2005 honda pilot belt change

[Xeption]

Might be getting off subject here, but how would you compare the performance and the reliability between the hondas and the hyundai Tom???

[onu2002]

Compare performance? Between an SUV, a sedan and a sports roadster? One's big and slow, another is small and slow, and the other is tiny and fast.

Reliability? The Pilot's been flawless in the 80k+ miles I've owned it. The Sonata has been too, except for three broken sun visors. I've had the s2k for only 2k miles or so, so I can't really comment. I don't think the previous owners had any problems. And what I've read is s2k's are typical Hondas as far as reliability is concerned.

I would definitely buy another Honda - in fact, when/if we have a 3rd child, an Odyssey is at the top of the list. I would probably buy another Hyundai too, even though the broken sun visors really angered me. Obviously Hyundai has to save cost somewhere to offer the models they do at the prices they do, but to me, a sun visor is something that should never break. But when I consider how much I saved over an Accord or Camry, I can afford a few replacements.

[Xeption]

Thanks Tom....I had never heard of interference engines, and that is the only "complaint" about my Pilot. So far so good with 700 miles on mine, hehe....I take pride in all of my vehicles since I take very good care of them. My next vehicle will probably not be a Honda.....Hope mine proves me wrong! Ill look into an X5 next.

[onu2002]

It seems that you're caught up on the interference vs. non-interference thing. Interference engines are not a bad thing. There's no way to achieve the high power/high mpg performance without interference engines. Non-interference engines are just too inefficient.

I don't know anything about BMWs, but I'd have to think that all of their engines are interference. So it's a matter of belt vs. chain.

[rocky]

Whether an an engine is interference or not, doesn't matter unless you fail to change the timing belt according to manufacturers recs. If you don't change it and it breaks, then your engine if FU'd

In the last 25 years, the only time I heard of a belt going was due to owner neglect.

So stop worrying about interference v non interference!

[humanoid]

Right on, Rocky! Just get the damn thing changed when you're supposed to.

[onu2002]

Sure, now that Xeption owns the car, just get the damn thing changed when recommended.

But his thing is, if he'd known about the Pilot's interference engine, combined with its use of a belt rather than a chain, he might not have bought the car. Perfectly understandable.

What I'm saying is, I wouldn't get too caught up in int. vs. non-int, because most modern engines are going to be int. Instead, I'd use belt vs. chain as my deciding factor. No use buying into a $1000 bill at 100k if you can avoid it. And, of course, if the alternative is viable. For instance, if my choice is down to an Odyssey or Sienna, and the Ody has a belt while the Sienna has a chain, I'd probably get the Sienna, since they're both very good vehicles.

Of course, $1000 spread out over 100k miles isn't exactly unbearable.

[Xeption]

Nah, BMW diesel engines for sure aren't interference! Now, the engine and the tranny are the heart and soul of a car. Everything else for example a water pump and alternator are wear and tear. I've read bad things about the pilot's tranny and now i find out about interference engines now I can't sleep at night! my best friends wife drives a 2000 Volvo s60(non interference engine) with 255 k miles!!! Now there my friends is a reliable car....u guys go ahead and try to convince me of a smart buy, I'll keep doubting it....haha

[jl_ss]

Originally Posted by Xeption

Nah, BMW diesel engines for sure aren't interference! Now, the engine and the tranny are the heart and soul of a car. Everything else for example a water pump and alternator are wear and tear. I've read bad things about the pilot's tranny and now i find out about interference engines now I can't sleep at night! my best friends wife drives a 2000 Volvo s60(non interference engine) with 255 k miles!!! Now there my friends is a reliable car....u guys go ahead and try to convince me of a smart buy, I'll keep doubting it....haha

I wouldn't lose too much sleep over the Pilots reliability. Here are the CR owner reported reliability survey ratings. The engine and transmission get "much better than average" reliability ratings. Since internet forums are the place where people go to report problems, a very small fraction of owners reporting a problem clustered on a forum can make that problem look much worse than it is. And, when the number of people experiencing an issue is taken into context with the number of vehicles sold, it can actually be an insignificant issue experienced by a few people. If it really is a widespread problem, it will be reflected in the CR reliability ratings.

The early 2000 S60 reliability ratings aren't nearly as good as the Pilot's. According to the Volvo forums, the S60 IS an interference design that uses a timing belt that requires replacment every 105K miles.

[Xeption]

Check that, it's. 2001 Volvo s60,,,, and according to Gates Part Locator & Interchange
It's not an interference engine. He bought this car from his boss when it had 80k miles. He has never replaced the timing belt on it. Now if the belt were to break she would be stranded. After getting it towed and replacing the belt, 99/100 the car would be good to go. He has a junked Honda prelude that after replacing a busted timing belt it still doesn't start. Now we know what happend to it, after a busted timming belt the engine needs an overhaul. Listen guys, talking bad about our cars is almost like talking bad
about our own children. No one likes it but once in a while we have to be open minded and look at the big picture. My conclusion is that a car with an interference engine is a
bad investment.

[jl_ss]

Originally Posted by Xeption

Check that, it's. 2001 Volvo s60,,,, and according to Gates Part Locator & Interchange
It's not an interference engine. He bought this car from his boss when it had 80k miles. He has never replaced the timing belt on it. Now if the belt were to break she would be stranded. After getting it towed and replacing the belt, 99/100 the car would be good to go. He has a junked Honda prelude that after replacing a busted timing belt it still doesn't start. Now we know what happend to it, after a busted timming belt the engine needs an overhaul. Listen guys, talking bad about our cars is almost like talking bad
about our own children. No one likes it but once in a while we have to be open minded and look at the big picture. My conclusion is that a car with an interference engine is a
bad investment.

I believe that is a mistake on the Gates site for the S60. Dayco's TB site (as well as the forums I searched) indicated it is an interference design. If you look at the two other 2001 models that use the same 2.3/2.4L engines (C70,V70) on the gates site, it indicates they are interference engines and the same TB kit is called for. Auto manufacturers usually do not have two seperate valve/piston designs for the same engines in the same model years. In which case, if they are still driving it, the belt should be replaced. Since the replacement interval for an S60 is 105K, they are getting more than 2x life given thier driving style. Could be the same with the Pilot, but no one will volunteer to be test subjects...........

I would only agree that an interference engine design was a bad investment if the vehicles you are considering have the same costs outside of normal maintenance. Our Pilot with 120K miles has not required any parts/labor outside of normal maintenance. A TB replacement is $400. If a vehicle that I buy instead of the Pilot costs me more than $400 outside of normal maintenance, then the Pilot was the better investment. My Chevy truck with 60K has already cost me a lot more than $400 in parts/labor outside of normal maintenance, I view the Pilot, even with the TB cost as the better investment. Or looking at comparable vehicles, a Honda Ridgeline would have been a better investment than the Chevy truck.

Toyota has switched to timing chains on their V6s and I believe their later engines are interference designs. Timing chains last a lot longer than belts (Toyota has no fixed replacement interval) and give some indication when they have stretched prior to failing, so they are safer to use with the more efficient interference designs. So a Highlander might be a better investment than a Pilot. However, the Pilot can seat 3 more comfortably in the middle row versus the tiny mid seat insert in the Highlander. In my case the better use of space and seating in the Pilot outweighs the $400 TB savings.

[Xeption]

Im glad to hear thet your pilot hasn't given u any trouble. In the n east, weather can be harsh, glad to hear good work is coming out of a pilot out there in the battlefield. Thanks for the input!! I'll trust my pilot for now..:-)