Is there anyway one can find out when to change timing belts for any car in general? I only owned honda and toyota so far. One can find from owners manual when to change it ( I guess for accords it should be around 100k miles mark). However, I was wondering if there is any way someone can guess timing belt is getting old while driving the car or by some kind of noise or something.

 

its around every 70-90k miles for hondas

you can (probably) visually check the belt for damage.... but you really cant hear/feel a difference until it breaks.

better safe than sorry?

 

There isn't any noise or anything that you'll hear from an old timing belt (until it breaks anyway). You can take off your timing belt cover (usually have to take off the valve cover first) and manually inspect it for cracks and damage and what not, but that's still not a sure fire way to be safe. Even then you should change it if it's at the scheduled interval. Chances are if the belt looks good, it's probably ok for a while, but it's a gamble. 500-700$ for the timing belt job or a couple of grand for a new engine. The interval ranges from 90K to 105K for Accords, at least up to 6th gen. Don't know if 7th is different thatn the 105K.

 

The 7th-gen 4-cylinder engine (K-series) has a chain instead of a belt. So this whole business doesn't apply.

 

5th gen the manual says 90k. sometime the ac belt brakes and that is a good sign to change ur timing belt.
Timing chain is more efficient and last longer than regular timing belt, but i'm sure at some point it need to be replaced. In one of my friends car the chain was making alot of noise and replacing it fix the problem.
just follow your manual NOT the dealer. the dealer just want your money asap.

 

How hard it is to replace the timing belt? Tools needed? Is it adviceable to DIY your timing belt replacement? I'm asking because I'm looking forward on doing this but I want to get other peoples opinion before I do anything.

 

timing belt is not diy if you dont have much car experience.

 

agreed, very time consuming and everything has to be precise when lining up the water pump, cam timing, crank at tdc and so on...

 

I'm glad I asked, almost messed up my car. Thanks Jani& Wedley2

 

Just browsing along... I have question. How much tension should you apply to the timing belt or if any at all?