I have a 2000 Civic LX which has done 75k miles. I was told by the dealer to have my timing belt replaced as it is more than 7 years, even though mileage is less. Should I replace it now or wait for 105k miles? It is pretty expensive at the dealership, at around $500. At the same time, if it is a must do now, I can think about it. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

I think you can drive another 25k miles before replacing, as long as this is done before the car is ~10 years old.

 

also dont do it at the dealers they rob your money. do it at a local shop instead. should save you a couple hundred dollars. if you want you can pick up the timing belt from the dealers and bring it to the shop to replace. also you should look into replacing the water pump while you are changing the belt

 

I would agree though on the concept of replacing based on time as well as mileage. The car was probably made sometime during 1999 so it is very close to 10 years old now, and 7 years is about as long as you should go. If you drive until the belt fails, there is almost always major engine damage. Have a third party shop do it or do it yourself. Civic timing belt jobs are real simple compared to most other cars.

 

With a Civic timing belt it's good to err on the side of caution; they are an interference type engine, so if the belt goes you'll do damage.

As others mentioned, it's also a good time to do the water pump, and also the PS/Alt/AC belts since you have to take them off anyways.

 

i'd just do it now and get it over with. Then you don't have to worry about it for a long time. Get your drive belts checked and water pump replaced. Don't forget the timing belt tensioner. Should get a coolant flush too.

 

Do NOT do the water pump. That should last the life of the engine or at least as long as you plan on having the car. Flush the fluid, yes, but unless you have a problem with the pump don't replace it. If you go around replacing every part you can just because you're in the neighborhood you'll go broke. Just fix what needs fixin.

I did my timing belt at 90K and 75K intervals, but since you only drive 8K/yr I'd go ahead and do it now if I were you. Remember that a piece of rubber that is more than 10 yrs old and is subject to high temperature cycles is all that's between you and a couple grand in engine repairs.

 

While it should last the life of the car, it doesn't always. Better safe than sorry. A lot of people have the water pump go out.

Honda engines can last a very long time when properly maintained, and you have to take that into account when saying they should last the life of the car. The life of the car could very well be 400,000 miles or maybe even more, given that it is taken well care of.

 

Uh, there's this thing called "preventative maintenance". Water pumps can and do fail. Any mechanical part can fail.There's no reason to NOT do it because it's a huge pain to get down there unless you're already doing the timing belt. Many shops will replace the timing belt and water pump at the same time anyways for this simple fact.

This is true. Rubber wears out. Better safe than sorry.

 

What is a reasonable estimate for changing the timing belt and water pump?