timing belt?
Q. I am buying a 2001 honda civic lx and I have heard a lot of things about the timing belt. And what happens if it goes bad. But I don't know how to check to see if it has been changed or not just by looking under the hood. Help Please
Asked by Griffin - Thu Oct 12 08:29:24 2006 - - 6 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Just assume that the timing belt has not been replaces, and replace it yourself based on the recommended mileage interval, which I believe for the Honda Civic is 110.000 miles. It may be less so check with the manual. You don't want to risk having an old belt for over 150k miles because if it breaks, then it can break other engine parts, bend valves, etc. and it will surely break your bank account to fix the damage.
Answered by Lawrence H - Thu Oct 12 09:30:06 2006

When is it the best time for a car to replace its timing belt?
Q. I have a 2003 Nissan Sentra 2.5 limited edition sedan. It has just exceeded 20,000 miles, and it is 5 and half years old. I don t use it that much, but to use it to complete weekend errands. So I am wondering, when is it the best time to replace the timing belt? Some say that even though the car has low mileage, a period of five or six years old should be the right time for which a timing belt should be replaced. Is that appropriate?
Asked by chemistry_nerd - Tue Jul 1 00:31:40 2008 - - 5 Answers - 0 Comments

A. If it aint broke, don't fix it, it doesn't have enough miles to even think about it. The timing belt is enclosed and not subject to dry rot. The best time is when you get about 80 thousand on it, or you have to change a water pump. I have a drive belt on my Harley, subject to dirt, rain, sun, and a little abuse, and it's doing fine, in about 40 thousand I,ll change it, timing belts are the same. I just changed the water pump on my daughters 97 neon and it's got 60 thou on it and I left it alone, not a crack, thread, or wear I could find.
Answered by mycoldfeet - Tue Jul 1 00:54:50 2008

What do you have to get changed when changing timing belt?
Q. I got 2001 Honda Accord LX V6. Some mechanic was honest enough to tell me that it my V6 does not have drive belt, so I'll know other mechanic who tells me that I have to get drive belt changed with timing belt changed is trying to rip me off. However, what else do you need to get changed with timing belt? Is water pump a must?
Asked by goin g to olym - Fri Mar 28 19:59:32 2008 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. No drive belt. However, it is recommended that you change the waterpump and thermostat while in the front of the engine.
Answered by diablito_181 - Fri Mar 28 20:07:34 2008

What causes the hydraulic timing belt tensioner to fail?
Q. What causes the hydraulic timing belt tensioner to fail on a Toyota 1KZ-TE engine?
Asked by lil_me - Mon Mar 31 11:33:20 2008 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I'm not a mechanic but I have owned 5 Toyotas brand new that has gotten as much as 211,000 years on a 1993 Toyota Camry LE sedan that could have lasted longer if my wife hadn't insist on a 2005 toyota highlander 6 cylinder AWD kust like all the SUVs she & her sisters claimed made them feel safer. Some important lessons learned: #1 Changing oil at least every 5,000 miles and using genuine Toyota filter, #2 Getting service from qualified mechanic, #3 Using only genuine TOYOTA parts particularly in the engine area, #4 Labor is not cheap and all parts do have a service life that eventually normal wear and tear will result in failure, #5 Draining & refilling ATF Fluid every 25,000 to 30,000 miles. When I recently got my timing belt, water… [cont.]
Answered by dvskv - Mon Mar 31 17:53:48 2008

At what mileage does a timing belt change is recommended on a Pontiac Sunfire 2003?
Q. What is the recommended/(usual practice) mileage at which a timing belt change is recommended/mandatory on a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire? Also, what is the normal mileage interval on changing the Transmission fluid on 2003 Sunfire?
Asked by captain_insano9 - Tue Oct 9 12:56:06 2007 - - 2 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The Timing belt should be done at around 80,000 miles. It should be listed in your owners manual. Also, the transmission fluid I recommend being done at 30,000 miles. This is a great thing to do to extend the life of your transmission greatly!
Answered by italy_coolfun - Tue Oct 9 13:03:19 2007

My car is making a noise from timing belt area. What can be the cause of it?
Q. My timing belt slipped and was replaced. However, it is now making noises from the timing belt area when the car has been driving for 20 to 30 minutes in warm temperature. I had the timing belt, idler pulley, and tensioner replaced already at the dealership. What can still be the problem? ANybody know why it is still making a noise from there in warm temperatures of above 60 degrees after the car has been driven for 20 to 30 minutes? I mean there is nothing left i can change right?
Asked by tou2yaj - Fri Apr 27 16:38:21 2007 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Could be your water pump bearings (assuming it's driven by the belt). What kind of noise is it - squeaky, rumbling or ...?
Answered by Seopard - Fri Apr 27 16:43:15 2007

