My TL-s just clicked over 90k. I have several veteran acura cohorts that claim even though acura recommends 105k service interval, I should have mine replaced at 90k. This for me is a dilemma. I want to maximize my dollar and peace of mind at the same time. On my previous cars I wouldn't care about preimptive maintenance but this car was kinda expensive. I also run this car hard occassionally, thats why I bought it, I wanted something not bland and entertaining.

I drove some nissans over the years and they have timing belt service as often as 60k of course know this doesn't help the desicion process.

At this point I'm unsure what to do and am looking for some input.

 

Won't hurt to 120, i would be on the edge of my seat after that..

best thing to do..pull the cover off an inspect it..see if it's worn. if it's really worn, replace it, if not, drive it a couple more miles.

 

I agree. Inspect the belt if you can. Im currently at 106K myself but Im not driving it much for the winter. I think fsttyms1 has about 190K on his belt but that seems extreme for me. Anyway 90K seems too soon. As long as the belt isnt frayed or cracked you should be good.

 

you cat really inspect it. if your going to take the time to take every thing off to look at it you might as well replace it. Plus what are you looking for durring the inspection??

Oh and i have 198,000 miles on my timing belt!

 

How's the interior holding up after all those miles? Is your leather OK? Have you had any upholstery redone or replaced?

 

Do you guys think the cold weather (Montreal,Canada winter = -20 oC)
will have an affect on the timing belt ???? My is 2002 TL-P and about 67kMiles
on it .Wondering when to change the timing belt !
Any input , guys ! Thanks

 

Pretty good. starting to get some cracking on the 2 front seats (what can be expected after 200k) every thing interior original

It gets cold here like that (probably not as often but it does and mines made it to almost 200k now) i would recomend teh rated time of around 100k

 

Do as I say, not as I do.

 

I dont want to be slammed for saying its a waste to do it that soon, so err on the side of saftey. My own car i wouldnt (and havent) waste the time and $$ that soon

 

I may change it myself this summer. I'm a good shadetree.

So your saying you wouldn't be scared to bounce it off the rev limiter at 110k with the original belt!

I have a friend with a corolla that he absolutely abuses with 180k on the original belt. Living dangerously in my opinion.

 

these are from my hommies h23 prelude.. @ 120k miles. broken timing belt... we ended up doin a h22 frankenstein on this motor.. if you cant see the pics thier on this page

http://www.angelfire.com/un2/wilp99/...dex.album?i=20


this shit was a mess in there. 4 different sets of bent valves.. ... change the timing belt..

 

I bounce off my revlimiter all the time

 

I was gonna say the same. I only occasionally worry when I hit the rev limiter and I'm at 119K. If I can make it 20 more months my '00TL will be paid off, so I plan to put that timing belt money into the down payment on my next vehicle.

 

If your interval is 90,000, your next belt change would be at 180,000. Think you'll keep the car that long? Even if you did, and had a 105,000 interval, how much difference is there between 180k and 210k?

 

I generally drive my cars 5-6 years.
86 aerostar van 287k
96 nissan PKU 175k
91 dodge diesel pku 250k

 

you can bounce that engine off the redline or let her idle, if that belt goes, tata engine, it won' t matter the rpm as much. todays car's are built so well that alot of old schoolers haven't caught up. Mine was done by the book by the previous owner, if it hadn't, i wouldn't have done it and waited for the water pump to go.

 

^^ In this case it's not how *well* the car is built; it's HOW the car is built. The TL's engine is an interference engine. The technical term is "interference engine," because the valves open so far into the cylinders (they "interfere" in the piston space) that if the valve timing isn't perfect, the valves can be struck by a piston.

The "interference" design actually increases the engine's efficiency, because the wider the valves open, the more "stuff" you can get in and out of the cylinders. But when the timing belt breaks on an interference engine, the pistons and valves can collide, and then it's "bye-bye valves." Most Hondas and Nissans use interference engines. (http://www.cartalk.com/content/colum...00/May/09.html)

Non-interference engines can lose a timing belt with no damage because the pistons and valves could never occupy the same space, so old-school vs. new-school doesn't matter.

 

I think your refering to my part about old school, and what i meant was the quality of the build is much better today than even 10yrs ago, meaning belts are much better, etc.

 

Oh, then we agree. Maybe I misread that.

 

... maintenance schedule say replace timing belt at 7yr/105.000 miles whichever comes first.

