Used 2000 Accord Timing Belt Question

We just bought this 2000 Accord for my daughter. It has 110,000 miles
on it, and we don't know if the timing belt has been replaced. Is
there any way to determine this without replacing it? CarFax didn't
have any information.

 

no. assume not and pay a price that takes that into account.

 

Thanks...

 

If the car has been serviced at a Honda dealer, you can call the Honda
regional office and they can tell you. You can find out all kinds of
stuff from them. For example, the guy we bought our 1988 Accord from
said it was a one owner car from someone living in Oregon (Where we
bought it.) Honda told us the car was sold in Texas and had at least
3 prior owners. They also sent us a new owner's manual at no charge.

Of course if it has been serviced at Joe's garage, you are out of
luck.

 

Toyota provides a handy little sticker with its timing belts. You put the
date and mileage down on the sticker, then attach it to the timing belt
cover. There's even a separate clear cover to apply, so the ink is covered
and won't wash off. Nice idea, that sticker. Wish Honda would do that.

 

Most mechanic would put a sticker on the timing cover after a timing/
balancer belts change,noting the mileage and date. Even I did it. So
if it's not there, the belts have probably not been changed.

The Accords are interference engines. So if the belts break major
engine damage can happen. I'd recommend a Gates Timing Component Kit
(TCK244?) $110 on rockauto.com, with idlers and an instruction sheet.

www.gates.com

I know people love Honda parts, but I just don't care for the Bando
and Mitsuboshi belts. BTW some Civics come with Gates timing belts.

 

That 2000 accord has has just reached the change interval for the timing
belt (105,000 miles or 7 years). Its a routine maintenance item that will
not be reported on CarFax. If it was done at a dealer, Honda should be able
to find a record of it.

A belt about to break looks pretty much exactly like a new, good one. There
is no way to tell by looking at it.

Think about it though, if you were about to sell the car would you spend the
money to have the timing belt changed? I think the chances of it having
been changed prior to trade-in are pretty close to zero.