How to know when its time to replace timing belt?

[ExitSpeed]

guys, is there a way to know when its time to change the timing belt the second time, besides the miles? I mean are there any symptoms the car shows before its about to go out? any type of noice, or rattle etc.?

also, when it does go out, is it always really bad and costly to fix? can you save the car by shutting it off when you hear high metal friction etc.?

thanks

Moazzam

 

[schuey1010]

Me being no expert, I would say the following:
1. NO
2. NO
3. YES
4. NO

 

[goldNSX]

Waiting for symptoms to change the TB means saving a little bit more $ as with the first symptom the engine needs to be replaced/rebuilt too.

 

[jond]

guys, is there a way to know when its time to change the timing belt the second time, besides the miles?

Age.

also, when it does go out, is it always really bad and costly to fix? can you save the car by shutting it off when you hear high metal friction etc.?

No, when it goes out, you're in for some money. The pistons will slam into the valves. If you're lucky, you'll just have to replace a lot of valves. If you're not lucky, you're replacing pistons at I think $8,000 a piece. If the cylinder wall gets messed up, you're in for some serious money. I think a new shortblock is $30,000.

AKA, replace it when you're supposed to.

 

[nsxtasy]

Age.

Yup. Just to review, the recommendation by Honda is, for a '91-96 NSX, replace it every 90K miles or 6 years, whichever comes first; for a '97-05 NSX, every 105K miles or 7 years, whichever comes first.

Since the median mileage on NSXs is 5K miles per year, most of us reach the time interval before the mileage interval. I know some people say that the timing belt is the same for all years, so they claim you can wait till 7 years rather than 6 years. They may be right, but regardless, to me stretching the interval by one year is not the real issue. The real issue is that others are not aware of the time interval, or do not think it is important. There are many NSXs driving around with timing belts that are 10, even 12 years old or more, which to me seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Bottom line: If you don't know for sure when the timing belt was last changed, then assume it has never been changed before, and act accordingly.

 

[Jin1976]

Also don't forget to replace the waterpump too and tensioner bearing. I just had mine replace last week. Items included in the service are

T-Belt
Compressor belt
Alternator belt
Tensioner bearing
Waterpump
Engine oil service
Coolant flush
Transmission oil
Air filter
Wheel alignment after everything is done

There are other things I should have done but the items has not arrive yet

Fuel filter
New coolant hoses
New engine mounts
Oxygen sensors
Camshaft caps

 

[KooLaid]

By the time you know it's time to change the belt, it'll more than likely also be when you bend your valves when the pistons smash into the valves that will be be stuck open.

 

[goldNSX]

Also don't forget to replace the waterpump too and tensioner bearing. I just had mine replace last week. Items included in the service are

Tensioner bearing
...

Is this 14510-PR7-A01 ADJUSTER, TIMING BELT for about $90 on a 91?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

p/n is correct, but price is about $100 at discount dealers last I checked.

Regards,
LarryNB

 

[ExitSpeed]

thanks for all the responses guys. Mine is a 92.

I had the timing belt replaced at 40,000 miles, 7 yrs ago. Im at 120,000 now.
Thats 80,000 miles. So I have another 10,000 to go?

thing with mine is, I have it up for sale, and it'll most probably sell within the next 1000 miles. And I know changing the belt will not get me anything extra.

so I think iM going to wait ... I only drive it 20 miles a week now so ...

 

[Jonmarsh]

Please be sure to inform your purchaser that they'll need to do this service ASAP.

The "knowledgeable" NSX purchaser looks for a car with recent timing belt service... I did on my '96.

 

[nsxtasy]

thanks for all the responses guys. Mine is a 92.

I had the timing belt replaced at 40,000 miles, 7 yrs ago. Im at 120,000 now.
Thats 80,000 miles. So I have another 10,000 to go?

Based on Honda's recommendations, right now it's one year overdue.

 

[NCC-1701D]

I just changed my T belt in my car. 91 with 63k kms on it.

The old belt still looked new !!!!!!! not a crack in it all or even wear...I almost wanted to put everything back together the first glimpse I had at the timing belt.

I guess its peace of mind that matters.

Has anyone's timing belt snapped due to age rather than mileage???

