Hi all,
I'm sorry if this topic has been covered numerous times. I changed my timing belt and water pump yesterday (did not even know that the timing tensioner had to be checked and replaced if necessary). I'm going to college, and I try to minimize the cost. I went to autozone and bought the duralast timing belt and water pump. I had a local mechanic replace it at 200 total labor plus the 121.27 for the parts. Now, my question is, am I on the safe side? or do I have a good chance of the timing belt slipping... I read on one of the forums, that a guy had all sorts of timing issues when he went for a duralast timing belt. Should I be fine for now ? I don't have the money to do the whole thing again. I did not know, I should have used OEM parts... any suggestions..

 

? If the tension is good it should hold a little while or forever ? Found out how long the warranty is on the belt, keep all your recites for the belt and the labor. Change it out in the future.

 

no warranty on the timng belt. that was the only one in stock, had to replace it... cause I was getting a little scared due to high mileage (107500 mi), and no record of new timing belt.

 

Should be ok, just don't drive like a maniac or drive hard causing it to jump any teeth, otherwise you'd really have a problem. You should be fine though, granted your mechanic is one that you feel is knowledgeable and does good work.

 

i'm a little worried about the timing belt tensioner though... .. i did not mention it to him and i did not know abt it until i read abt it .... does he have to spend the same time changing the tensioner ..

 

Yep, he'll have to go back in and take everything apart again to change the tensioner.

 

I would only use Honda OEM parts for internal engine components and anything that is going to be used on the motor itself.

Duralast parts IMO are not nearly as good as OEM parts. Alternators, fuel filters etc are fine, but not engine components.

What kind of mechanic did u take it to? Any mechanic who is experienced KNOWS that you replace the timing belt tensioner & water pump when you do the timing belt service.

You might as well take a loss, go buy the OEM parts (including the tensioner and water pump) and have them put on. Then you KNOW you're safe.

 

that's probably going to run me another $500 + or so ... I will try to do it soon when i save up ... He is a local mechanic.. and the one who fixed my car has been doing it for 7 years, the other for 20 yrs (when i asked them earlier) .... .. i checked in on him this morning to find out and he told me that he checked it and it seemed fine... he told me that if it's breaking down it makes a noise, and i asked him if the timing belts were ok. and he said the OEM parts are more expensive but don't have a huge difference in comparison to after-market parts. ... i saved up a lot to get this car and if i ruin it, i'm done..

 

If you're handy, you can get all the OEM parts you need + the helms manual for ~$250.

 

I guess if you gotta pay to have it done I can see your point about not changing them for OEM parts.

He should have really asked you first to change the tensioner though. Why not ask him to do it for cheaper since he didn't give you the option of changing it when he had it all apart?

I'm not saying they're inexperienced, its just its blatantly obvious to change it... Just like when you do a clutch job, you replace the throwout bearing even if its not making noise cause it is so time consuming just to get to the part. Same thing with the tensioner. I would ask him to do it cheap if I were you.

He's right but there still is a small difference. In the future, be sure to get the OEM parts. Any Honda tech will tell you the same thing. Use Honda parts and it will last damn near forever with regular maintenance.

Is it a VTEC motor?