Rep Power: 0

First post, new (to us) 2002 Civic, Stock 5 spd.

Dash lights are out. Is it likely to be a fuse or bulb. Is the bulb easy to get at or is it take the dash apart time? How many bulbs are there in the instrument panel?

Also; We can not confirm that the Timing Belt was done (at 100,000 miles?) we now have 115,000 miles/180,000 kms on this car. There is no record with Honda about this car and all the previous owner (only had it for a few months) can tell me is his mechanic said "There is no problem with the Timing Belt".

There is no way to tell? $400 is a lot for my son to pay to replace a belt that may have 15,000 miles on it. On the other hand ...

Thanks Guys, great forum!

 
Rep Power: 812

usually you can tell by looking at the belt from under the car. if it looks okay (no major fraying or bumps or swelling) then its prolly fine. alot of belts can easily go 150k if not more. someone on here had 185k on the original belt! but check around under the car, see how the waterpump looks cause they usually replace that. new metal will not tarnish that fast in only 15k miles if it was recently replaced.

if all the dash lights and gauge lights are out, its prolly just a fuse. check all the fuses in the under hood and under dash boxes. or if the fuses are fine, maybe all the lights are burnt out over time. the cluster has 5 bulbs for backlight, dials have two, and buttons have two. then the cruise/roof/mirror each have one.

 
Rep Power: 256

when i changed my belt it looked brand new from the outside but when we took it off and bent it in between the teeth had little cracks in it.

 
Rep Power: 0

Sorry Guys, I was referring to the timing belt ... under the valve cover. When it goes the engine can be badly damaged, (bent rods etc).

Also these five bulbs in the instrument panel ... how do you get at them?

 
Rep Power: 388

^ You gotta pull the cluster out and they unscrew from the back.

Unscrew the two screws holding the cluster trim in, and pull it out, its glued on the bottom so it takes force. Then there are 3 mounting tabs that hold the cluster in with screws, unscrew them. Then piviot the cluster out and there you go- full access- something I wish I had tonight if ya feel me! ha.

...back to hulu.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks, and do you think Josh should fork out $400 to have the timing belt done when it may or may not have been done 15,000 miles ago? Is there any way to know?