On the surface, your Honda automobile or SUV may appear commonplace. However, a highly complicated driving machine with thousands of moving parts is hidden beneath the bodywork. It is crucial that these moving parts work in harmony with one another in order for the engine to operate properly.
Your timing belt’s responsibility is to ensure that the crankshaft and camshaft rotate at the same time. The timing belt keeps these two parts in synchronization and in good working order, which enables the engine’s valves to open and close at the proper times.
Every 60,000 to 90,000 miles, the timing belt on your Honda Odyssey needs to be replaced.
In This Article...
Why Your Engine Timing Belt Needs Replacing
A number of symptoms will start to appear when your timing belt begins to wear out. The engine can make a ticking noise. You’ll note that the timing of this sound is different from the ticking you hear when the temperature in your car varies dramatically.
Engine misfires, oil dripping from the front of the engine, and an inability for the engine to turn over are other symptoms.
Risks of Not Replacing Your Timing Belt
Many people, especially novice mechanics, choose to modify the timing rather than change the belt. There are occasions when timing needs to be changed. Timing belt breakage could occur if the belt needs to be replaced rather than timing modifications. If your timing belt snaps while the automobile is in motion, power will be abruptly cut off. The rapid loss of power steering and acceleration might be hazardous on the road. Additionally, this can harm your engine.
How much does a Honda Odyssey timing belt replacement cost?
Belts don’t cost a much by themselves. Since many pieces must be removed in order to reach the belt, labor is where the true expense lies. Your best chance is to shop about and compare prices, but be prepared to pay anything between $409 and $919. (including parts and labor).
How much does a new Honda timing belt cost?
One of your Honda’s engine’s most important parts is the timing belt. Unfortunately, a lot of drivers fail to notice it. The expense of replacing the timing belt can be high; it normally ranges from $500 to $1,000.
How can I tell if my timing belt needs replacement?
Your timing belt may be significantly damaged if you hear a ticking sound emanating from the engine of your car. Your car’s timing belt is connected to the crankshaft and camshaft of the engine through a number of pulleys. The connecting rods of the engine, which are connected to the pistons inside the combustion chamber, provide power. The rocker arm assembly and cylinder head valves are controlled by the camshaft, which delivers gasoline to the combustion chamber. The exhaust manifold is the next point of exit for the released gases. Your car’s timing belt may start to twitch inside the engine when it begins to wear out. This can potentially be a symptom of low oil pressure.
When should a 2015 Honda Odyssey get its timing belt changed?
A Honda Odyssey’s timing belt typically has to be replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. It’s wise to replace it sooner rather than later, closer to 60,000 miles, if you frequently drive in areas with unusually high or low temperatures. Asking your mechanic to inspect the water pump, timing belt, and pulleys simultaneously when it’s time to replace your timing belt is also a smart move. Because of the way various components of your engine interact, they frequently need to be replaced at the same time in order to ensure that the entire system is operating effectively. It’s necessary to maintain the proper condition of your timing belt because it performs a vital purpose in your engine. The crankshaft and camshaft, as well as the engine’s piston and valve movements, are all under the mechanical timing of the timing belt. Your engine won’t operate correctly, and it might not operate at all, if none of these components function at the appropriate moment.
Do I need to change the timing belt and water pump?
Many modern engines now use timing belts instead of timing chains. The appropriate sequential operation of the crankshaft, pistons, and valves is guaranteed by both belts and chains. Compared to chains, belts are more efficient, lighter, and quieter.
Unless your vehicle has a time chain, which doesn’t often need repair, both parts are essential to the vehicle’s correct operation and should be replaced on a regular basis. See how these parts function below, along with information on the internal parts of the timing belt and water pump system that are related to them.
For information on when to replace your water pump and timing belt, consult your owner’s manual, or stop by and speak one-on-one with one of our service specialists. In general, whenever the timing belt is changed, the idler pulleys, tensioner, and water pump should also be replaced. Since the water pump is often driven by the timing belt, now is the ideal time to replace it. In addition, the manufacturer advises it.
A WORD FOR THE SMART. When requesting a “over-the-phone estimate for replacing a timing belt and/or water pump,” use caution. Less reputable businesses will offer you what appears to be a wonderful price to entice you in and not disclose the “full picture” (see above). The vast majority of the time, it is cost-effective and complete maintenance to replace the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and idler pulley (where equipped) all at once. This is because, if one element needs replacement, the others are typically not far behind. For details, consult your owner’s handbook.
Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware)
Let’s get to it: The less honest repair shop provides you a lowball estimate to replace the timing belt or the water pump with little to no labor and little to no cost for parts. When they get you in and your car is disabled on the hoist, they dial your number and ask, “Guess what you need? You guessed it—you need the complete timing belt and water pump package, which also includes the new idler pulley and new timing belt tensioner that your quote ought to have originally included! Hello!
Because you frequently need to remove the water pump in order to access the timing belt, the labor cost difference to perform both units at the same time is practically nonexistent in most vehicles! When compared to having to pay all that labor AND the expense of a water pump in the not-too-distant future when the water pump blows up, the cost of most water pumps is small.
In our humble opinion, it is misleading not to provide you with an accurate estimate of the total cost to replace the water pump, the timing belt, and any other small ancillary parts at the same time.
How long does it take to change the water pump and timing belt on a Honda Odyssey?
It does need some engine knowledge to replace a timing belt and water pump, so if you don’t have much expertise working under the hood, we advise leaving it to the experts. However, if you prefer making your own repairs and restorations, you can do it yourself and avoid paying hefty repair expenses in the process.
Starting with the tools you’ll need, we’ll walk you through the replacement of a timing belt and water pump step by step.
What You’ll Need to Replace the Water Pump and Timing Belt
- bags made of plastic and a permanent marker (for labelling nuts, bolts and parts you remove from the engine)
- leather gloves
- new antifreeze/coolant
- jar or bucket (for collecting coolant)
- Set of Allen keys
- a fresh timing belt
- Wrench socket set
- Tip-Ex, white chalk, and white paint (for marking the cogs for simpler reassembly)
- a fresh water pump
- tools for driving screws, such as Philips and slot drive
Step 1: Preparation
Get your car and work area ready first. Depending on your degree of experience, changing a timing belt and water pump can take anywhere from one to three hours, so make sure you have the time and space necessary. Before you begin, carry out the following:
- To reach the undercarriage beneath the engine, jack up the front of the automobile.
- Prepare all of your tools, and have bags and a pen on available to name and store the engine parts you remove.
- To stop the engine from spinning while you’re removing the timing belt, put the engine in drive and use the handbrake.
- Before starting, make sure the engine is entirely cool.
- Since coolant will spill out when you remove the water pump, place a bucket underneath it. To find the pump, see your car’s manual.
Step 2: Removing the Belts
You must first remove the fan belt and power steering belt because they are located next to the cover that protects the timing belt and water pump. To remove the belts, take the following actions:
- To access the timing case and crankshaft pulley, do the same with the power steering belt by moving it aside.
- The fasteners holding the alternator in place should be loosened. The fan belt can then be removed by lightly tapping it.
- Crankshaft pulley: Loosen. To access the engine and remove the bolt, you’ll need a long wrench arm.
Does it make sense to replace a timing belt?
Timing belts are important, but unless your owner’s handbook specifically says to, there’s no need to repair them on a regular basis. Between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, some automakers advise changing the timing belt, while others don’t. Many timing belts available now can last 100,000 miles or more before they need to be replaced.
Before a timing belt breaks, is there a warning?
You should keep an eye out for certain telltale warning indications that your timing belt is likely to fail, such as ticking noises, difficulty starting the vehicle, piston misfires, exhaust smoke, excessive vibrations, and oil leaks.
Will my engine be destroyed if my timing belt breaks?
First of all, how could you possibly predict when your timing belt will fail? Your car cannot function at all without a timing belt, which is really fairly basic. The automobile will quickly break down if the belt breaks while you’re driving, and your engine could sustain extremely catastrophic damage. In order to take action before it is too late, you need to be on the lookout for warning signs and symptoms of a weakening timing belt. These include your engine making loud clicking or screaming noises, misfiring, and not starting at all.
Timing belts are they covered by Honda warranty?
Every new Honda vehicle comes with a 3-year, 36,000-mile Limited Vehicle Warranty and a 5-year, 60,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty as standard equipment. A typical new car warranty should cover timing belts and other regular engine components.
Honda has a Limited Warranty on Replacement Parts that is valid for a year even if you have to pay for them out of pocket. For replacement parts bought from and installed by a Honda dealer, labor and component replacement are covered by the guarantee. The worldwide warranty for each Honda Genuine Remanufactured Part is three years or 36,000 miles.
Is a Honda Odyssey a trustworthy car?
The Honda Odyssey has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, placing it third among minivans out of 8. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $547 average annual repair cost. When compared to all other vehicles, the frequency and severity of repairs are both about average.