My Civic has 280,000 km and the timing belt was replaced at 135 so I'm wondering if I should replace it and how important is this. I'm pretty good with mechanical stuff so is this something I can do myself if needed?

 

Typically timing belts should be changed every ~60k miles...(leave it up to you to convert to km). you could remove the cover and inspect it. A warn belt would show visible cracking where the belt is more stretched like where it rounds the timing gear/s. Being that its an interference engine its better safe than sorry. A slipped timing belt could total the head at least.

 

What about if I can change it myself?

 

its not a hard job to do, you should be able to change it yourself
here is a link to the online downloads for honda manuals, it will show you good diagrams and instructions on what to do.

http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/

 

I guess it wouldn't be a hard job if you had the right tools and things were not broken/seized up. The pivot pin on the altermator was seized so that took an hour plus to get out, tap and cleanup. I tried to loosen the crank pulley but you definately need a chain wrench unless someone knows of another method. I tried a strap with no luck. I also found that the bottom left motor mount was toast and of course the nuts that are welded inside the frame broke loose so I had to take a sawsall and cut the bolts. I still don't know how I'm going to fix this. Any ideas? I also figured that since I'm doing all this I might as well change the other three belts. I already have about 10 hours into this job not including running around for parts. Now I'm waiting for the motor mount, belts and a solution for the broken motor mount bolts.

 

I searched around for a solution regarding the broken nuts but there wasn't one. I had to cut a hole through the frame. I just put a little hockey tape on the nut and forced it into the boxed end of a wrench and positioned it above the hole for the motor mount, I used locking nuts. I welded up the hole once I was done. It actually went pretty smooth. I spend about 2 hours doing this and putting the rest of the belts and parts back together. Hopefully I did everything right.

 

changing the timing belt is a must. i do it every 80k miles on my 97 civic. have already taken it to 190k plus and changed it twice

 

its time.. get it replaced now, you'll end up spending much more later

 

this thread was created 6 months ago in december 2009. quit bringing back old threads and like his post saids, he replaced it already

 

If you read the whole post you will see that the belt has been changed.