I'm getting the timing belt changed on my 1998 Civic next week. The car has 177,209 miles on it and I have no clue if the belt has ever been changed (I got the car when it had 152,000 on it).

Is there any reason to go easy on it when I get it back or should it be good to go?

What should I look for to tell if something wasn't done right? I don't have a lot of faith in the mechanic that I'm using, but I have no one else to go to.

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I've never had a timing belt changed before. Also, the car is running smooth as silk right now and the "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" saying has been haunting me ever since I made the appointment to have the belt changed.

 

The "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" saying does not apply to this belt. If that belts snaps, there is a 99.9% chance something bad will happen. Something along the lines of valves hitting the pistons. Not good.

In regards to break-in times, I don't think there is anything on this one.

 

I agree the , "if it ain't broke don't fix it" shouldn't apply in this case because an easy change could save you a lot of money in the future. There's no way to tell except to look at it or if your cam is setting off check engine light chances are you need to change it. Is your check engine light on, if so I would suggest to change it immediately. It should be a pretty easy change for your 98 Civic. Here's a timing belt for around $18 if you need one:
[IMG]http://s3.amazonaws.com/fcp-product-photography-us/public/assets/products/35791/product/TB224.jpg?1302033487[/IMG]

Best of Luck!

 

Got the timing belt and two engine mounts replaced for $420.90.

I knew that the two lower mounts were shot, but they replaced the uppper/lower ones on the side of the timing belt. I'll probably have the other two replaced in July when it needs an inspection sticker.

I read that worn engine mounts can cause a transmission to act funny. My transmission has always slipped when shifting from 2nd to 3rd, but the slip now seems A LOT less severe. Also, its always made this whistling/crackling/fluttering sound when I give it gas and when it makes that shift, but on my drive home from the shop, I didn't hear this sound once