Rep Power: 0

Hi All, i'm new to this forum and just picked up a 2005 Honda Civic VP, (Value Package). It has a genuine 19k original miles on it, very clean well maintained. The seller was an older guy and neighbor, he said the TB has been replaced about 4-5 years ago but he doesn't have that receipt, he's not BS'ing me, just can't remember. So either the belt has been replaced or it's the original 16 year old belt. Is there anyway to visually check if the belt was changed at some time? If needed what belt is generally recommended, I searched a large online warehouse and they have about 8 different belts from various manufacturers. How about oil seals, how many does this engine have and should i mess with them if they are not leaking now?
Thanks

 
Rep Power: 225

Timing belt should be replaced at 7 years or ~100k miles, whichever comes first. Honestly, if he can't remember if it's been done I would plan on doing it. If it were me I wouldn't replace any seal unless it's leaking.

 
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Pretty much my thoughts. Yeah I didn't wanna do any seals if not needed. I'm in northeast region, 20deg temps, just hoping to make it to March and do the belt. My fingers froze just switching the plates.
Any recommendations on belt manufacturer? or t/b kit?
thanks

 
Rep Power: 225

I would be careful waiting too long. If it breaks the repair cost gets a lot more expensive.

Looking at RockAuto I have used Gates and Aisin brand in the past. I can only comment on the Aisin brand however as I sold the car with the Gates brand soon after. I have about 70k miles and five years on an Aisin kit with no issues.

 
Rep Power: 368

OEM is preferable, we have seen some very horrific cases of the tensioner causing havoc when they fail early

 
Rep Power: 127

Was fortunate enough for my old civic to survive a timing belt snapping (don’t risk it, there’s almost no chance it survives), and my brother still drives it with a gates kit. It’s been on a little over a year with 10k miles without a problem.

The ones I’ve heard horror stories about are called green-something (on Amazon I think?).

 
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I did a lot of reading about this on this forum, I'm starting to think that since the car only has 19k original miles I would leave tensioner and water pump and just change belt. Does this sound reasonable? not being cheap but a believer in "if it ain't broke don't fix it".
If I were to just change belt what other disposable parts would I need? valve cover gasket? bolts, grommets? anything else?
thanks

 
Rep Power: 368

valve cover gasket. and be aware there are a lot of cases that the camshaft, crankshaft position sensor starts misbehaving after the change, so they are prime suspects if you have issues after the change.
check if the tensioner is not seized, just in case too.

 
Rep Power: 127

I would just buy an entire timing belt kit. You’d already be down that far; you might as well just replace the water pump while you’re there.

 
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In the older Civic's its common to change, Water Pump, Tensioner, Cam Shaft Seals, at the same time as the Timing belt.. On my 2001 it developed an oil leak and had to have the Valve Cover Gasket replaced.
Cooling system should be flushed but any good mechanic will do that when replacing the water pump. At 16 years old, not knowing the history all the other fluids should be also changed.

19K miles is seriously low for a Civic that old... should make a great daily driver.

 
Rep Power: 100

Only 19K miles on an '05 ?!! Nice find!

IMO, you'd probably be fine just replacing the belt. OEM or Gates brand are my preference. You'll need a new valve cover gasket and RTV sealant also. That should be it really.

But, MAKE SURE to check the tensioner. I also have an '05 and the tensioner was bad when I replaced the timing belt last year. It was OEM, but I had 135K miles at the time. With so few miles, yours is probably fine.

You may want to replace the coolant also. I think the Honda coolant is good for 10 years. Just a simple drain and refill should suffice.

 
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Thanks all. yes, the car was a great find and i know the owner and its all correct.