Ok, here's my story. Bought used 1999 Civic (VP) April 2007. Had 32K original miles, now 35K. I understand that the timing belt should be replaced at 70K or 7 years. Do I have the work done at the Honda dealer ($$expensive?), or can I trust it to my local Goodyear mechanic, whom I dealt with for 20 years. Is there an emergency with having only 35K miles? What kind of money are we talking here?

 

Check with your mechanic. If he's used to working on Hondas I'd say just go through him. Prices will vary, dealerships typically charge $400+ but I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere. Like I said, if your mechanic isn't Honda savvy, take it to an import mechanic.

As for whether or not it actually needs to be changed, your best bet is to pop the valve cover and timing cover off and inspect the belt. Look for any signs of excessive wear, cracks, etc..