General Tech Help - timing belt replacement

Hi folks, just found this forum and there is a lot of good info here.</P>


My 99 Civic LX with 94 000 km on the clock needs a timing belt replacement at 100 000 km (probably this fall or winter) and I am planning to do it myself. I am fairly handy with mechanicals ( brake jobs, clutch replacements etc.) and have a Haynes manual to help me along.</P>


I have heard time and time again to replace the waterpump at the same time as the belt because the new belt will eventually screw up the bearing and seal of the old waterpump andcause it to leak.</P>


My plan was to just replace the belt and inspect the old pump and leave it in if it checks OK.</P>


Any comments out there would be appreciated.</P>


Thank you in advance<IMG src=smileys/smiley10.gif border="0"></P>

Most people think about changing the pump not really because the new belt will cause stress, but because now the pump is accessible. It's just easy. </P>


It's like going to the store for beers but buying more beers because your already there. <IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0"></P>


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replacing the water pump can be a good idea while your in there, but at such a low milage, it may not be an issue on your car. However check the crank case seal and the cam shaft seal while your in there, because they are very cheap (like $3 ea), and can cause a lot of oil leakage. I don't know if newer civics have timing belt driven oil pumps, but if they do, look for some leakage behind the gear. Hope this is helpfull

Like the others said, replacing the water pump is a good idea because everything you have to take off to get at the timing belt, you have to take off to get at the water pump. It's worth it to replace it because even if it's not leaking now, that doesn't mean it will last another 100k until the next timing belt replacement, and wouldn't it just suck to do all that work replacing the timing belt, only to have to do it all over again 6 months later if the water pump starts leaking? Alexander had a good point of thoroughly inspecting the front crank seal while that cover is off, it's a very cheap part and again, do you want to take the chance it's going to last another 100k?