Honda J35 V6 Timing Belt Safe at 120k?

[Nukeman7]

*update*

i decided to get it changed from honda for piece of mind. i was afraid to goto an indie as i don't know anyone in my area and felt like for this one repair honda would serve me better. i called around got quotes and when i spoke to the service advisors they would always confirm it was the whole timing assembly being replaced but would never really list parts or seem to be detailed and would always say "yeah yeah its everything". i was just in the impression that honda is experts on this. i got a price for $1500 which seems to be the going in ny area but used a 10% service coupon and got it down to $1300 ish. when i dropped the vehicle off i asked again and they said its a kit and they do it all. today i picked up the vehicle and now the invoice/quote only showed:

timing belt with part #
water pump with part #
tensioner with part #
rad flush
coolant with part #

i asked about the idler/idler pulley and tensioner pulley/timing belt adjuster and if it was done and i got a reply that oh yeah it was i can put it on the invoice if you want. and i asked well only if it was done no point of writing it to write it and the rep replied that oh ya it was done sometimes the computer just puts it like that

Go back and get him to produce an invoice that the idler pulley and tensioner pulley were both replaced. Whether they did it or not, this documentation will protect you for a year in the event either pulley fails. Most Honda parts are guaranteed for a year unless deemed to be a normal wear item such as brake pads and wiper blades. If a pulley seizes and destroys the belt and engine, you will have some recourse.

maybe i am looking too much into this but for me it felt like maybe it wasn't done and the sa doesn't really know properly what was done but it could also be the case that the honda book tells them to change it all and it was indeed done. i will never know because even if i ask them again or speak to the tech he can just lie and i am too busy to take off timing cover etc

any input?

You are correct in that you will never know. For the J35 engine, the OEM Honda pulleys are sourced from Koyo and they look almost new after 100K miles of use.

 

[apollo18]

I wouldn’t think anyone would do that job and not replace those parts too. Those parts are quite often the failure point and quite an expensive comeback if they fail quickly.

i agree and i am hoping it was all changed but i am curious how long a idler pulley or tensioner pulley can last

 

[The Critic]

I wouldn’t think anyone would do that job and not replace those parts too. Those parts are quite often the failure point and quite an expensive comeback if they fail quickly.

There is no need to replace the tensioner pulley and idler pulley on J-series motors, especially at the first TB replacement. Standard dealer timing belt service is to only replace the timing belt, w/p, hydraulic tensioner and drive belt.

 

[apollo18]

There is no need to replace the tensioner pulley and idler pulley on J-series motors, especially at the first TB replacement. Standard dealer timing belt service is to only replace the timing belt, w/p, hydraulic tensioner and drive belt.

awesome thanks for the input, i wanted to ask that, seems like these last maybe 200k+ so that gives me some piece of mind i guess

 

[tbm5690]

Also, your dealer was wrong saying they use a "kit" unless he's talking about them physically assembling the OE parts into a kit in the back room for the mechanics to grab. The only kits are aftermarket, OE you must order it part by part which is why your invoice broke it down by part.

 

[NormanBuntz]

In my Ridgeline, the hydraulic tensioner was leaking at the time I had my Dayco timing belt kit installed after 9 years and 74K miles. So you never know how long any of the components may last.

 

[apollo18]

In my Ridgeline, the hydraulic tensioner was leaking at the time I had my Dayco timing belt kit installed after 9 years and 74K miles. So you never know how long any of the components may last.

if we are talking about the same thing seems like they def replaced that as they put it on the invoice if that means anything so that makes me feel good

 

[Oliveoil2]

No. The entire assembly is a maintenance item.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Also, your dealer was wrong saying they use a "kit" unless he's talking about them physically assembling the OE parts into a kit in the back room for the mechanics to grab. The only kits are aftermarket, OE you must order it part by part which is why your invoice broke it down by part.

Why doesn't Honda offer an OE kit? Every OEM that uses timing belts should sell a complete kit from the dealer.

 

[The Critic]

Why doesn't Honda offer an OE kit? Every OEM that uses timing belts should sell a complete kit from the dealer.

That is your opinion only.

Replacing additional components is not always necessary.

 

[Number_35]

Back in the day I did several timing belts on the old Mazda SOHC 3.0 (2954 cc) V6, as used in the 929 and the 1st-gen MPV.

The recommended interval was 96,000 km/60,000 miles.

I typically did them every 100,000 km.

Anyway, the belt usually looked good at 100,000 km, but it was good practice to change at least the belt and hydraulic tensioner anyway.

The top idler pulley took a lot of stress, and typically wore out before the driver's-side pulley or the tensioner pulley. Some folks swapped the two idler pulleys instead of replacing them. You could also pop the seal out and lube the pulleys, but I preferred to replace the whole works every time.

It was good practice to replace the WP with a (dealer only!) new one, every 2nd TB job.

For years I had a collection of old but "still good" timing belts hanging in the garage.

 

[mbaker]

On my 07 i had the first one done at 115k, everything literally looked almost new but had peace of mind going forward. Then went 155k on the second belt and swore I was gonna ride it out vs do the service again before the tensioner started acting up. Did it again and still going strong. I’ve known some people that have 200k and never did the service but I know there are others that could have trouble even before the 105 mark. Just hard to say but with quality components I feel you are safe for some time after the recommended interval. If anything i would be more mindful of age on the belt itself vs miles.