I have a 96 3.2 TL with 199,000 miles. The timing belt/water pump was replaced at 104,000 miles by an Acura dealer. (February, 2003) I currently drive this car to the bus stop and back (all highway miles) and put on about 7,000 miles a year and keep it garaged nights and weekends.

I like this car and it has served me well in the 5 years I have owned it, but I'm unsure about the timing belt/water pump replacement that is due. I currently have 95,000 miles on the current t.b./w.p. and will soon have 7 years on them.

I'm not wanting to spend the money on a vehicle with this age and miles - can I get away with driving this car another 2 years or 15,000 miles without doing this major maintenance item?

A few more facts - I'm 60 years old, drive like an "old person" and live in New Mexico, which has a dry, moderate climate that is easy on cars. (you see lots of old beaters tooling around here)

 

I'm no expert but I think that if you maintain the car well and don't abuse it then it should easily last you another few years. The only problem that I know of about timing belts is that they might snap out of nowhere. There were members who drove 140k or so miles on the original belt and nothing happened, but you never know.

I'd say just drive it 'till it dies.

 

Unless you trade the car in it will last many years,...if you do the maintenance. Timing belts are preventive maintenance and replaced before they break, because if they break the engine is damaged; pistons hit valves.

Yes, the car may run to 2-3 more years, but the timing belts are already overdue. It's both a time and mileage issue; 7 years or 105K miles. You are already 5 yrs beyond the time limit for belt replacement. I think you've had your "bonus ride" already. Cost of timing belts is <$1000 including water pump, idlers, and tensioner. If timing belt breaks, car will have only salvage value, perhaps <$500. Maintained the car should give you 5-10 years of service w/o problems.

good luck

 

If you are willing to total out the car when the belt snaps, I'd keep driving it. Just keep in mind that when the belt snaps, the car is pretty much worthless.

 

I plan to keep driving it with the belt I currently have - I got caught in a hail storm last summer, got my $ from the insurance company and have SALVAGE written on my title, so my dimplemobile isn't worth a whole lot anyway.

If the belt does snap, then I'll donate the car to whomever takes it. Its been a fun ride for 5 years so far...

 

You should be fine for another few years or 15k miles. The time thing (7 years) is really not as big a deal. I have two Legend coupes that are garage queens and did not have the belts done until recently- both had about 15 years on the belts and were like new still- granted one car only had 32k on it and the other 54k so they were not there on mileage yet.
My father also has a '96 2.5TL that I had him get the timing belt done on this past summer- the original belts as well at 13 years old. But again, he only had 55k miles.
One other point to mention besides the belts is the water pump and t-stat. They should also be changed after being in service for many years.

As long as you are not racing around at close to redline all the time (which it sounds like you are not), you should be fine.

 

"You should be fine" doesn't really necessarily apply to every case. I had a belt that I changed at 100K on a car and it looked new, I changed another belt on a car with 108K and I was terrified what I saw when it came out; thankfully I did it then and not later. I think that every car is different.

About the water pump, it's not really a maintenance part. People typically just replace it when they're already in there replacing the belt because they save a lot on labor by doing it at the same time. This last time I did a t-belt, I didn't replace the water pump. When/IF it leaks, I'll replace that.

 

That's the way to go!

I'm at 246K and could really use a new radiator but I'm just pushing it to the end. I know the car isn't really worth much; if anything really major happens, it'll just be time to get a new car..

 

This is true- every case is different no doubt. But with the Original poster's question and the value he deems his car worth- he is probably safe in taking the chance. Now if it were like my father's TL that is in excellent shape and low miles, it made perfect sense to get it done asap because of the time factor.
True as well on the water pump, but with these engines (honda's in general) it is not worth having a water pump or t-stat in service for a long time (say 10-12+ years) and risk it failing and the car overheating. Blown head gaskets are no fun

 

I'm kind of low on the food chain as far as automotive terminology goes - what is the t-stat?

 

Thermostat