I have only 32,000miles but coming up to 7 years in March. How much $$ is it to replace?
At only 32k should I even worry about it or is it something that somehow deteriorates on it's own without much useage. I know nothing about these issues, don't even know what a timing belt is. At this time car runs and sounds great. So far averaging around 4600miles/yr and I think that will be even lower/yr in future. Appreciate opinions. Thanks
everfeb99TL

 

Its a all labor job. Most dealers charge around 800 to do it.
Id be more inclined to change it due to the age over the miles. Miles dont worry me, but age does. Id get it changed around teh 7year. Call around to your independent shops to see what they charge

 

well, the timing belt service at the dealership is quite expensive. Although, i can tell you many horror stories of sideshop's doing t-belt's on our cars. I've had cars from Pep-boys come in with the side motor mounts held in with 1 bolt half way threaded, no lower covers, belts NOT TENSIONED..you name it. These people also pay a pretty penny to have it done, then pay quadruple the original amount to have it done the right way. Not including the damage that the incorrectly installed parts did.

I disagree with fsttyms with the age over mileage statement he made. Even though 7 years is a long time, 105,000 is when it is due. With only 32k miles on your car, IMHO, I doubt your belt is even showing signs of wear. If you had 85k on your car and your gaining on your 7 year mark, then i'd say yeah.

The more use the belt gets, the more revolutions the belt spins, the more it will wear. You could recieve a bit of dry-rotting if the car sits and stays cold for very long periods of time. But as long as you drive it everyday to where it's heated up to Normal Operating Temperature(NOT). I think the belt is just fine.

To be sure, send it over to your local dealership and have them check it out.. They may charge you an hour of labor.

If you want, you may also pull the upper timing cover and take a picture of the belt and post it on here. I would easily tell you by looking at a picture what kind of shape the belt is in.

So good luck.

 

Thats where i dissagree with you. Rubber with age dries out no matter how its used. Aged rubber (like his) is more succptable to dry rot/breaking than one that has alot of miles on it in a shorter time

 

Yeah if not warmed up to N.O.T every day. As i said..

 

Doesnt matter if its spins and heats up. Over time rubber dries out. Its the short cycles that are hardes on it, Just like every thing else in/on a engine. Longer runtimes are better than short.

 

The only belt failure I can remember in our family was an 1982 sentra at about 170k. This car should have been on 60k interval and it was unchanged I believe. This ocurred about 1990.

 

Yes, over time the belt could dry out, yes. Due to it not being driven and it staying stationary( And believe me, that would probably take a very very long time for that to happen). If it is heated up to normal operating temperatures every day, It is far less likely to harden and rot. Remember, this type of rubber is far different than what tires are made of.. Tires crack and dryrot because they are exposed to everyday outside conditions.. The Timing Belt is completely sealed where no dirt or debris can get to it. The outside of the belt isnt the problem..The root of the cracking and rotting in a timing belt stems from it's teeth on the inside of the belt that the camshaft drives. The teeth of the belt get the worst abuse from it being forced upon by the teeth of the cam sprocket. That's why I say, the more the engine turns, the more the belt will wear. It will begin to crack in the teeth then start rotting on the outside of the belt. Usually when a belt snaps, there is 1 tooth on the belt that has taken so much abuse and actually breaks off, therefore the rest of the teeth are knocked off it's course and ultimately there is nothing for the cam sprocket to grip and the belt sheers in half.

The 7 year thing is mostly a "cover your ass" thing for Honda. 105,000 miles even may be a little early, i'll admit it.. But please, it's your own call. All belts wear differently. Only advice to give you is have it inspected every now and then whether you inspect it yourself or have a professional do it.


good luck.
timing belt 101..haha

 

I'd agree that age isn't everything when it comes to rotting rubber. A car which is garaged in a non-urban environment is exposed to far less ozone and other stressful elements...so I would expect the timing belt could be replaced based on mileage...within reason. I would't worry about doing a belt on a car after ten years of 10,000 mi/yr driving.

 

Don't get me wrong, Age does play a factor. But i personally disagree with Age over mileage. That's the only point i was trying to make.

To cure all of the curiosity.. Just have it inspected. Simple as that.

 

Thanks for the help guys. Appreciate your comments.
Wish it was as simple as just having it inspected. But I'm a good 4 HOURS one way from nearest Acura dealer and even if I made a special trip in to see them and had them take a look at it I wouldn't know one way or the other if it was in good shape or not or whether they were telling me the truth or not. As I said in my first post in this thread...I basically know nothing about cars, don't even know what a timing belt is...
BUT....my brother-in-law is a stock car racer, does all of his own work and once worked at a local dealership (Chrysler) as mechanic and service advisor. I'll see if he thinks he can do it. If he thinks he can is there ANYTHING in particular we should be LOOKING FOR or is this really complicated and better left to an experienced Acura tech?
By the way, of our 32,000 miles probably 1/2 are highway at 60-70 mpg, the car has always been garaged, regularly maintained, problem free except for a little warrantee work the first couple of years of ownership. Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it.
everfeb99TL

 

I agree with FSTTYMS but the suggestion to inspect the belt is correct. Every GOOD mechanic will recommend the same thing. I remember every Honda dealership saying that to me. It was easy on the old Accords and Preludes. At about 85,000 miles I inspected the belts and found little sign of wear but replaced them every 90.000 miles.

