Timing Belt + Water Pump
 

Hi,

I'm going to be attempting my first timing belt + water pump replacement soon (with the help of an experience mechanic friend) on my '00 Si. What are the parts and components that I need to complete the job? I looked on HondaPartsUnlimited, but there doesn't seem to be a timing belt kit. I want to be sure that I have all the pieces I need to get the job done right the first time.

Re: Timing Belt + Water Pump
 

Shopping list, off the top of my head:

Timing belt
all accessory belts (AC, alternator, and power steering, whatever your car is equipped with)
water pump
coolant

Maybes:
tensioner pulley for the timing belt (high mileage?)
front cam seal (oil leakage?)
front crank seal (may be called oil pump seal) (oil leakage?)

valve cover gasket set (and enough RTV or Hondabond to dab in the corners) (just because you have to lift it up to do the timing belt job...If it is relatively new it will probably be ok to reuse)

adjuster pulley for the AC belt, if it is noisy (check it as you disassemble parts)

Tools for the crank pulley?

Re: Timing Belt + Water Pump
 

Thanks for the reply!

I was thinking of purchasing a timing belt + water pump kit from Amazon (Gates brand) and then buying an OEM timing belt. Any thoughts on that? Should I be comfortable with just using all the components in the kit, or is buying an OEM timing belt a good idea?

Re: Timing Belt + Water Pump
 

The engine is an interference engine, meaning valves can contact the pistons.....so if anything in the timing area lets go, it's very likely you cost you a pile of valves and/or an engine. Plus a tow truck.
Do you want to cut corners?



I know I can trust Hondas parts.

Re: Timing Belt + Water Pump
 

Why? You can just buy a water pump if you want; why buy two belts? A Gates belt will be OEM anyway; perfectly good to use. Just make sure its not old stock or one that has been opened. I bought a perfectly good Gates belt and tensioner kit from Amazon Prime but then for another car I bought a timing belt, packet had been opened and resealed and it looked as though it had been used. When I checked the belt codes with Gates it was well past its shelf life by several years. I think some lo-life had swapped their used belt into the packet and returned to Amazon for a refund.

Shelf life for a belt is 8 years I believe.

Just buy timing belt, check is tensioner is make noice when rotate, if not don't replace. If you do regular coolant maintenance (change every 2 year) and if no leek under chek holl on water pump you don't need to change them.