A friend has a 2000 Honda Accord with V6. Less than 50K miles. Dealer is telling her that the timing belt should be changed after 6 years (its now 8 years old) irrespective of low mileage 'due to age.' I think this is nonsense. Thoughts? TIA.

 

Belts age regardless of miles. They dry out and crack. Can you do a visual check of it? If it's cracked I would replace it. Not in a Honda, but I've had to rebuild a Ford motor that broke a timing belt (water pump froze and was driven by the timing belt). All the valves beat into the pistons. It was not pretty. Seems like cheap insurance to replace the belt to me.

 

I understand the concept of an interference engine, and that some rubber parts deteriorate with nothing more than the passage of time, but I've never been told that this applies to timing belts unless there has been a very prolonged period of no activity, which does not describe my friend's situation.

 

http://www.honda-tech.com/

Good resource.

 

Please move to Off-Topic.

 

try the report button

 

as a former honda employee, yes they do need to be replaced over time. belts have a life time span other then miles, and the cost to replace it now will be nothing to the cost of replacing everything when it snaps

 

Seriously?

$1200 or an afternoon of your life to change it or 4k bucks in engine damage? Hmmm... let me think about that.

Why would a timing belt be different than ANY other belt. It's still rubber, it still dries out and cracks. How many accessory belts do you know of that people leave on their car for 6+ years without it developing cracks and potentially failing.

 

Stealer price $1200
I had my 2000 Accord (4 cylinder) timing belt changed for $500 by an independent shop. They did a good job, no problems.

 

I recently sold my 97 Prelude and I had the timing belt go out on me as I was driving. Luckily I did not damage the valves or pistons. I got the full change done plus 12,000 mile warranty for $800 at an independent Honda shop. I would recommend you get it changed and just have that as a cheap insurance policy.

 

Geez, I need to change mine. I know I need to, but I just keep putting it off. I have a '99 Civic that I use as my daily commuter, it has 148,000 miles on it. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but not only does it have the original timing belt, it has the original hoses, belts, plugs, coolant. All I have ever done is change the oil & filters, and tires.

 

Those civics are good for that
I had mine changed way back when I lived
in a place I could not work on my car.
By changed, I mean, wiped off engine
really good, fired up a pipe of meth, and charged
me <actually forget how much>

He wasn't even random but recommended from work.

At least I didn't get my stereo stolen, like his other customers.

I ended up having it changed 'again' at 169,000 miles.

Maybe the timing belt change is a scam, by the man.
Maybe they last the life of the car, just like lifetime
transmission fluid