So I hear that timing belts should be replaced between 60-90k miles. (I have the V6 hybrid so it has a belt, not a chain.) But my manual says to replace it at 105k miles. Should I really go by that?

Has anybody here had to replace their timing belt in a V6 before 90k miles?

 

I moved your post for better response. Always best to start a new thread.

Follow Honda's recommendation on TB replacement. Downside risk is too high to take chances. On non-hybrids it's 7 yrs or 105K miles.

good luck

 

Generally, the recommended timing belt change interval for the hybrid is the same as the non-hybrid; normal or severe driving conditions would be 7 years or 105,000 miles, whichever comes first.

If you regularly drive in one or more of the following conditions (which the majority of people do not), then it should be changed at 60,000 miles.

• In very high temperatures (over 110°F, 43°C).
• In very low temperatures(under 20°F, 29°C).
• Frequently tow a trailer.

With that said, the later J series engines were not known for early timing belt failure. After the recommended intervals, timing belt failure has been seen by mechanics.

 

Thanks for the responses and thanks for relocating my post, I appreciate the attention . Redbull, how do I know if my engine is one of the J-series engines? Do you mean cars whose VINs start with 'J' (made in Japan)?

 

The J series referred to Honda V6 engines, which they had different generations and versions.

Honda also had various series of 4 cylinders; for example, B, H, F, with K being one of their latest version.

Your Hybrid had a different J engine than the non-hybrid. Yours was a JNA1.
The later J series engine were not known for the timing belts to break early.

 

Ah thanks. But would it be fair to judge the later/younger J series as "not breaking early" when they are, in fact, younger?

 

Well, my statement is more relative. There are many different factors which may cause a belt to fail early; e.g., oil on belt, tensioner gone bad, belt manufacture, etc. Many Honda mechanics state that when they do the timing belt changes on these later J series engine (e.g., the 7th generation Accords, 2003-2007), they normally do not see oil leaking from the cam and crank seals; this was not always the case on earlier generation Accords. Additionally, belts materials and manufacture were considerably better than in the late 80s, where timing belt recommend change intervals were like every 60,000 miles.

So, what I am saying is relative, conditions and miles driven being relatively the same for the different generation Accords. On whole, they didn't normally see early timing belt breakage on the 7th generation V6 Accords.

 

Ah, I actually misread your previous post. I thought you had implied that my Accord's engine belongs to an early J series that is different, more prone to belt breaking than the "later" J series. I was thinking... is he talking about the engine for the 8th gen accords? They've been around for only 4 years, of course the timing belts have to be know for not breaking... I gotcha now. Thanks.