Hey everyone, I was told that I need to do my Timing every now and then to my car. I dont even know what timing means can someone explain this to me. Is it expensive?

I own a 98 accord coupe 4 cylinder.

 

Your timing is set so that your spark plugs spark at the correctly synchronization with the cam shaft. (i.e. they spark when they are supposed to) I haven't ever heard of adjusting it on any type of maintenance schedule. If it is off you will have any or all of: poor gas mileage, rough idle, poor running engine, pings/knocks, etc. But if it ain't broke and it isn't maintenance--don't fix it.

Should you want to adjust it, you would need a timing light and you adjust the position of the distributor.

 

how many miles on the car? If it has over 105K then you are due for a new timing belt. HOnda engines are not known to require frequent timing adjustments....

Is the tensioner working properly on the t-belt?

 

i have about 170,000KM on mine. So its just my belt that needs replacing?

 

Sound like time to me. You don't want to let it break and it most likely will do severe engine damage. You should also do the water pump and several seals at the same time.

I just got mine done end of last week--cost me $658 plus tax at the dealership. They replaced several seals, the water pump, timing belt, balancer belt, and the outside (visible) belts.

 

Just for general education...

'Timing' can mean a couple different things.

Camshaft timing refers to the camshaft being synchronized with the crankshaft. Your camshaft is driven by a toothed belt that should be replaced every 160k or 170k km. Or whatever the interval that's specified in your owner's manual.

Spark timing refers to how the spark is synchronized with the crankshaft. I think yours is not adjustable.