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Hey all,

I'm new, but yes I did search the site and Google.

I'm looking at a 2001 Civic with 250,000kms. He tells me "the timing belt should be replaced". He has a new belt in the trunk apparently.

I know I'd need to buy a new water pump while I'm at it.

I think I could get both installed for a cheap from a (good) mechanic who works from his garage.

Now the reason I made this thread.. my mom (yes, I know.. no mechanic but has had many cars in her life) told me she changed the timing belt on one of her cars with around 48,000 original kms and the car died a month later.

From what I've found, changing the belt is fairly regular maintenance and not a huge deal/it should be done around 90,000 miles (145,000kms) on the Civics even though the belts might last longer.

A) Is anything bad going to happen after I change the belt?
B) What if you drive with an old belt? I know if it breaks while driving you are basically screwed, but what if it doesn't break and you just drive an old one? (I'm not considering driving the old one, I just don't know how long the previous owner has been driving the one installed now and wondering if he caused damage doing so)

For the record, he told me he'd take $2,500 cash (I've tried talking him down more but no response). I'm in Canada, and most Civics that year are going for around $5,000-6,000. It's a standard.