has my timing belt been changed before?
 

ok,

here's the thing. i bought this used 1996 honda civic with 150,000 miles automatic and no service records. i'm not sure if the timing belt has been changed before. i don't want to have it done unless i need to. so i would like to find out if it has been changed before. I took off the upper timing belt cover and looked at the belt. the belt looked ok. the words "honda" were not printed all over it which is what the original belt should look like right? does this mean my belt has been changed before? i saw a few printed numbers on the belt...what do they mean?

is it a safe bet that it had been changed before? i mean you can't go 150,000 miles without doing it right?

i will probably do it eventually but i'd like to know how much time i have before it snaps.

If there is ANY question, you should proactively change the timing belt, water pump, and belt tensioner. Better to pay now than to have the belt break later and introduce your pistons to your valves...

x2

Yes they can easily last that long depending on your climate, but no you cant always tell just by looking at it. The belt is held together with strands embedded in it. If it's a honda belt and you know where the dude you bought it from was generally located, maybe you could call a nearby dealer and ask them if they have service records for that vin.