1988 accord dx interference motor?

[doc]

please dont tell me so....alright i need to is a 88 accord dx an interference motor? thanx

[rocketman]

Check your owners manual . . . my '89 dx doesn't call for a timing belt change (ever!!) and neither does my Haynes repair manual. My guess is . . . NOT and interference engine. Rocketman

[Dr_Snooz]

You're fine. It's not interference.

[DBMaster]

Funny that the belt change interval was mentioned. I have also noticed that the manuals do not provide guidance on this. When my car was new the dealer said 60,000 miles which they later revised to 90,000. I am on my fourth belt and the last two were changed at 90,000. I am just about there again and am planning to let it go for a few months after that to wait until it's no longer summer (too darned hot). I know you can't really tell much about the condition of the belt by looking at it, but all of the belts I changed out looked practically new and had no noticeable deterioration. I like to think that a lifetime of synthetic oil use extends the life of all parts that can be affected by engine resistance. That's probably just a rationalization on my part.

[lostforawhile]

Check your owners manual . . . my '89 dx doesn't call for a timing belt change (ever!!) and neither does my Haynes repair manual. My guess is . . . NOT and interference engine. Rocketman

you still need to change it, it is a belt, it doesn't last forever, the main factor in belt life is the condition of the cam and crank seals, if they start leaking the belt life will be shortened to almost nothing

[charliekuney]

My Honda dealer said 120,000...

[88Accord-DX]

With valve releifs on top of the pistons these engines are really not interference design! BUT there are cases out there the valves get bent when the belt snaps, rarely will that happen.......

Honda classifies all their engines with a timing belt as intereference design. NOT so much is that the case with this generation..................

[DBMaster]

you still need to change it, it is a belt, it doesn't last forever, the main factor in belt life is the condition of the cam and crank seals, if they start leaking the belt life will be shortened to almost nothing

Hmm. When my mechanic does the TB service he changes those seals. Maybe I should let him do it this next time. He doesn't mind if I bring the parts - as long as I am using a good quality item. I like either Bando or Gates for the belts, but only Honda OEM for the water pump.

[doc]

I'm was gonna go with goodyear for the belt I trust them when it comes to rubber

[DBMaster]

I'm was gonna go with goodyear for the belt I trust them when it comes to rubber

I think I may have used a Goodyear serpentine belt on an Escort wagon years ago.

My only issue with Goodyear belts is that Auto Zone sells them. Auto Zone has always struck me as a low cost outfit so I don't trust any critical parts from there. I might buy spark plugs, oil, etc. You know, branded stuff.

The belts are probably OK, but I think there's a reason that the Gates belts cost twice as much.

[ecogabriel]

No interference engine as long as I can tell; previous owner got belt broken @ 80K. From the records he gave me it was the OE belt (86 LX-i). Receipt from retardedship said only timing belt and tensioner replaced - nothing else broke. But whoever retarded did the job (I should pull the receipt to see which Honda dealership did the job here in ATL so nobody risks their life going there) he used the wrong mark; he set the engine at TDC using the red mark (ignition timing) and not the white "T" mark...

User manual says replace every 60K, but if it got contaminated with oil just get rid of it ASAP. Do crank and cam seals when you are at it and ideally the oil pump seals as well.

[lostforawhile]

I'm was gonna go with goodyear for the belt I trust them when it comes to rubber
gates, you can get the belt and tensioner as a kit at Nappa, Honda uses gates belts as OEM now

[ecogabriel]

Check Rockauto.com they also carry the Gates belt kit and it may be a little bit cheaper.

[Dr_Snooz]

Funny that the belt change interval was mentioned. I have also noticed that the manuals do not provide guidance on this. When my car was new the dealer said 60,000 miles which they later revised to 90,000. I am on my fourth belt and the last two were changed at 90,000. I am just about there again and am planning to let it go for a few months after that to wait until it's no longer summer (too darned hot). I know you can't really tell much about the condition of the belt by looking at it, but all of the belts I changed out looked practically new and had no noticeable deterioration. I like to think that a lifetime of synthetic oil use extends the life of all parts that can be affected by engine resistance. That's probably just a rationalization on my part.

There is a Timing Belt Inspection procedure on p. 6-20 of the '89 manual (http://honda.roadpwnage.com/manuals/pages/usdm-accord-1989-full.php). Wear will show on one side of the belt teeth.

[MessyHonda]

i do it every 90k but thats because i would rather pay now than have a snaped belt while going to work or coming home at midnight

[rocketman]

I didn't mean to suggest (in my earlier post) that the belt didn't need to be changed . . . . I've been changing mine every 60k since new. But just a few months ago I was thumbing through my owners manual and thought that it was weird that it wasn't even mentioned . . . so I went to my Haynes . . . not mentioned there either. My guess is that it isn't an interference motor b/c Honda nor Haynes doesn't suggest a change interval. But like anything else, it has a service life and if you change it regularly you won't find yourself stuck some dark and rainy night in the badlands. Personally, I'm going to extend my service interval to 75k, with a water pump change every other at 150k. Rocketman