Rep Power: 0

I have a '94 Civic Dx with 62,000 miles on the timing belt/waterpump since it was last changed about 8.5 years ago. Is the age of the belt as important as the number of miles on it? I'm 28,000 short of the recommended 90k mile change, but 3.5 years over the recommended 5-year change. It will cost me nearly $700 to have a shop change the belt/waterpump and associated seals/gaskets. I'd really like to hold off another 6-12 months. What do you guys think? Am I playing with fire here?

Also, is this a realistic DIY job?

 
Rep Power: 243

Yes age is just as important as miles. Overtime the belt starts to crack. That's why there is a mile and year interval. That way it covers people who put alot of miles on the car and people who don't. Have you done other repairs on your car before? If you have the right tools its usually not to bad.

 
Rep Power: 313

Yes.

 
Rep Power: 0

Sounds like breaking the crankshaft bolt loose might be the toughest part.

 
Rep Power: 313

It is. But, it's usually not THAT bad. Make sure you have the tool. If your not willing to buy the tool just pay someone to do the whole job. It won't be worth your time I assure you.

 
Rep Power: 243

The crankshaft bolt was the only problem I had when I did a belt on an Escort. I had an electric impact gun and it still was a pain. I needed a serpentine belt tool also and didn't have one which made it more difficult. Shouldn't need a serpentine belt tool for the civic if it has two seperate belts.

 
Rep Power: 0

It's not so bad if you got the right tools took me 3hr to do one off a 90 civic hatchback (d15b2) and I was partially drinking and listening to panwhora radio while watching my baby niece pretending to drive my car. I had to use a torch on the camshaft bolt for 20 secs and it sapped right off with a 3/8 impact gun

 
Rep Power: 367

it's... a matter of lucky of the draw... there was a guy going way past the limit and it was still going strong. some got the belt go early. dryness of the air increases cracking. heat too. (rubber, in the end, will dry and crack.)

 
Rep Power: 0

This is the crankshaft pulley on my D15B7. It doesn't have the hex like some of the later civics:



Does anyone know if the following two tools will work on this particular pulley?:

http://www.alltradetools.com/catalog...ding-tool.html





Or, I might just do what this guy did and use two bolts and a bar braced against the car frame:

http://www.cadvision.com/blanchas/54pontiac/honda.html