How do I fix the timing belt on a sewing machine?
Q. I have an older model Singer machine where the bottom thread bunches up on the underside of the sewn material. I have been told that it is the timing belt that needs to be adjusted. I want to do this on my own. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.
Asked by only_one_rv - Sat Mar 3 20:49:46 2007 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The cause of thread bunching up on the underside of the seam is NOT the timing belt. It is the upper tension that is too loose, allowing the needle thread (not the bobbin thread) to "throw" loops that are too big. Increase the tension dial (on the front of the machine near the take-up bar that moves up and down as you sew) and see if that solves your problem. Most home sewing machines should have the tension dial set between 3 and 5 for normal use; lower numbers for thin fabrics and higher numbers for heavier. Also be sure your bobbin is threaded in its case correctly. I would not recommend fiddling with the timing belt yourself. If your machine is "out of time" the result will be the needle hitting the "hook" or the bobbin case, [cont.]
Answered by Robin K - Wed Mar 7 13:58:32 2007

How do you get the timing right when replacing the timing belt on a 1997 Ford Ranger?
Q. I replaced my timing belt and based on answers from previous questions my timing is off. I followed a Haynes manuel and lined up everything. On the cam I matched the symbol on the pulley to the symbol on the housing, and did the same with the oil pump. I also made sure that the number one piston was in Top dead center. Is there something that I justed completely looked over, or some trick that I dont know?
Asked by thekeenster78 - Tue Jan 23 12:54:39 2007 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. I'm believe you are talking about a 4 cylinder engine 2.3 liter. After you line up the marks like you did you should make sure you have the slack side of the belt towards the tensioner side of the belt. If you don't put the loose side of the belt towards the tensioner when you tighten it up it will pull the cam of a couple teeth.
Answered by steve m - Tue Jan 23 13:16:39 2007

If a timing belt is changed incorrectly, what problems to the engine should I expect?
Q. At 100K, I had my 100K tuneup including a timing belt change. After serious issues, another mechanic let me know that my previous mechanic inserted a key incorrectly. The key rubbed down and fell out. My car had major problems at 130K miles. It had trouble getting through the first 3 gears. The previous mechanic paid for another mechanic to fix. Now I am curious, what problems should I expect from this error? I ran the car pretty hard for 40K miles. Thank you for your help.
Asked by Kenneth C - Tue Mar 6 21:08:29 2007 - - 7 Answers - 0 Comments

A. i own a repair shop,and if the second mechanic corrected this ,you may not have any problems from it,but it would pay to be careful in it,i know running one and it out of time isn't good for it,about the only thing id be watching right now would be oil consumption,and any heat rising on it,i have gotten them that was run out of time,and sometimes later on you may get a burnt valve from it,but this is only sometimes,but keep a good eye on it,it can cause valve problems from it,and over heating problems with it,,not to mention the possibility of it maybe blowing a head gasket,but i wouldn't drive around worried about it right now,all you can do is drive it and see,good luck with it,maybe you,ll get lucky,and it will be alright from here on… [cont.]
Answered by dodge man - Tue Mar 6 21:20:56 2007

How hard is it to replace a timing belt on a 2000 Honda Civic?
Q. I have not done any real work on cars for a number of years. The occational alternator and oil changes. I would like to know if I could pull off doing this timing belt thing on my own. Is there that much to it? Does it take any wierd tools? Or would it be easier to pay someone to do it. I have all the basic tools for regular maintenace. Does the car need to be re-timed when I am done?
Asked by chokscarlett - Tue Oct 9 10:32:57 2007 - - 9 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Well it is a time consuming job, but not terribly difficult. As the engine is transverse mounted there is very little clearance in which to work and you have to be a little bit of a contortionist and have a reasoable number of adapters and extensions to get into the tight places. There may additionally be a couple of TORX fittings, though I cannot recall if Honda uses those in place of Allen fittings where flush mounted hands are required for clearance. Also, as I recall, Honda recommends changing the water pump when you change the belt, as you have done most of the work to get access to it when you do a belt change and it would be a shame to have done all of that only to have to be back in there again should the water pump fail. As… [cont.]
Answered by anonymourati - Tue Oct 9 11:16:51 2007

