By using the site’s search tool, you can find many conversations about timing chains vs. belts, but the gist is as follows:
Timing belt drawbacks include the need for routine maintenance and potential for sudden failure.
Timing chain benefits: Resilient and prone to noise before catastrophic failure.
Given how dependable the car is and how much money you’ve saved by keeping the same car for over 300,000 kilometers over the past 13 years, I believe that $1,000 for a timing belt and water pump every 100,000 miles is a small thing to pay. HOW is that even a complaint you can make?
In This Article...
Honda still employs timing belts, right?
By looking at the model year and trim level of your Honda Accord, you can typically determine if it has a timing belt or a timing chain. There are typically two different engines available in the Honda Accord model years, each with its own corresponding engine system. Fortunately, there is a helpful guide. If your Honda Accord dates back to 1997-2002, it has a timing belt. Your engine has a timing belt if you have a 4-cylinder model from 2003–2007; if you have a V6 model from those years, it has a timing chain. A 4-cylinder Accord from 2008 to 2012 will use a timing chain, while vehicles with V6 engines have a timing belt. The V6 vehicles have a timing belt from 2013 to 2017, but the 4-cylinder variants continue to use a timing chain. Starting with the 2018 model year, all the available engines come with a timing chain.
How long do Honda timing belts last?
The timing belt and water pump on your Honda should typically be inspected and/or replaced every seven years or 60,000–100,000 miles, according to the Honda maintenance plan.
Honda stopped using timing belts when?
All Civic cars from 2006 and later lack a belt. They already have a timing chain, so it won’t need to be changed. Therefore, if you’re looking for a timing belt for a 2019 Honda Civic, for instance, you’ll discover that it actually has a timing chain.
Timing belt or chain: which is superior?
Timing belts typically last less time than timing chains. Timing belts are made of rubber, which isn’t as strong as metal, but chains are made of metal, and this is the simple explanation for why this is the case. Timing belts are not weak, but they will probably need to be replaced at some point, whereas a chain can last the lifetime of the car.
Timing belts typically need to be replaced in the mileage range of 55,000 miles (about 90,000 km) and 90,000 miles (roughly 150,000 km). Therefore, a timing belt is still a very reliable and significant component of your car.
Whether your car has a timing chain or belt, it’s critical that you watch for any symptoms of wear and strain and take appropriate action. Depending on the sort of engine you have, a broken timing belt can have disastrous results. You could be better off searching to get a new vehicle if the repairs are too expensive to be practical.
Why aren’t timing chains used in all vehicles?
Timing chains are not as often employed as they formerly were. They can stretch with time, cost more to construct, and need oil to stay lubricated, to name a few. Timing chains can frequently manage considerably more powerful engines, such as those in high performance vehicles and commercial trucks, which is the main reason they are still in use.
The majority of timing chains are quite durable and will last the entire lifetime of your car or truck. But if they fail, they might collapse disastrously. Imagine a metal chain being thrown around quickly and crashing into the engine of your car under the hood. Not optimal. If timing chains break, it can be quite expensive to replace them. The timing gears will probably need to be replaced at the same time.
Timing belt durability for 15 years?
This is where all of the maintenance and replacement inconsistencies are found. According to various schedules, including data provided by the manufacturers, a timing belt typically has to be replaced after 7 to 10 years, or between 60,000 and 105,000 miles, whichever comes first.
What does a 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 frequently do timing belts fail?
You understand the significance of routine scheduled maintenance for your car as a car owner. The inner workings of your car must therefore be understood, as must the frequency of replacement for each component, such as the timing belt in your car.
What is a timing belt?
You may want to start by wondering what a timing belt is and what it does. The timing belt in your car regulates the crankshaft and camshaft rotation of the engine as well as the opening and closing of the engine valves that let gasoline and air in and out. In essence, the timing belt synchronizes the engine’s operations, igniting the fuel in the combustion chamber.
When to replace your vehicle’s timing belt
It’s critical to get the timing belt updated on a regular basis because it performs such a crucial function. Most of the time, there are no warning signs that a timing belt is being worn. It frequently just breaks. Because of this, the majority of manufacturers advise replacing your vehicle’s timing belt every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. To find out what is advised for your particular model, consult your owner’s manual.
Instead of waiting until your automobile breaks, it is more cost-effective and secure to replace the timing belt. In fact, replacing your timing belt after it breaks can cost more than twice as much. It goes without saying that it’s preferable to prevent problems with your vehicle.
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.
What is the price of a Honda timing chain?
Timing chain tensioner replacements for Honda Accords typically cost between $437 and $478. While parts are priced at $282, labor costs are predicted to range between $155 and $195. Taxes and other fees are not included in this range, nor are your particular model year or geographic area taken into account.
Why do timing belts deteriorate?
We’ve compiled a list of issues and potential causes with ProTorque to assist you in determining the cause of timing belt failure. To prevent your drives from grinding to a halt and preventing unplanned downtime, visually inspect your timing belt drives for these top 6 failure-causing issues.
1. Asymmetry
One of the main reasons why timing belt drives fail is misalignment. Misalignment can be the cause of excessive or uneven tooth wear, belt tracking, and tensile failure. You can extend the life of your timing belts and reduce downtime by inspecting and straightening your shafts and timing pulleys.
How much does a timing belt replacement cost?
The engine of your car cannot function without a timing belt. Timing belt preventative maintenance is far less expensive than waiting for it to break. O’Leary’s Automotive provides skilled mechanics who can assist if you need high-quality timing belt repair in Wilmington, North Carolina.
The camshaft and the crankshaft are two different types of shafts found in your engine. These shafts are made to start the engine cycle and deliver torque while controlling the pistons in the engines. The camshaft and crankshaft are controlled by grooves or teeth on the timing belt. This makes it possible for the engine valves to open and close precisely when necessary for efficient operation.
Timing belts comprised of chains and gears are used in some automobiles. Although these timing belts are more resilient, they need lubrication to function. The timing belts in many modern automobiles are comprised of a rubber composition. These timing belts tend to wear out more quickly but are quieter and more energy-efficient.
Warning Signs a Timing Belt Replacement is Needed
The majority of timing belts require replacement every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Because it is crucial to the engine’s functionality, the timing belt acts inside the engine. Don’t put off changing the belt until it breaks. Your engine won’t start if your timing belt breaks.
You might observe one or more of the following if your timing belt is broken or worn out:
- engine stalls
- Rumbling or rough idling coming from the engine
- lower oil pressure
- damaged pistons or valves
- the engine’s smoke