Many motorists may not know timing belts have a limited lifespan and that the vehicle manufacturer lists a recommended replacement interval. Apparently, Toyota engineers were more generous with combustion chamber clearances than Honda engineers.Ĭonvincing a customer to replace a timing belt that has not yet failed takes salesmanship - and education. With Toyota, there is less risk of additional engine damage because the only Toyota interference engines are the older 1.5L Tercel, 2.4L Pickup and 1.8L Camry and Corolla engines. Regular belt replacement is especially important on Acura and Honda engines because almost every one of these engines is an interference design! The only exceptions are the 3.2L V6 in the 1998 and newer Acura SLX models, and the 3.2L V6 in 1994 and up Passports. That is why timing belts should be replaced at the recommended interval. A belt failure on an interference engine almost always results in one or more bent valves - or worse. On interference engines, a timing belt failure is really bad news because there is not enough clearance for the valves to clear the pistons if the belt snaps. That is a lot of money to most people, but postponing the recommended maintenance can cost them a lot more! The total job can easily cost $500 to $600 or more depending on the vehicle. You do not want to do this job twice, and most water pumps have about the same lifespan as the belt. It is also a very good idea to replace the water pump at the same time if the pump is mounted behind the belt. The belt itself may not be that expensive, but the labor to change it is typically about four hours. Many motorists will put off a timing belt replacement because it costs so much. Replace Timing Belts at the Recommended Service Interval In both cases, the belt has to be removed anyway to make the other repairs so there is no extra labor required to replace it. But extensive cracking or deep cracks are not.īelt replacement is also recommended anytime the cylinder head has to come off of the engine, or when replacing a water pump that is driven off the timing belt. Regardless of mileage, any timing belt that shows obvious damage such as frayed or exposed cords, damaged teeth, hunks of rubber missing, deep cracks, excessive surface cracking or severe glazing should be replaced without delay! Small surface cracks on the ribbing is considered normal. That is why Honda, Toyota and most other vehicle manufacturers usually recommend replacing the timing belt at a specific mileage interval (see below). Belts that still look like new on the outside may be dangerously weak on the inside and on the verge of failure. Or it may not even make it to 60,000 miles depending on operating conditions, load and rpm.Ī visual inspection will not tell you much about a timing belt unless it is really bad. If the belt is not replaced before total failure occurs, it will fail sooner or later. The cords are under tremendous tension, and eventually the combination of constant flexing and heat causes them to weaken. The internal cords prevent the belt from stretching and jumping time. The fact is, any belt can fail if the reinforcing cords inside the belt become weak and break. Though new car timing belts last longer than ever before, the same cannot be said for timing belts in older engines - even if the vehicle manufacturer does not publish a recommended replacement interval. The risk of belt failure goes up sharply once a belt surpasses its recommended replacement interval, which is typically 60,000 miles for belts in older vehicles (those built before 1990 to 1998), and 90,000 to 100,000 miles or more for newer vehicles. But belts can and do fail - usually with little or no warning. Valve timing and ignition timing (if it reads off the camshaft) also remain steady because timing belts do not stretch. With rubber timing belts, noise is seldom a problem even at high mileages. Play in a gear or chain style cam drive can cause noise, retarded valve timing and/or ignition timing depending on the engine design and application. Gears develop play (backlash) between the teeth, chains stretch and belts weaken. With overhead cam engines, it is a timing belt or chain.Īs the miles add up, the cam drive wears the same as any other engine component. With pushrod engines, a gear set or chain drive usually spins the cam. Whether you own a Honda or a Toyota, one thing all engines have in common is some type of cam drive system. Replace Toyota and Honda Timing Belts and Chains Copyright Replace Toyota & Honda Timing Belts and ChainsĪuto Repair Library, Auto Parts, Accessories, Tools, Manuals & Books, Car BLOG, Links, Index
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