt tensioner, and all the labor. I had this all done on my wife's Outback at the recommended 115,000 and got the parts back; the belt looked in pretty darn good shape to me. I do feel much better with her driving around with a new one, though. There's not much that can be repaired for less than $600 after the fact if it is an interference engine.