Rep Power: 0

Hi All,

...need to draw on your expertise. My '04 Civic SI has 320,000 kms/199,000 mi. Bought new and maintained regularly, I now have an issue that is forcing me to consider my options. A couple of months ago, I was driving the car when the timing belt tensioner's spring poped out and the belt slipped a couple of teeth, almost destroying/shredding the timing belt (it was still intact). It was just shy of needing to be replaced again (needless to say, I had it replaced by Honda immed). After replacing the belt, the mechanic was amazed that the engine seemed fine considering the condition of the former timing belt. About a month later, I was driving on the highway when the car started to 'buck' and the engine light came on. I took the car to the dealership for the engine light diagnosis. Apparently, there was about 1 litre of oil in the engine and the reason for the engine bucking/dash light indicator was due to the low oil pressure and VTEC's inabliity to operate as a result. Long story long, I had a compression test done and cylinders 1, 4 are 160 psi and 2, 3 are 110 psi. It is my opinion that the low preassure in 2 and 3 are as a result of the timing belt issue. Ofcourse, their suggestion is to swap the engine, suggesting 1 to 2 years left on the current engine... I don't have the coin to shell out for another engine although attempting to repair might run even more... IYO - what would be the likelyhood that their are some bent valves or a hairline crack as a result of the timing belt issue? Understanding that no engine lasts forever, what would YOU do? Thanks for your input.

 
Rep Power: 812

the compression definately means there are problems in the engine, prolly bent valves. i dont know how long you can drive like that but its something that needs to be fixed. if it were me, id prolly swap in a better motor like the k20a2 from the rsx-s. or try and sell the car (you wont get much) and buy another used car, which could have its own other problems.

 
Rep Power: 200

Sense you had the belt replaced by the mechanic I would say you don't feel compotent with a wrench, in that case it might not be monetarily smart to have someone work on it, might be a grand or so...
Like gearbox said though, the compression numbers means there are problems. 199k is not a big deal on the rings and such as long as it has been maintained and such. Most likely with the belt slipping a couple teeth you bent some valves. You can fix that by having a head and a new timing belt put on, OR you could pull the head, put new valves in it yourself and put a new timing belt on for probably less than 500 bucks, but to have someone do just that alone you are talking some coin and may not even do that, might just want to put head on it. Long story short, if you can wrench it yourself, you can fix it for not alot, if someone else is doing it, well.....

 
Rep Power: 367

or find a not-so-high miles engine D17 and swap it in the car.