new civic owner w/questions

[poppacivic]

OK..I'm an 'old guy', but my daughter just got a 94 Civic EX and I have a few questions.

It's got 95K miles and I don't know the history of it. Should the timing belt be replaced - how much does that cost? If it breaks, will it ruin the engine? Any other stuff I should replace as maintenance.

Never owned a Honda, but it's a great car and seems solid, even at 95K miles!

Don't plan any mods until she goes to college and I drive it - HA HA

Thanks

 

[Si_Racer13]

if someone around here has a carfax account they can run a report on it and find out the history...

When buying a new car i like to change the oil, spark plugs and plug wires, cap and rotor, timing belt just to make sure that things will run smooth.

The timing belt itself costs about 40 bucks. If it breaks, then it can mess up the pistons if you continue to drive it, or try to start it repeteadly.

My suggestion, is to just do a tune up, and replace the timing belt.

 

[JDM James]

Originally posted by Si_Racer13
if someone around here has a carfax account they can run a report on it and find out the history...

When buying a new car i like to change the oil, spark plugs and plug wires, cap and rotor, timing belt just to make sure that things will run smooth.

The timing belt itself costs about 40 bucks. If it breaks, then it can mess up the pistons if you continue to drive it, or try to start it repeteadly.

My suggestion, is to just do a tune up, and replace the timing belt.

sorry no carfax account here..

 

[Team 4R]

if the belt snaps your timing will be gone....... if it breaks while driving you can consider the motor history....... valves won't open but cylinders will still rotate..... built up pressure will crack the block wide open........... that's worst case, of course, but it's not a risk worth taking.......

like siracer said, you should perform a complete overhaul..... change the timing belt, water pump, oil, and spark plugs..... and check all the fluids. coolant may be worth switching out as well. check the hoses and connections.... etc, etc........ if you're a serious do-it-yourselfer then investing in a repair manual (avoid chiltons) is a good idea.

 

[BioHazard the Reaper]

well yeah i broke my t belt, and surprisingly no harm done at all, but i suggest everything they said

 

[MorphiasX]

Yeah, I just had my timing belt and water pump changed out today. Because of where honda put the water pump, its best to have that changed at the same time. It ended up costing $270 out the door to have the timing belt, and water pump changed, using a genuine honda timing belt and water pump.

 

[BioHazard the Reaper]

hehe it cost me i think 20 bucks for the belt, hehe i love my dad

 

[poppacivic]

Timing belt - Is it something a DIY can do, or a major pain?

Do you do a decarbon/top end cleaning to these?

 

[Linguistics]

ehhh...timing belt can be done youself. but thats if you have the right tools and enough confidence not to eff up your timing. if you look at it, you got mounts in the way and very little room to work with. if you can get around all of that, then youre good. plus a belt costs about $20, which is a lot cheaper than the hella hundreds that youll be paying a shop to do

 

[Si_Racer13]

actually my belt was going to be almost 40 bucks.....I got a hookup from my cousin tho to get it for 20. But you worked at the zone so you probably know.

 

[BioHazard the Reaper]

yeah you pretty much have to take the drivers side of the engine apart, and take that mount off, my dad had the tools, and experience, and it took him a fri night, about 3 hours to do so.....but as far as mechancial know how, its not that tuff, just lots of things to take off

 

[Je]

never had to mess with my t belt, how many miles till you should change it?

 

[Handlebars]

60-90k miles is the usual interval. its one of those things you jsut dont mess with, if you dont change it on time it will prob bust your motor.

 

[MorphiasX]

Yeah, ive heard for some its 60k, some are 90k, and some are 100k... Mine actually had some life left at 122k, but I didnt wanna take my chance with leaving it, cuz if that thing goes while your cruising its gonna bend ur rods and shafts, and possibly even crack your block.... In other words it will toast your engine, so be careful how much you let it go before changing it...

 

[BioHazard the Reaper]

shafts??? i think you said rods twice but yeah a bent valve will eat through the piston, and your f**ked, so change it, dont put it off at all....man why dont 4 bangers just use a chain like other motors

 

[civikskilz]

I need to resurrect this thread bcuz i believe its time to change my timing belt. Its been making a slight squeaky noise for a bit over 2 mos now, i feel bad ive been letting it go this long, ive just been consumed in work and life. anyway. how much could i expect to pay @ shop to get the whole thing done and changed? It's about 117k on the car now. Thanks

 

[imprtracer]

I would highly recommend changing the timing belt, it's not that big of a job, the crank pulley is the worst part oh and some four cylinder engines do have a chain instead of a belt