2000 CRV Timing Belt Replacement Schedule

Gurus:

I just learned that Honda recommends replacing the 2000 model year CRV
timing belt at 7 years. The dealer told me at 90,000 miles, but the
manual states at 105,000 miles.

My nearly 10 year old CRV has 83,000 one-owner miles, mostly highway,
in Wisconsin. I intend to keep it for many more years.

Main Question:
Would I be pushing my luck to wait another year, until I get closer to
90,000 miles, for timing belt replacement?

Secondary Question:
The dealer cost for timing belt replacement is $650 (including water
pump, etc). A reputable, independent repair shop would likely cost
less, but not using Honda parts. Is this kind of work best left to the
Honda dealer?

 

The manual is right. But the manual also states 7 years, not ten.

It would be pushing your luck, yes. You're three years over the limit.
And winter cold is tough on belts.

Consider the upside of delaying one more year:
Assume $650 for the cost of replacement. Amortized over the next 7
years, that's $93 per year, or less than $8 per month. That's how much
you're saving by delaying one more year.

Now consider the downside of delaying one more year:
The belt may break in that time. If valve damage occurs during the
breakage, that can be as much as $1,000 to fix, depending on the number
of damaged valves and any corollary damage.

$93 versus possible $1,000. Not worth it to me.

You've got about a 50-50 chance of valve damage should the belt break;
you might get lucky, you might not.

The answer depends very much on the garage that does the work. The
dealer is definitely the safest, as they're very familiar with doing
this job on a Honda. But if you have an independent you trust and who is
experienced with Hondas, then go for it.

You can ask that the independent use Honda parts, which they will gladly
do. In that case your only savings is the shop rate (labor).

Different dealers will have different charges for timing belt jobs. You
can phone around and see what the ones in your area will charge (for the
same parts included). Try Acura dealers as well; they know Hondas just
as well as Honda dealers.

 

Tegger:

You make some excellent points. I just made an appointment to have the
work done at the Honda dealer. They mailed me a 10% off coupon today!
How very convenient.

Thanks for your advice.

 

See another post re-2003 Pilot. The price list my dealer gave - listed the
CRV ar 565.27 -- all seals, water, pump gaskets, new drive belts and so
forth.