Hello

I have a 97 Honda Accord non-V-Tec

Does my car have a timing belt? Looking online I see info that says I have a belt and info that says I have a chain.

Also I have 115K miles, if I have a belt, how long does it typically last for and how hard is it to change?


thank you very much

 

Is this a 4 or 6 cylinder?

 

97 4-cyl has a belt
97 V-6 has a belt

(chains started in 2003 with the 4-cyl K-series engine)

 

Jim is correct. Both have a timing belt.

I thought the interval was different between the two engines, but it is not.

Both engines say replace at 6 years or 90K miles. You are past due.

That information may also be in your owner's manual.

 

I have the 4 cyc. My car did not come with a owners manual.
I have changed a couple of timing belts on 4 cyc trucks but never a front wheel drive car.
Is it difficult? Also do you think I can let it slide for a while, at what mileage do they normally fail at?

 

If it fails, you will bend valves (99.9% of the time). Without knowing if it was replaced before, I'd change it as soon as possible. At 115K and if it is the original, you are gambling with every rpm the engine turns.
How difficult-By your comment you've done others so you can make it thru this car. Few things that might be different than "your others" (using my 95 EX, yours should be about the same). The crank bolt is a PIA-there are tools and methods you can use, search the DIY section on here. You might also search other places -google. Then "since you are there"-Changing the WP is a must-do you really want to do this again in ~3 months because the pump is leaking. Then there are all of the seals-crank, cam, ect. So far this weekend I've been crusing thru this exact job on the 95-should be done later this afternoon.

 

You can register on www dot ahm-ownerlink dot com
Register with your car's VIN & you should be able to see an on-line owner's manual.

 

well after reading here on this forum about how to change the timing belt, I have decided to let a professional mechanic do the repairs.
I have mad respect for anyone here who has done the repair themselves.

 

Lot of us have done it, it's not that bad. But it IS long & tedious, and the consequences of messing up are large. So it's good that you make that decision before you take it halfway apart.