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2002 Honda Odyssey

Question: Timing Belt Failure

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avesraggiana, Chula Vista, CA, September 26, 2009, 06:34
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Hi, My timing belt failed on me under hard accelaration. I had just had it replaced thirty thousand miles earlier, so the belt itself was relatively new. Now I'm looking at a $4000.00 repair job. Will the car run as well as it did before, if I choose to have it repaired, or should I just look at trading in what's left of my Odyssey and buying another car? Thank you.

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    patrick mannion from Greg Solow's Engine Room, September 26, 2009, 08:30
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    The 3.5 liter engine is an interference fit engine which means it will do serious dmage if the timing belt fails, that being said the belt should last 105,000 miles under normal driving conditions. I wonder why the belt failed in such a short time?
    Is the rest of the van in good order, transmission shift OK, tires good ect....?
    A friend of mine says the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. You have had this car a while and know it was otherwise reliable, you could buy another minivan for $4000 and be buying someone elses problems.
    These engines can be successfully rebuilt and run as good as new. Ask the shop repairing the van to look it over first to see if the axles are OK, steering rack leaks, brakes and tires are OK ect.. ask them just to look it over and see if they foresee any other problems you may run into with the van in the near future.

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  • Answer #2

    sinautoscan.com September 26, 2009, 10:23
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    get an use one with low miles LKQ google that Honda are good cars keep it with a new engine with low miles

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    avesraggiana, October 07, 2009, 07:36
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    Thank you, autotechpat and sinautoscan, for your responses. My minivan is in the shop now getting a new timing belt and a valve job because there was damage done to the engine when the timing belt broke. My mechanic is quite chagrined because quite inexplicably to him, the timing belt he installed failed at just 20,000 miles. The timing belt is under warranty and he's giving me a huge break with the labour. Thanks again.

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