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I just picked up my friends 03 civic ex very cheap .it will be a gas saver/ extra car as to driving my 15 f150. Car had 154k on it and the timing belt was never done my friend bought it new. I'm debating on the aisin kit I know I'll have to get the longer tensioner bolt or a oem kit and getting the tensioner. Which kit would be good to get. My other friend who is a mechanic will be installing it. I'm not driving the car until the timing belt and water pump gets changed. I plan on driving this car for awhile. Any advice would be appreciated .

 
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Welcome. Your friend is lucky lol

I would go all OEM and not think twice. At the very least do an OEM tensioner. The belt is a Gates but even that I wouldn’t chance it.

 
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He is lucky. I'm actually thinking of going that route I'm actually looking at NSK and OEM . I'm hearing they are the same. But again I'm not sure.

 
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Car needs a few small things but this is a priority. Back window don't go down and driver front goes off track and rpm tach doesn't work.

 
Rep Power: 242

That is wise of you, I wouldn’t want to take that chance either.

Is a Honda branded Gates belt built to the same standards as just a Gates branded belt? Idk. I think NSK is the OEM of the tensioner so it technically should be the same thing without the Honda box. Does the Honda one undergo better quality control? Idk. How much of a price difference is it?

 
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$30/$50 difference. I was thinking of doing a oem kit with the either NSK or oem oem tensioner. I did order the oem brake pads and rotors right side is grinding. Car sat for 6 months.