Honda Timing Belt Replacement Guide
Honda timing belts on V6 and older 4-cylinder engines must be replaced every 90,000 miles or 7 years. A broken timing belt causes catastrophic, unrecoverable engine damage. This is one of the most critical preventive services for Honda owners.
Call (650) 588-9199Labor Time
3.5-5 hours (V6 models) or 2-3 hours (4-cylinder)
Pricing
Quoted after inspection
Serving
San Bruno, San Francisco, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo
Warranty
2 years / 24,000 miles
Common Symptoms
If you experience these symptoms, your Honda Accord / CR-V / Odyssey / Pilot / Ridgeline may need timing belt replacement:
Why This Happens
Understanding the root cause helps prevent future issues:
Our Repair Process
How we handle timing belt replacement at Express Auto in San Bruno:
Drain coolant and remove accessory belts, pulleys, and engine mount as needed for access
Remove timing covers and inspect belt condition, tensioner, idler, and water pump
Replace timing belt, tensioner, idler pulleys, and water pump as a complete kit
Replace camshaft and crankshaft seals — these are exposed and accessible; replace now
Refill coolant with Honda-compatible premixed coolant (not green universal)
Start engine, verify correct cam/crank timing with diagnostic scan, road test
Parts & Warranty
Parts Used
timing Belt
Gates or Aisin timing belt kit (belt + tensioner + idler + water pump)
seals
Camshaft front seals (×2 V6), crankshaft front seal
coolant
Honda Type 2 blue/green premix, 1 gallon
Service Details
Labor Time
3.5-5 hours (V6 models) or 2-3 hours (4-cylinder)
Pricing
Quoted after inspection
Warranty
2 years / 24,000 miles
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Honda models have timing belts vs. timing chains?
Timing belts (require replacement): 4-cylinder Accord 1990-2002, V6 Accord 1995-2017, CR-V 1997-2001, Odyssey V6 1999-2017, Pilot 2003-2015, Ridgeline 2006-2014. Timing chains (maintenance-free): 2013+ Accord 4-cylinder, 2002+ CR-V, 2018+ Odyssey, most recent Civics. If you're unsure which your Honda has, call us at (650) 588-9199.
Can I just replace the timing belt without the water pump?
Technically yes, but we strongly advise against it. The water pump is driven by the timing belt, and if the pump fails with a new belt the entire job must be redone. Always do the full kit.
What happens if a Honda timing belt breaks?
Honda V6 and some 4-cylinder engines are "interference engines" — if the timing belt breaks, pistons and valves collide. The result is bent valves, damaged pistons, and often a destroyed cylinder head. Replacing the belt on schedule prevents that.
Does Express Auto service Honda timing belts in San Bruno?
Yes. We service all Honda V6 and 4-cylinder timing belt engines. We use Gates or Aisin full kit (belt, tensioner, idler, water pump) and Honda-spec coolant. Located at 1041 San Mateo Ave, San Bruno. Call (650) 588-9199.
Need this Honda repair?
Book online in 2 minutes — no deposit. Honest estimate before any work — we service Honda Accord / CR-V / Odyssey / Pilot / Ridgeline and other makes.