What was your experiense with timing belt change for Subaru Impreza?
Q. This is a major maintenance I got to do and I'd like more information on it. How important is it to do it early, versus being 10k to 30k over recommended mileage? Was it fixed right away or did it need adjustments afterwards? How did the car feel with the new timing belt? Did you select a particular brand of a timing belt? What other repairs did you do simultaneously to cut down on cost? That should keep you busy for a hot minute dear answerer!
Asked by centurion216 - Mon May 5 23:07:02 2008 - - 4 Answers - 1 Comments

A. Depending on the climate that the car is driven in , I would say that the timing belt should be replaced no later than 90,000 miles. This is to prevent having a timing belt failure that could cause more damage... Especially on a 2.5 DOHC engine, I believe that those are considered "interference" engines and if the belt brakes during running, you will most likely bend several valves and that requires cylinder head repair... There is a possibility that the water pump is driven by the timing belt and if so the labor would be less to replace the pump at the same time as the timing belt as compared to doing it at a different date by itself... As far as adjustments, the timing belt has a self adjust feature and should not require adjustment.. I… [cont.]
Answered by Bigg Dogg - Mon May 5 23:41:34 2008

What is the cost for replacing a water pump and timing belt in a 96 Honda passport?
Q. I've been leaking radiator fluid for a while now and took my car in. The mechanic said I have a bad water pump. He quoted me $560 to replace it and said its a good idea while hes in there to replace the timing belt for an additional $175. I have a couple questions, first do i need to replace the timing belt? I want to sell this car ASAP so the least amount of work I have to do the better. OK second part of the question... I called a mechanic all of my coworkers and our company uses, they quoted me $200 more than the original price but the accounting girl slipped me a name and number of a competitor under the table. She said she used to work for them and they would do it much cheaper because they are REALLY slow right now. They said… [cont.]
Asked by Ash - Tue Dec 19 19:06:59 2006 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. If your trying to save money and sell it for a profit , fix the pump yourself for $30
Answered by 1diputs - Tue Dec 19 19:21:21 2006

What happens if your timing belt breaks?
Q. When i had my oil changed last, my mechanic said i needed to have my timing belt replaced because of the mileage on my car. (about 93,700 miles) What does the belt do? How much is a new one? And what happens if it breaks?
Asked by musically-inclined - Tue Jan 3 21:51:15 2006 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Basically the timing belt connects the crankshaft with the two camshafts. This allows the valves to open allowing air into the engine at the right time. If the belt breaks then the crankshaft along with the piston and rod assembly will still move but the valves will be still. This can cause the piston to collide with the valves which can cause damage to the pistons, valves, and the entire head in some cases. There is a chance of nothing getting damage though. There are interference and free-wheeling engines. The difference is that free-wheeling engines has a space between the top of the piston and the bottom of the valve so if the belt did break then the valve would not hit the top of the piston.
Answered by Derek S - Tue Jan 3 21:58:31 2006

What causes a rough idle and engine light after timing belt and water pump change?
Q. My car is a 1997 Toyota Avalon that was recently tuned up. It is a car in perfect mechanical condition until recently when I had my timing belt and water pump changed. The engine light is on and the idle is rough. An Auto Zone diagnostic test determined that there is misfiring in cyclinders 1,3 and 5. Could this be related to the timing belt change, and will it cause damage to the engine? Of course the mechanic that did the work has closed shop and disappeared.
Asked by Wayne M - Mon Dec 31 00:21:14 2007 - - 7 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Yes, that sounds exactly it. Especially since it involves all the cylinders on the same side of the engine, which I'm guessing is a V-6. Sounds like they slightly miss timed the cam for that set of cylinders. As far as damage goes, if it hasn't hurt the engine yet, it probably won't. That doesn't mean you should continue to drive it. I'd look into having someone re-do the timing belt.
Answered by blackcobra487 - Mon Dec 31 00:26:08 2007

How can you tell when a timing belt has went out in a car?
Q. I think my car's timing belt has went out. A shade tree mechanic has told me that was the problem but I am not sure. I have a Chevy Malibu 1998 model.
Asked by trina24 - Wed Mar 21 20:17:33 2007 - - 11 Answers - 0 Comments

A. If the timing belt has slipped (jumped a tooth), you will lose power and be hard to start, if you can even start it. If the belt went completely out (broke), your engine won't even run. THe timing belt connects from the crankshaft to thecam shaft and keeps the valves opening and closing at the correct time in relation to the pistons. Once it breaks, the starter may sping the engine but the valves aren't opening and closing. At the worst, if a valve is extended and you do not have hydraulic lifters, you could end up with a bent value and broken piston. I've never seen it happen but my cars have been hydraulic lifter Chevys. As far as replacing it. THe hardest part is simply getting to it. With a good tool selection, it will generally… [cont.]
Answered by mark h - Thu Mar 22 02:36:22 2007

When does a timing belt need to be changed on a Volkswagen Polo?
Q. I have a 2005 (55 plate) Volkswagen Polo 1.2 petrol, it has done 67,000 miles. There's no mention in the service book of when the timing belt needs to be changed. Also, do you know if the engine has a timing belt or timing chain? Thanks people!
Asked by Fork UK - Sat Jun 20 13:12:28 2009 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Good morning... Right, in a VW (POLO) the usual time to change the belt is around 8000/9000 KM (which is around 5000 MILES or more) So i suggest to change yours, or at least let your mechanic to have a look at it! i know there is a brand (PEUGEOT) where you can change the belt around 12000 KM (around 74000 MILES) because the belts are much stronger and of course different engine... Hope that will helpful for you! Sorry but I am not english so i do hope i didn't do and mistake!!! Good luck
Answered by ittebellu - Sun Jun 21 05:27:32 2009

What parts should i change in order to completely do a timing belt change on an '01 mitsubishi galant?
Q. I own a 2001 mitsubishi galant es, 4 cylinder, and i just reached 150,000 miles and would need to do a timing belt change asap because the vibration of the engine is increasing and the change of the belt is needed at this point. I would however like to know what are all the parts, besides the water pump, that i need to change when doing the timing belt change. Thank you for your help.
Asked by marc j - Thu Feb 4 19:50:49 2010 - - 1 Answers - 0 Comments

A. Replace the balance shaft belt and timing belt, check the water pump weep hole for coolant leakage because if you have it that far down it would be easier to replace. It was rare for the idler or tensoner bearings to be bad but check them for bearing roughness anyhow of course.
Answered by buddy_236 - Thu Feb 4 20:10:01 2010

How much should it cost to replace a timing belt on a new style 99 Jetta GL 4 cylinder automatic?
Q. I just got an estimate from the dealer and they said $750 and it would take 4 days... they said they had to replace the water pump at the same time, too (even though there is nothing wrong with my water pump, I just need to get the timing belt replaced for maintenance purposes- it has not broken.) It seems like a very high estimate to me, but I called another dealer in the area and they said the same thing. Hopefully someone can give me some advice as to what it should cost. :) Thanks! Please note I know very little about cars. :) Is it cheaper to have it done somewhere other than the dealer? What is the dealer cost vs. an independent repair shop? They gave me this estimate without even looking at my car.
Asked by Emily - Wed Aug 22 10:26:15 2007 - - 4 Answers - 0 Comments

A. The reason they want to replace the water pump is that they have to pull the water pump to replace the timing belt so they don't charge any extra for the labor just the parts (which they mark up) but it is recommended to get it done since it will likely need replacing eventually, cheap insurance. Timing belts replacement is something that annoys me as well and when I buy a car I always try to factor that cost into my buying decision, especially on used cars. If you call three or four different auto mechanics and the price is roughly the same you'll know that's about right. Most mechanics use a guide that tells them how long a specific job will take and bill accordingly. If you are feeling REALLY adventerous you could find out if… [cont.]
Answered by smf_hi - Wed Aug 22 10:39:56 2007

After replacing the timing belt on our Honda Odyssey, the AC and Heat stopped functioning, related?
Q. After replacing the timing belt on our Honda Odyssey, the AC and Heat stopped functioning. Can this repair cause any problems with the environmental controls? The blowers still function but the AC does not give cold air any longer and the heat also appears not to be generating any heat. Is there something the mechanic could have touched to effect these functions while replacing the timing belt, the watter pump and the related flush?
Asked by Daniel N - Sun Nov 11 12:27:36 2007 - - 4 Answers - 1 Comments

A. its possible he might have disconnected the wires to the compressor to do this and forgot to hook them back up,that would be the only reason they wouldn't be coming on at all,sometimes they do have to loosen some things to get them out of the way ,but they usually put them back, id take it back to the one that did it their responsible for it,good luck on it.
Answered by dodge man - Sun Nov 11 12:36:09 2007

What are the steps to change a timing belt on a 2002 Nissan Maxima?
Q. How difficult is it to change the timing belt on a 2002 Nissan maxima? What tools and steps do I need to take? Can a guy with basic tool and automechanics skills do it or does it need to go to the nissan shop?
Asked by R.M. - Thu May 22 23:15:34 2008 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments

A. No steps, no timing belt. The Max like all late-model Nissan's uses a Timing Chain, not a belt which never has to be serviced.
Answered by Mark F - Fri May 23 12:38:02 2008