 

Fort Frances, ON?! You might be better off just going to an Acura dealership in Minnesota. I drive from Windsor to London for the major service (every 12,000km) but simple oil changes I get done at the Honda dealership in Windsor. I'm sure the Windsor guys can do it ... >50% of the parts on a TL are the same as a V6 Accord. I'll price it out and compare if the Honda dealer charges less than the Acura dealer (maybe less ... but I won't have to drive 200km one way).

 

Hey Derrick...thanks.
After my post yesterday I "googled" "timing belts". Wow...I now know more about these things than I ever wanted to. The articles I read pretty much agreed that mileage was more of an issue than time. Except if driving in very hot year round climate.

BUT...I just re- checked the Maintainance Schedule in O. Manual and discovered.....
"CANADIAN OWNERS...follow the main. schedule for SEVERE conditions" which says the Timing Belt should be replaced every 60,000mi./96,000km or 4 YEARS!! Shoot.

Yea, To the dealers I'm 212miles to ThunderBay, 240 to Winnipeg....and I had previously checked out Minnesota Acura dealers and the nearest to me is in the Twin Cities..I think a good 5-51/2 hour drive one way plus trying to find them. Never thought about the Honda dealers though...there's one in Kenora about 140 miles and I'll check Minnesota.

I think what I'm going to do for the time being is....at some point soon I have to go to ThBay on another matter so while there I'll get dealer to INSPECT timing belt only. If they say it needs a new one...that's a major expense...plus with lots of other expensive maintainance jobs coming up soon...plus with the worry about tranny (being so far from a dealer in the unlikely event something happens)(and the tranny warrantee expiring in 2 months so if something did happen I'd have to pay through the nose to replace it)...I have to give some thought to trading her in. Hate to do it. Hoping to keep it many more years as it currently runs really good. My wife does love this car. I like it but not attached to it. So this could be problematic LOL.

Anyway...thanks for all the help and info guys.
Any other opinions or advice is more than welcome. Otherwise I'll update when I have any news.

everfeb99TL

 

Yep, extreme cold destroys rubber much quicker. I am surprised that honda does not move to the timming chain system.

Don't you have a private mechanic that works on only import cars there? They will be a third less then what dealers charge.

 

Agreed, find a independant mechanic to do this. Its not that hard of a job, and any one with mechanical ability can change it. It doesnt have to be a dealer.

More noise, more weight.
Every one worries so much because of a few horror stories. If they wernt that reliable Honda would NEVER use them. They have the most reliable engines out there. Period. This is just like the same thing with CAI's someone knows someone who drove into a puddle the size of a lake and destroyed their engine. Sure its possible, but it doesnt happen that often.

And for the record, in my over 15 years of playing with and building engines, ive seen more chains break than belts!

 

optomos...fasttimes1...
Update...small town with small Ford, GM and DC dealerships here. No imports. A rough guess about 99% of vehicles here are Big Three trucks LOL. Not many imports kicking around so no mechanic specializing in imports.
I just got through to my brother in law the Stock Car racing mechanic/plumber/electrician etc
and he says he COULD inspect it but gave me the name of a mechanic he consults when something comes up with his car that he can't figure out. Apparently very good but I'd never heard of him before. So I'm taking my TL to him Monday morning for timing belt inspection. Will proceed from there. Here's hoping he finds it in good shape.
Thanks again for all the help. Really appreciate it.
everfeb99TL

 

A mechanic doesnt need to specailize in improts to do the job. If hes a compitant mechanic he can do it with out issues..

 

I presented this very question to my Dealer (Camco Acura in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). In the past Honda advised that the belt needs changing at 100k kms. The dealer printed out a fax advising that this was not correct and Honda has released a statement noting that 160k is more appropriate. After seeing the bent valves in the link provided above, I would not risk it myself. I am at 92k and will change it when I save the cash.

Note sure if this applies to the TL but my former car, an Accord, I replaced the belt and was advised to replace the water pump as it is co-located and should be done at the same time as preventative maint.

My 2 cents...

 

More detail please... i bought mine used and i dont know if thy replaced or not..... I bought after recommended 105k scheduled tune up....

i run pretty strong... Currently at 117,xxx.....

 

Thats tru, My cuzin a mechnic sed to do the timin belt, tensioner and water pump, all at the same time, because if they go after u still have to pay for the same labor to do it....