Cam belt change

Whilst I cannot quote a cost for the cambelt, I can say that it will be infinitely less than the cost of the replacement engine you will probably need, if it does fail!

When a cambelt fails, the engine usually suddenly races and then dies. All the bits at the top of the engine that go up and down (ie. the valves) cannot get out of the way of all the other bits at the bottom of the engine that also go up and down (ie. the pistons). The results are not pretty.

Your handbook should give the service interval. However, for a car of that age, it is probably something like 50,000 miles or 5 years, whichever comes first. If there is any doubt as to when (or even if) it was last changed, get it done as a matter of urgency.

Just to supply and fit A BELT you're looking between £120-£200 at a cheapish garage, mainstealers will want a lot more. Shop around. Civic ones are pretty straight forward IIRC, depends which year I think, some you have to remove engine from an engine mount which can be a pain. Some need new pulleys aswell so would have to add that if it does, worth asking if the price is inclusive of anything or what you might be charged if it needs any extras. There are some cars which they recommend other parts be changed at the same time, on the Civics I think the water pump is what is recommended but you would have to check, so that's another cost to add on. I've only had one done at a garage last year (partner had hurt his back and couldn't do it) and that was £140 at a local 'rapid fitting' type place.

As an example when a friend snapped his timing belt, he bent 7 valves, which mean't rebuilding the head with new valves, new gaskets and headbolts etc. In total it cost us £160 to get it sorted on trade prices & favours, we did the work for him between me and my partner. A garage would probably recommend a new engine. It did 1000 miles over the recommended date for changing then bang!

Some belts last longer than a book says, many don't last much longer, sometimes they go earlier. A leaky engine can cause the stuff the belt is made of to break down, as can a lot of things, we usually do them at least 5000 miles before they are due. First thing we check when buying a car is when the belts due.

Cam belt snapped on my Vectra and caused approx 1500.00 worth of damage;had to have new head and all new valves. Dealer at fault though as they were asked to change it and said it wasn't the right service for it to be changed (they were wrong) and travelling back home from the service, it snapped! Had to get Vauxhall involved in order to make dealer cough up though!

If you plan to keep the car, then get the cambelt replaced using a cambelt kit and don't forget the water pump, if not, you would be a gambler. City driving is not doing the cambelt any good as it gets strained in stop start style because of the acceleration and deceleration all the time. It is over than 10 years old.

The choice is yours.