Timing Belt on 99 Accord changed???

Folks, I bought a 99 EX v6 with 99000 on it. The owner was a mechanic and the car is in excellent shape. He bought it at 89k. I asked him if the timing belt was cahnged. He said yes because he checked it and it was a like new aftermarket belt. He said the original belt would say Honda on it if it wasn't changed. Is this true??? I have an exterior belt that says mitsubishi on it. Should it say honda if it was original? The dealer wants $835 to change the belt and pump. Help!!!

Take a few screws out, pull the cover back a little and have a look. If the belt isn't fraying, cracked or dried out, it's fine. Sometimes people take used car back to where they bought it for service. It might have come from a Mitsu dealer. Belts are belts, doesn't matter whose name is on it, only that it is the correct size for the application.

I'm sure it's fine.

I think his point was "if the belt doesn't say Honda, does that mean it MUST have been changed."

I'd say yes - what you were told is a reasonable assumption.

I do, however have a real problem with
If the belt isn't fraying, cracked or dried out, it's fine.

I'm sure a number of people here can quote tales of woe about broken timing belts after someone had told them it looked "fine."

Is it that easy to inspect the timing belt?

I don't think so. (At least, it's easy enough to inspect it, but no guarantee that see the belt won't break the next dsy!)

The belts are gear toothed and it is hard to determine if a tooth is about to go while looking at the outside. If a tooth goes the belt slips and you go off time with bent valves. Don't go by the appearance of the exterior of the belt.

I purchased my 00 Accord from the dealer with only 50mi on it, and the timing belts aren't labeled as Honda, they label as Mitsubishi. It could be that I have the Mexico Accord instead of Japanese Accord. I'm not sure about V6 models though.

I talked to Honda parts sales person and he said every year/ model has different brands for parts such as wires, hosts, and belts.

I purchased my 00 Accord from the dealer with only 50mi on it, and the timing belts aren't labeled as Honda, they label as Mitsubishi. It could be that I have the Mexico Accord instead of Japanese Accord. I'm not sure about V6 models though.

I talked to Honda parts sales person and he said every year/ model has different brands for parts such as wires, hosts, and belts.


Your parts person is right -- small parts like belts etc... can come from anywhere -- as for your car being Mexican? I didn't know Honda made cars in mexico -- most of the accords are made in ohio (VIN starts with a 1), with 90% of parts coming from american suppliers, including the V6

And if my memory serves me right - you shouldn't normally have to change out a timing belt until 75 - 90k ... i could be wrong about that

I think his point was "if the belt doesn't say Honda, does that mean it MUST have been changed."

I'd say yes - what you were told is a reasonable assumption.

I do, however have a real problem with


I'm sure a number of people here can quote tales of woe about broken timing belts after someone had told them it looked "fine."

You are right, I might have oversimplified. After wrenching for over 20 years, I can tell the subtleties of a fresh belt that might not be obvious to the DIY'er. I've seen belts with 12,000 miles on them strip teeth off and slip, but it was from age, not wear, and you could see the fatigue in the rubber if you know what to look for.

Your parts person is right -- small parts like belts etc... can come from anywhere -- as for your car being Mexican? I didn't know Honda made cars in mexico -- most of the accords are made in ohio (VIN starts with a 1), with 90% of parts coming from american suppliers, including the V6

And if my memory serves me right - you shouldn't normally have to change out a timing belt until 75 - 90k ... i could be wrong about that

Yea I was surprised, but it's true. My Accord was assembled in Mexico. It even says it on the serial bar code label by the door. But from my knowledge, Mexico or USA Accord has the same engine manufactured from Japan. I believe the newer models are being assembled in USA and Thailand now.

I thought I would get all kind of problems because it was assembled in Mexico, but I was wrong. Many of my friend's Accords were assembled in USA and they all have all kinds of recalls and problems. I guess I was lucky. I purchased my Accord LX brand new for only 15k too. It was a killa deal.

Yeah the motors are still Japanese --

-- and as for the problems you quote... our 98 is on its 4th transmission - apparently that year had a recall on the 3L V6... we finally sued Honda on top of it all

--hey but thanks for the enlightenment!