Our 2004 Civic LX has 56,000 miles. When should I change the timing belt? I've heard these are interference engines so I want to make sure I change the belt before the worst happens.

Also, are these cars really meant to handle 10,000 mile oil change intervals? That just doesn't settle well with me.

 

i am pretty sure you shouldnt have to change your timing belt until 105,000 milesor until the year2011according to the owners manual (i have an 01 and thats what it calls for) unless you drive under conditions that would cause more stress than usual on the engine. 10,000 miles is way too long IMO. I usually change mine every 5,000 mostly due to the fact that all my miles are highway and i usea good quality oil.

 

Thank you for the help on the timing belt. I'll verify in the owner's manual, but what you said does sound right.

The reason I asked about the oil change interval is because of what's printed in the owner's manual. The manual clearly states the interval to be 10,000 miles. Plus, the "maintenance required" light comes on at about 10,000 miles. The dash is consitent with the manual.

But, I'm with you, 10,000 seems like too much...especially for dino juice! I'll change it ASAP and stick to the 5,000 mile routine.

 

Timing belt is 60,000 miles. Oil change should be 3,000 miles or 3 months whichever comes first. You can go to 5,000 miles if you use synthetic but you should change your filter at 3000 miles.

 

3,000 - 5,000 seems a lot more reasonable. That's what I've always done with all my domestic cars.

I was just perplexed by the 10,000 mile suggestion in the owner's manual.

Now, onto the next question - is it reasonable to think I could change the timing belt on my own? I'm mechanical savy and have done all of my own car repairs short of rebuilding a transmission. I can't imagine this would be too difficult of a job - especially with a Chilton's manual. And, when the job is done (by me or someone else) should I change the waterpump? Typically I don't change my waterpumps every 60,000 miles. LOL.

 

Anyone?

 

This is where I do get confused. My owners manually says 105,000 miles or 7 yrsfor the timing belt unless above normal wear and tear is done on the vehicle. I know the pre-7th gen civics all recommend at 60,000... but it seems they now recommend this service at 105,000. BTW, Vital, you may also find it odd that honda recommends changing the oil filter every other oil change in the owners manual also (odd and something I would never do). And, when you do change the timing belt, they recommend changing the water pump... but I don't see why changing the belt at 60,000 if that's not what is called for, unless someone can clarify why Honda recommends 105,000 and that is not what we should be doing. I could see changing the water pump at 105,000.... but not 60,000.

 

All this stuff about 10,000 miles on the oil and 20,000 on the filter is solely to create low "maintenance cost" numbers for J.D. Powers. Toyota got burnt with it when their 7500 mile interval caused a lot of their V6's to not even outlast the warranty.

Ignore it and go with a 3000 - 5000 mile schedule and your engine will last a lot longer.

If you're changing the timing belt yourself, doing the water pump only every other time would make sense. But if you're paying someone to do it go ahead and change it every time so you don't have to pay labor to go back in if there's trouble with the water pump later. Also there's a tension roller (about a $50.00 part) on the timing belt which should be treated similar to the water pump.

 

Thanks for all the replies, guys. This forum is very helpful!

In my own admission, I have been following the owner's manual for the oil changes. Typically we let it go 7 - 8,000 miles between changes and do the filter at the same time (have done that for the past 30,000 miles). I'll change that schedule right now. From now on, it'll be every 4,000 miles for the oil and filter.

Regarding the timing belt, I'm going to read what is recommended in the owner's manual. If 105K is the recommendation, I'll do the timing belt and water pump at the same time. If it's a 60K mile recommendation, I'll do the belt now, then the belt and pump at ~120K.

 

When did the Civic engine go to a timing chain?