Getting close to hitting that 100k miles... approx 200 short right now at 99800 or so. Definitely hesitant to drive my car anywhere out of the city. When did you guys change your belt for your V6? I know a lot of places suggest 60k but who did otherwise?
When your maintenance minder comes up with a 4 it's time to check valve clearance. At that point, I'd take a close look at the tensioner for function and wear. I believe the 4 shows up at 105K miles in the US, so it shouldn't be long for you.
Has anyone ever heard of a timing chain or tensioner failure in a 7th gen Accord? I tend to think of timing chains as solid, money-saving devices that last forever even if there's a bit of chain stretch over time. And yes, I have had a timing belt fail on a low clearance engine*
60k miles? That was on the 4th gen 4 cylinder engines. The interval for the 7th gen V6 is 7 years/105k miles (whichever comes first). I waited 8 years, but the car only had 87k miles on it at that point. I would change the belt, water pump, and tensioner at least, if not more.
Don't worry. Plenty of people go way past the specified interval and then trade the car off never thinking twice about it. My 16 year old civic with 139K had it's original belt on it and it looked like new when I took it off. It's not like yours is going to fail as soon as it hits the mileage interval. They set those intervals short for a reason you know.
I'm in the exact same boat. Like literally bought mine with the same miles, I'm at 155k now and I'm buying time I guess... I recently found the previous owners insurance card and googling yielded me their home business. Left a message a month ago and no reply back, I might try again... it's a pretty big question I'd love to know. They could have just "put it off" and offloaded the car, I totally could see someone doing that and saving $700. They were only 1 year and 30k miles over for me.
If I don't hear back soon I'm just gonna say (FORNICATE) it and do it. Another 100k miles will probably extend it to the remaining lifetime of the car or my ownership and the peace of mind is worth it.
I did my 8th gen at 95k like the manual said. DON'T go past the recommended mileage/age. That's skating on thin ice. There's a reason for the recommended change, as stated by highly skilled engineers.
105k or 7 years What ever comes first. Better safe than sorry. Most likely the belt won't snap since Honda use really quality parts, but you never know
I got my '06 used with about 102K on it in September 2011. I replaced the timing belt in September 2012 with about 119K on it. So it was only about 6 years, but it was over in mileage. I didn't see any serious signs of wear or leakage from the tensioner.
o well. my car is at almost 9 years old. like 40 miles short of 100k now. i scheduled it with my mechanic for Sept 14th as that was the week i was free on. At least with your inputs, i feel less anxious driving it
I bought it used with ~80,000 miles on it and also unsure if the timing belt had been previously changed. Our 2001 Odyssey went to over 150k on its original timing belt before I had it changed so I wasn't too worried about it.
In any case, while I had the car in a few ago to address the VCM issue, the tech did mention that the timing belt tensioner was starting to make a fuss so I'm actually taking it in tomorrow. :thmsup:
For the guys living dangerously, at least examine the belt. Remove the upper plastic cover and mark the belt with chalk. Put a socket on the crank pulley bolt and turn the engine by hand, examining till the mark comes back around. This way you know if it's coming apart or if any teeth are missing.
1st timing belt + water pump change @ 98k miles after 4 years -> done at Honda for $1100
2nd timing belt + water pump change @ 208k miles after 7 years -> done myself for $200 on parts only
Go over to the 8th gen forum and find a guy who blew his engine because he let the timing belt service go, I believe he was at 130k+ miles. It is not so much that the belt might snap, it's more the hydraulic tensioner starts leaking and the belt loses tension. Once the hydraulic tensioner fails completely, belt gets loose, jumps teeth, engine gets out of time -> BOOM! What fails when is a matter of driving + weather condition. The last hydraulic tensioner on my engine started leaking at about 190k miles and hydraulic fluid dripped down all over the side of the oil pan. Honda doesn't make timing belt change recommendation to make money, it's for your own car's good.
You are more than welcome to push your luck. Some people think spending over $1000 or something close to it on an older car is not worth it, so they dump the car shortly before or after a huge service is due, then go out and buy another new car with tons of payment on it... it's your choice.
definitely wasnt trying to let it go by was only thinking about it in the past 10k or so. Never realized timing belt is much short lived than the drive belt. Anyway, i had scheduled appt for sept 14 so it will be done. besides the last issue i had with a failing relay... nothing is wrong with the car, ever. :3 so hope to keep the car for much longer
Drive belt stretches out already after 30k miles... Just look at the indicator on the auto tensioner. I'm not sure what you are saying. I change drive belt every 60k or so. Timing belt lasts 105k. Don't forget the water pump. Failed water = overheating engine = warped heads = super expensive repair.
You guys amaze me that are just shrugging their shoulders at changing the timing belt.
We're talking MAJOR engine damage not "IF" but "WHEN" it busts!!
So it'll cost you MUCH more than the $800-$1,000 to have the belt changed.
Let me give you another perfect example, just watch this video,
This is a 7th gen V6 engine swap video, but the reason for the engine swap is the timing belt jumping several teeth due to failed hydraulic tensioner. The replacement engine cost only $500 but the swap itself took many hours at I don't know how much an hour. There is no way for a timing belt to jump teeth because of the design of the cam gears with flares to hold the belt in, unless it's installed wrong with a tooth or two off to begin with or the tensioner fails causing the belt to get loose.