To timing belt or not to timing belt...

[Decibel]

I finally went through the records on my '91, and it turns out that the timing belt was replaced an 60,000 miles in 1998. I just talked to the dealer that did the recent 90k service, and he said that there wasn't really a time constraint on the timing belt, it was more about milage. He also said that the service interval was 105k miles. The owners manual states that the timing belt should be replaced every 90k/6 years.

I know that manufacturers will often change replacement requirements once they get some experience with cars in the field, so changing from 90k to 105k doesn't surprise me. What I'm not so certain about is the time requirement. I'm not too worried right now, since it's theoretically only 1 year over-due, but I certainly don't intend to wait until 185k to replace it, either.

 

[NetViper]

Most people who change their belts out after they are long long overdue still say the belt looks perfectly fine. However, if it does snap, you are looking at a potentially HUGE repair bill.

 

[Decibel]

Yeah... what I'm most interested in what it looks like in cases like mine... low milage but still and old belt.

Good news is this means I should be able to make it to NSXPO. :>

 

[SKB NSX]

I bought my '94 in Feb '05 with 51,000 mile on it, so it was 11 years old. I drove it for 4 months, (4,000 miles), and since I was having lots of other work done, had Shane and Mark at Autowave replace it. The belt looked new, but, yes, it's a huge bill to rpelace it. Since I was going to track the car, it was cheap insurance tand piece of mind to replace it. I'd do it again.

 

[Zennsx]

I have a 91 with 41k miles and original timing belt,when I mentioned having it replaced at my local Acura dealer the mechanic said not to worry about it until it has more miles. Im a very easy driver though.

 

[emdoller]

I have a 95 with 14K miles on it. When I purchased the car about a year ago, I asked th equestion on this website and everyone quoted the 90K/ 6 years and told me to do it.

I called Niello Acura and spoke to Bruce (their NSX expert) to get his opinion. He told me I shouldn't worry about it and stated something along the lines of "he's never seen one break".

I decided not to do it and I'm not worried about it one bit. I'll let you know if she blows :biggrin:

Ed

 

[jimmycinla]

I bought my 91 in March with 52k, original belt.
Barely drove it untill my appointment for the belt change and other stuff(over a month).
I had a timing chain break in a 67 mustang at 65mph.
I don't ever want that again.

Do it.
It's worth the "peace" of mind.

-j-

 

[emdoller]

I bought my 91 in March with 52k, original belt.
Barely drove it untill my appointment for the belt change and other stuff(over a month).
I had a timing chain break in a 67 mustang at 65mph.
I don't ever want that again.

Do it.
It's worth the "peace" of mind.

-j-

Hmmm... 67 Mustang vs. 91 Acura NSX? I'm not sure I'd compare the two :wink:

Has anyone had a timing belt break? If so, what were the circumstances? I'd love to know.

Ed

 

[jimmycinla]

Hmmm... 67 Mustang vs. 91 Acura NSX? I'm not sure I'd compare the two :wink:

Has anyone had a timing belt break? If so, what were the circumstances? I'd love to know.

Ed

It was "the" car to me then, more than the NSX to me today.
I was 17 and it was a 67 fastback and it wasnt a cheap fix. Probably relative to the NSX for me today, cost of repairs wise.
Either or its worth the replacement to avoid the damage.
-j-

 

[Tom239]

This topic has been discussed at length here.
See for example this thread.

Note also that breaking (cords severing) is only one possible failure mode.
Sometimes the belt remains a continuous loop but a bunch of teeth come off,
stopping the show just as decisively as if the belt had severed.

 

[Decibel]

I bought my 91 in March with 52k, original belt.
Barely drove it untill my appointment for the belt change and other stuff(over a month).
I had a timing chain break in a 67 mustang at 65mph.
I don't ever want that again.

Do it.
It's worth the "peace" of mind.

-j-

Damn, I've never heard of a timing chain breaking. How many miles?

That's why my `78 Cougar now has a double-roller. Next time I rebuild it I might well just put a gear set on it.

 

[Vytas]

You can't check to see if a timing belt is good. It may look new but it's not. Time is more the enemy than mileage is on a timing belt.

 

[Zennsx]

You can't check to see if a timing belt is good. It may look new but it's not. Time is more the enemy than mileage is on a timing belt.

What evidence do you have to back this up?

 

[Vytas]

Heard it time and time again from many qualified technicians. Even Pat Goss, a top tech on Motorweek, states this. Honda puts a mileage AND time interval for their timing belts because they believe that to be the safe life expectancy. If time wasn't an issue, it would be mentioned.

A timing belt may not necessarily snap. The teeth can sheer off which will do the same damage. It will also deteriorate over time and go through a lot of heat cycles over time. Just because it looks "like new" doesn't mean it is new. You can't see what's going under the skin of a timing belt. You'll only know when it lets go.

This is just my opinion and I firmly believe in it. This subject has been discussed on NSXPrime in much detail already.

 

[BobMc]

This has probably been answered before, but I couldn't find it. My timing belt has been changed in 1999 ('91 NSX), so do I need to change it after 6 years or 7.

Was there a newer design for the timing belts for the 97+ years so they can go 7 years, and if so, wouldn't the timing belt that was replaced in 1999 have used the newer design, thus it can go 7 years, or is the 7 years based on the manufacturer's experience?

Obviously, I could go 7 years, but I would like to follow Honda's recommendations.