Was just at the dealer for my yearly oil change and was told I need to have the timing belt replaced at a cost of $2350.00. The vehicle is 7 years old, but has less than 16K miles on it due to working from home. They said it's needed due to years, not mileage, but would that still be the case with such low mileage?

They also stated that I need a fuel injector cleaning service at $290.00.

Would much appreciate your input. Thanks in advance.

 

That is the standard recommendation. There are many opinions on the matter (because the timing belt replacement is quite expensive). We know that the recommendation is conservative; that is, the timing belt will generally last longer than 105,000 miles or 7 years, We know that the V6 engine in these vehicles is an interference engine; that is, if the timing belt breaks while in operation, there is a chance the valves could crash into the pistons, potentially causing the engine to be not worth repairing.

Most people accept the manufacturer's recommendation on miles/time. Some people don't, either from economic constraints, or simply forgetting (harder now that these vehicles have a "Maintenance Minder' function). It is somewhat of a gamble, and becomes more 'dangerous' as time and miles go by beyond the recommendation.

You must decide for yourself how much risk you can bear. I have been driving Hondas with this issue for more than 20 years, and I do change the belt at the recommended mileage; I have never driven fewer than 105,000 miles in a 7-year period, though.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
When you're used to privilege, equality feels like oppression. Always applies.

 

Nope nope nope. Just go by the mileage...good grief.....

 

As to “They also stated that I need a fuel injector cleaning service at $290.00”, unless you are getting a check engine light of some type, just tell them no. Over the years of Honda products, and probably a million plus miles, I’ve never had to use any product to clean fuel injectors (or carbs). I do try to use Top Tier gas if I can in my area. One of my Accords went 275,000 miles.

 

After 3 years(10 years old), do a visual inspection of the belt, if the belt is like new, then do not touch it, if micro cracks appeared on the belt, then only replace the belt because time affects only it. Fuel injector cleaning service is 100% a scam, it makes sense only after 200k miles.

 

Altair has an important point that I should have made; the passage of time does not degrade the other parts that are generally replaced when a timing belt is changed, so while it may need replacing, the water pump and other parts do not, if they haven't gotten to the mileage limit. It is important to look for the micro cracks, as even a belt about to fail may look essentially brand new.

Good luck!

RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
Recently I was found guilty in court of being egotistical. I am appealing.

 

A quality timing belt starts to delaminate with mileage, and when it dries out over time, it starts to crack. Only a poor quality belt breaks without any signs of wear.

 

Umm..Do you realize the belt is inside the engine?? By the time you half-kill yourself removing the cover to be able to look at it, you would be dumb to NOT replace it at that point.

 

In my case since I'd already have to pay my mechanic just to open it all up, I'd be having him replace everything. However if it's just the owner doing all the work, I guess you could open it up and re-seal it. I'd rather be safer than sorry and get the peace of mind by replacing everything...

 

6 bolts of 10 mm take 5 minutes to unscrew and 7 minutes to tighten, so it will take no more than 15 minutes to inspect the belt.

 

Thanks. So if the timing belt delaminates with mileage, does it also delaminate over time? Similarly, the suggestion that tires be replaced after 10 years due to potential breakdown in rubber.
I wonder how the 7 year time limit came about; was there some study done that showed after seven years time there was a significant breakdown in the timing belt? I'd sure like to see that study, if it exists.

 

Such a study does not exist, by setting intervals for belt replacement, Honda makes a time reserve to be 100% sure that nothing will happen. Last year I started a list of cars on our Copart that had their first belts snapped.

 

In my experience, the timing belt tensioner starts leaking before the timing belt starts deteriorating. The belts I’ve replaced have been in still decent condition even after 120K miles and 15 years (ya i know, pushing it)…

 

Studies on timing belt life do exist but many are proprietary. Bel selection goes way beyond "if it fits it ships". One such study in the public domain can be found at Automotive timing belt life laws and a user design guide. I'm a mechanical engineer so I'm familiar with the parameters that go into belt selection.

 

Our 2017 RDX has 46000 miles on it. It is my wife’s commuting vehicle. Based on my experience, I won’t do the timing belt replacement before 2027. You should be fine for a few more years with such low mileage.

 

Just in case you didn't know, there is a second parameter for measuring when to replace the timing belt; in addition to mileage, the belts delaminate over time, even without miles being driven. In a similar way to the rubber on tires, simply existing in the form it is produced starts that clock running, whether it's driven or not. Frankly, there's a very good chance the belt will last 10 years, and you should be safe. The reason there's a question is that *if* the timing belt breaks during engine operation, the piston path can be entered by the valves. In such a case, it can be catastrophic (as in, requiring an engine replacement). It is worth noting that Honda's replacement recommendation based on miles and/or time does include a fair amount of safety factor. But the owner is the one doing the gambling.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
"I think it's safe to say Pandora didn't have too many suitors offering her oral sex." -- Brad Simanek

 

altair47. Nice work! Thanks so much for keeping track of this. Looks like all snapped belts were on very high mileage vehicles, which gives me some (and I do mean some) confidence that I can go another year or two without replacing. I had planned on selling and buying new in probably two years.

 

Thanks, I should have started this monitoring earlier but I didn't have access to carfax before.