Mike Lewis

I have 100k miles on my civic which I bought new. When I get the timing belt
replaced, what other components should I have replaced while they are
changing the belt?

mike

Michael Pardee

"Mike Lewis" <jmpj@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:11bn441dds7obe8@corp.supernews.com...
>I have 100k miles on my civic which I bought new. When I get the timing
>belt
> replaced, what other components should I have replaced while they are
> changing the belt?
>
> mike
>
>
It's controversial, but I am with the people who believe the water pump
should be changed at the same time. Some have kept the original water pump
over 200K miles, but I don't think that's the smart way to bet. It is
reasonably priced and the labor to change it once the timing belt is off is
small. Same thing on the crank and cam seals - cheap and easy at that point,
although they are a rare failure. Also the seals won't destroy your engine
if they fail, like the water pump can. My belief was sealed when a member of
the Volvo group reported his water pump seized a year after he had the belt
replaced, and it cost him bent valves. Seals optional, water pump not.

There's also a belt tensioner - two in some engines - that is probably
getting pretty ragged (the sealed bearing will sound like an old roller
skate wheel) after 100K. It is in the same price range as the water pump,
but if you can afford it the peace of mind is worthwhile.

Mike

Michael Pardee

"Mike Lewis" <jmpj@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:11bn441dds7obe8@corp.supernews.com...
>I have 100k miles on my civic which I bought new. When I get the timing
>belt
> replaced, what other components should I have replaced while they are
> changing the belt?
>
> mike
>
>
It's controversial, but I am with the people who believe the water pump
should be changed at the same time. Some have kept the original water pump
over 200K miles, but I don't think that's the smart way to bet. It is
reasonably priced and the labor to change it once the timing belt is off is
small. Same thing on the crank and cam seals - cheap and easy at that point,
although they are a rare failure. Also the seals won't destroy your engine
if they fail, like the water pump can. My belief was sealed when a member of
the Volvo group reported his water pump seized a year after he had the belt
replaced, and it cost him bent valves. Seals optional, water pump not.

There's also a belt tensioner - two in some engines - that is probably
getting pretty ragged (the sealed bearing will sound like an old roller
skate wheel) after 100K. It is in the same price range as the water pump,
but if you can afford it the peace of mind is worthwhile.

Mike

Mike Lewis

Thanks. I was definately going to change the water pump after reading other
sources. I hadn't thought of the tensioner and will get a price on it. Since
I plan to put 300,000 ( I commute 33k per year) miles on this car, I want to
keep it in good service and preventive maintenance is always cheaper than
repairs.

Mike

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:CsydnW_cupQc4yDfRVn-rQ@sedona.net...
> "Mike Lewis" <jmpj@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:11bn441dds7obe8@corp.supernews.com...
> >I have 100k miles on my civic which I bought new. When I get the timing
> >belt
> > replaced, what other components should I have replaced while they are
> > changing the belt?
> >
> > mike
> >
> >
> It's controversial, but I am with the people who believe the water pump
> should be changed at the same time. Some have kept the original water pump
> over 200K miles, but I don't think that's the smart way to bet. It is
> reasonably priced and the labor to change it once the timing belt is off
is
> small. Same thing on the crank and cam seals - cheap and easy at that
point,
> although they are a rare failure. Also the seals won't destroy your engine
> if they fail, like the water pump can. My belief was sealed when a member
of
> the Volvo group reported his water pump seized a year after he had the
belt
> replaced, and it cost him bent valves. Seals optional, water pump not.
>
> There's also a belt tensioner - two in some engines - that is probably
> getting pretty ragged (the sealed bearing will sound like an old roller
> skate wheel) after 100K. It is in the same price range as the water pump,
> but if you can afford it the peace of mind is worthwhile.
>
> Mike
>
>

Mike Lewis

Thanks. I was definately going to change the water pump after reading other
sources. I hadn't thought of the tensioner and will get a price on it. Since
I plan to put 300,000 ( I commute 33k per year) miles on this car, I want to
keep it in good service and preventive maintenance is always cheaper than
repairs.

Mike

"Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
news:CsydnW_cupQc4yDfRVn-rQ@sedona.net...
> "Mike Lewis" <jmpj@cableone.net> wrote in message
> news:11bn441dds7obe8@corp.supernews.com...
> >I have 100k miles on my civic which I bought new. When I get the timing
> >belt
> > replaced, what other components should I have replaced while they are
> > changing the belt?
> >
> > mike
> >
> >
> It's controversial, but I am with the people who believe the water pump
> should be changed at the same time. Some have kept the original water pump
> over 200K miles, but I don't think that's the smart way to bet. It is
> reasonably priced and the labor to change it once the timing belt is off
is
> small. Same thing on the crank and cam seals - cheap and easy at that
point,
> although they are a rare failure. Also the seals won't destroy your engine
> if they fail, like the water pump can. My belief was sealed when a member
of
> the Volvo group reported his water pump seized a year after he had the
belt
> replaced, and it cost him bent valves. Seals optional, water pump not.
>
> There's also a belt tensioner - two in some engines - that is probably
> getting pretty ragged (the sealed bearing will sound like an old roller
> skate wheel) after 100K. It is in the same price range as the water pump,
> but if you can afford it the peace of mind is worthwhile.
>
> Mike
>
>