Is it really that importatnt to chahge the timing belt on time in a 1999 Honda CRV?
Honda recommends changing timing belts from anywhere between 60K & 90K miles, depending on model & upon driving conditions. The factory de-rates the belt’s capabilities taking into account some folks might ‘push the envelope’ a bit. However, at 110K miles, it’s best to get the car into an approved shop at your next earliest opportunity. It is true that you won’t have any prior indication of the imminence of a belt’s failure…it will just happen during normal driving. What actually occurs is that the belt’s rubber deteriorates to the point where the belt will slip over the tooth on one of the camshaft’s gear. The design of most overhead cam engines such as those used in Hondas (among many other brands) is such that a misalignment of the valve train with the pistons spells a disastrous colision of parts. Typically, bent valves & damage to the piston heads occurs. And the repair for this is a rebuild of the head of an engine. Here’s a helpful hint…when changing your timing belt, also h