 

[RON98]

I just changed my T belt in my car. 91 with 63k kms on it.

The old belt still looked new !!!!!!! not a crack in it all or even wear...I almost wanted to put everything back together the first glimpse I had at the timing belt.

I guess its peace of mind that matters.

Has anyone's timing belt snapped due to age rather than mileage???

timing belt dont snap due to age or milage.

they snap becuase of water pumps or tensioner bearing locking up and burn the belts till they fail.

the TB's are very very tough. if you can brake one using your teeth or any other body part i'll give you a new Boing 747 :wink:

when the water pump lor the tensioner pulley lock up, the belt is dragged instead of roll across the metal which heats up and eveturally the belt burns and snaps which results in valve train noise, a broken heart and an empty wallet.

Its good you changed your tb and water pump even if they do look new. TB is not an inspectable item. Sure if it starts fraying then definitly change it... but if it still looks good but time or milage is up, then change it out. 1700$ on a tb job is much cheaper than 10k for an engine swap not to mention mending a broken heart.

happy motoring.

Rob:smile:

 

[Michigan NSX]

they snap becuase of water pumps or tensioner bearing locking up and burn the belts till they fail.

So - the major expense of the timing belt job is the replacement of the water pumps and tensioner bearing? The timing belt changed on mine just before I purchased it in 2002. The car is running fine, but this thread is making me nervous. How far have other owners gone without it failing? I have put about 50K miles on it.

 

[goldNSX]

There are garages out there which don't change the WP and tensioner bearing with the TB. I know of at least one exemple.

 

[Michigan NSX]

Also don't forget to replace the waterpump too and tensioner bearing. I just had mine replace last week. Items included in the service are

T-Belt
Compressor belt
Alternator belt
Tensioner bearing
Waterpump
Engine oil service
Coolant flush
Transmission oil
Air filter
Wheel alignment after everything is done

Was this done at the dealer? Can you give me a ballpark figure of the cost?

 

[Sarge]

X

 

[Michigan NSX]

I had mine done right before I bought it - but that was 6 years/50k miles ago. I'm just wondering how much time I REALLY have left.

 

[sptrader]

I had mine done right before I bought it - but that was 6 years/50k miles ago. I'm just wondering how much time I REALLY have left.

I was told (at the dealer) that the T-belt can be inspected by a dealer - they could tell you, if it needs to be changed.
Like oil, it can't hurt to change it too often.

 

[nsxtasy]

Was this done at the dealer? Can you give me a ballpark figure of the cost?

The timing belt replacement, including the water pump and coolant flush, is typically $1400-1700.

The transmission fluid, engine oil, and air filter are typically part of the 30K/60K/90K/etc service (also includes valve adjustment, fuel filters, etc) for $800-1200.

 

[Michigan NSX]

Thanks, Ken, for the pricing info.

Like oil, it can't hurt to change it too often.

Oil costs me $50 to change. Thats a little different than $1,700.00 :frown:

 

[Larry Bastanza]

I was told (at the dealer) that the T-belt can be inspected by a dealer - they could tell you, if it needs to be changed.
Like oil, it can't hurt to change it too often.

The dealer does not know what he is talking about.

LarryB

 

[RON98]

There are garages out there which don't change the WP and tensioner bearing with the TB. I know of at least one exemple.

wow you gota be kidding me.

stay away like the plague.

lots of shops cut corners to give customers a low price so they get them in the door.

instead of giving a discount from their labor costs, they take it out of parts on the car... which is rediculous.

often times, i had to stand my ground for both the benifit of the customer and myself by letting them know that this is the price i can do the job and these are the parts i have to have to do this job to my satisfaction. if i change the tb on my own nsx, these are the parts i would put in.

i guess if someone get a TB job for an nsx from one shop for 1500$ and another shop for 1000$.... most people would go with the 1000$ after all the TB is changed.

if 500$ saved is from not putting in a water pump or a timing belt tensioner pulley then the shop is first to blame for not advising the customer of the purpose of the tb job and secondly the customer is being penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[RON98]

The dealer does not know what he is talking about.

LarryB

can i get an AMEN!

good job Larry, slay the myth.

tell it like it is. :biggrin: