Timing Belt Questions

honda belt technical specs are very tight. correct belt with correct installation has less than 0.000001% chance of failure within the service interval stated in the manual. yes, that chance of failure increases once time/mileage are exceeded, but even if it goes up 10-fold in the next 12 months, that's still only 0.00001% chance of failure.

it's your call. presumably the real decision is whether the car's worth spending money on before the old timer kicks his clogs off for the last time. if the plan is to sell the vehicle in that event, then doing the belt will help enhance the resale value. if it's staying in the family, i'd leave it for a while longer.

Timing belts are aged not just by miles on the car, but also due to temperature variations, idling, dust, and severity of driving. This question comes up a lot here. Plus the group does get reports of failed timing belts. It is true that there is a good risk of serious engine damage with a failed timing belt. The reason is your Honda (and almost all Hondas) use an interference engine, where the pistons can smack and effectively destroy the engine valves if timing goes out of whack due to a failed timing belt.

I feel by far the consensus is to change the belt per the maintenance schedule and sleep well. No one can really say what risk you're facing without testing that is more expensive than the labor and materials for just changing the belt.

For a V-6, $850 is not bad. You can shop around at private import shops and see if you can do better.

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Don't you think Honda engineers know better when to change it than the shade tree experts here. If it breaks the engine will be shot. Do you want to take that chance. 800-1000 seems to be the dealer going price for belts, water pump, etc. The water pump should be replaced at the same time as the belt because if it goes the same parts have to be removed and it will be another $800.

I think that is a very high price. Go to an independent mechanic.

There is a radio program that is generally about repairing cars that has a database of mechanics across the country that people have used and recommend. You might want to look at that.

I was just in the same situation-- Accord V6 EX, 58,000 mi and 71/2 years. Prices varied from $810-$850 which included water pump, coolant and all drive belts. Got it done for $750 (summer special). MLD