I own a 2010 Honda CRV with a Timing Chain. For the first time the dealer recommended to me to have it changed. I am at 140,000 miles. Is this a common maintenance item? I thought that was true with Timing Belts but not Timing Chains.
Timing Chain
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While timing chains last a LOT longer than belts, they DO stretch with the miles. They won't snap and damage the engine as a timing belt would.
Honda engines where the oil level has been allowed to get low repeatedly, have been known to suffer from stretched timing chains.
That said, as long as you have monitored and maintained your oil level and don't get any CEL codes from the crankshaft and camshaft being out of sync, there is no action required.
Honda engines where the oil level has been allowed to get low repeatedly, have been known to suffer from stretched timing chains.
That said, as long as you have monitored and maintained your oil level and don't get any CEL codes from the crankshaft and camshaft being out of sync, there is no action required.
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Yeap, they do wear like anything. Just last longer
However your first and biggest mistake ever is listening to a dealership about anything a car needs besides fluid changes. I see it daily, dealerships trying to sell work a car doesnt need for another 10k or more.
Take it to a proper independent shop and see what they say.
Now if your engine is making noise when it starts and such, it is common for the vtc actuator assembly or timing chain tensioner to be having issues, so a timing chain replacement is required to fix. If the chain comes too loose it can jump teeth and potentially damage the engine. Not common as most people fix it before it gets that bad.
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However your first and biggest mistake ever is listening to a dealership about anything a car needs besides fluid changes. I see it daily, dealerships trying to sell work a car doesnt need for another 10k or more.
Take it to a proper independent shop and see what they say.
Now if your engine is making noise when it starts and such, it is common for the vtc actuator assembly or timing chain tensioner to be having issues, so a timing chain replacement is required to fix. If the chain comes too loose it can jump teeth and potentially damage the engine. Not common as most people fix it before it gets that bad.
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Thank you for your comment. I just got the cooling fluids flushed and replaced, so I thought the comment from the Dealer's Service people was misplaced. I normally change the oil around 4 4,000 to 5,000 miles, so the vehicle has had really consistent in it's maintenance. I may rethink doing this maintenance. How has the longevity of the water pumps been, I haven't changed that either.
Any way to check the condition of the timing chain.
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My water pump has 246k miles on it and still going. And that's any easy fix when, if ever that it goes bad. Make sure to change your thermostat though, if that goes bad and you overheat that cut the pumps life way down. I changed mine for piece of mind more than once now.
You can check condition of chain if you know and have the tools by pulling valve cover only off. But that's not 100%
If there is noise solely from the front of the engine or worse codes for crank or cam sensor is a good indication timing chain is out. 4-5k on oil changes is fine if using quality oil.
My chain made it to 165k if I remember right before there was noise and put a chain and tensioner in.
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You can check condition of chain if you know and have the tools by pulling valve cover only off. But that's not 100%
If there is noise solely from the front of the engine or worse codes for crank or cam sensor is a good indication timing chain is out. 4-5k on oil changes is fine if using quality oil.
My chain made it to 165k if I remember right before there was noise and put a chain and tensioner in.
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61 Posts
Dont touch the chain.
Im at 380km (2002) and its fine. Just dont let the oil go low. The chain lasts the lifetime of the engine inless the oil goes low.
If the dealer is asking you to change it, he is making money out of you.
Im at 380km (2002) and its fine. Just dont let the oil go low. The chain lasts the lifetime of the engine inless the oil goes low.
If the dealer is asking you to change it, he is making money out of you.
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I really wish people WOULD STOP WITH THIS BAD INFORMATION. It is WRONG!
Timing chains DO NOT last the life of an engine. But people junk the engine when the timing chain goes because they listen to uneducated people like this guy.
Change the timing chain every 150-175k miles and you'll see 400k miles or more from your engine. Listen to people like this guy, if you make it to 200k you'll be one of the elite luck ones.
It's like saying a timing belt will last the life of an engine, just plain wrong.
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Im at 188k with original water pump. Although i have replaced the thermostat and hoses.
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56 Posts
A lot of good advice/info for the poster....
i had the local dealer do an inspection of the chain for about$200. A lot cheaper than a replacement. Ask for an experienced service rep next time if the advice you’re getting is suspect.
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Honda says that the timing chain will last at least 300,000 miles with proper oil level. Timing belts are a different story and should be changed every 100,000 or otherwise indicated. Any service not listed on MM and/or manual is not a required service for reliability.
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Im reject your comments about being uneducated. I question your integrity to post when making such personal attacks.
The chain lasts depending on how one maintains the engine.
I have been going to a honda specialist for almost over eight years. His father and himself have been working on Hondas for decades. I myself asked them about this when I first started going to the shop. They have always said the same thing. 'The chain will last, just dont let the oil go low.'.
I even asked myself when I was at 300km a few years back. The shop owner pointed to a Honda CRV next to mine and said its at 400km and just did a regular oil change, it runs fine.
Chain engines are not timing belts.
But lets go further.
I almost bought a 2012 CRV the other day. I brought it too the shop for inspection. The engine had been opened, silicone replaced, it was leaking oil. Something was done to the timing chain. Agian the mechanic asked. Why did they touch the timing chain? It could be for a number of reasons. But the main one has always been, don let the oil go too low. The Honda mechanic has been saying the same thing for the last 8 years.
Im almost hitting 400km and Ive never touched my timing chain. 300,000 miles to km is around 482803.2km. But I ensure the oil is maintained.
If one diagrees, I don't have a issue. But state your case without attacking and allow the OP to make their own mind up.
Yeah, timing chains will generally last the life of the car without replacement as long as maintenance is kept up. My wife's Accord went over 400k miles with the original timing chain, trans, and most other hard parts. With the exception of certain other makes that have used nylon timing gear, most timing chains never go bad, even with mediocre maintenance. I've replaced a couple, and seen a couple stretch a little, but that's a far cry from all of them.
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