Need Timing Belt Replaced -Can I handle it?

Hey there,

My girlfriend has a 2000 CR-V. I think that its the SE. She has 145,000 miles on it and has done no maintenance besides changing the oil and air filter according to Jiffy Lube's wims. I had to replace her front rotors and brakes and went ahead and purchased the Haynes for her car. Changed the spark plugs and and wires while I was getting dirty. Her gaps in the old plugs were about 0.09 inches and looked a little ashy (hot engine?). I also think that the engine is burning oil because I only filled two quarts with the old oil and put 4 quarts in.

Any comments on the above??

My question is as stated in the subject. Is replacing the timing belt something that I can do competently?

My mechanical knowledge is limited. It has become a hobby in the past 3 months out of neccesity, in that I replaced the lower intake manifold gasket of my 99 Buick Regal. I'm pretty careful about how I go about doing things and I follow directions well.

If you can do a lower intake gasket on a 3.8L I'm sure you can do a T/belt. Being a DOHC makes it a bit more difficult than a SOHC or a V6. A manual will make things a lot easier. Besides lining up all the timing marks and getting the new belt on, taking out the crank bolt is the hardest thing. Even with a impact some times the bolts wont crack loose. We have a special Honda crank holder and use a jack handle on a breaker bar to break them loose.

If you do the job get the parts from Honda! You should replace the following:
Timing belt
Assy. drive belts(3)
Water pump
Valve cover gasket & tube seal
Coolant

It's a good idea to adjust the valves while the valve cover is off. Other things to consider cap/rotor(Honda parts), fuel filter, trans fluid(Honda stuff whether it's manual or auto), rear diif fluid if it's AWD(Honda stuff Dual Pump fluid) Cabin air filter, brake fluid.

How long do you think it will take to do the timing belt? It took me almost 30 hours to do the LIM gasket. I'm sure I could do the gasket in 15 or so if I had to do it again.

She appears to be having some transmission problems as well. The car doesn't get moving when you accelerate from a stop, especially when you are stopped going up a hill. The engine revs, but the tires don't move. I suggested taking it to a trans shop. Am I right in saying that she should NOT get a trans flush? Being that she has never had the trans serviced, I've read that this can cause serious problems.

How long do you think it will take to do the timing belt? It took me almost 30 hours to do the LIM gasket. I'm sure I could do the gasket in 15 or so if I had to do it again.

She appears to be having some transmission problems as well. The car doesn't get moving when you accelerate from a stop, especially when you are stopped going up a hill. The engine revs, but the tires don't move. I suggested taking it to a trans shop. Am I right in saying that she should NOT get a trans flush? Being that she has never had the trans serviced, I've read that this can cause serious problems.

If I remember right the labor time is 5 hrs on the t/belt. I'm not sure how long it would actually take you being your first time. It doesn't take me long but I've done many, have all the tools, and a lift.

Once a Honda has trans issues changing the fluid by any method isn't going to help long term. It might help short term. OMG, never service? That thing should get a drain and fill every 30K! Sounds like an unmaintained vehicle.

OMG, never service? That thing should get a drain and fill every 30K! Sounds like an unmaintained vehicle.

When she told her Mom I was doing a tune up, her mom replied "Who even does that these days?" -I don't blame my girlfriend. She was never taught any better.

Quite frankly, I'm surprised the car is still running. We just took it on a 600 mile round trip to the mountains. I was nervous the whole ride.

I wonder if it's even worth me changing the timing belt if her trans is going.