Are you planning to replace the timing belt on your Odyssey and you are looking to find out the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? Well, if this is the case and you want to find out more about the costs involved in this type of work, then you are at the right place because there will be quite a lot to cover.
- Honda Odyssey
- Timing Belt Job
- Why Is It So Important?
- Timing Belt Interval
- Common Symptoms
- Diagnosing
- Replacement Cost
- Final Conclusion
- FAQs
Doing your own investigation on the prices of some services before you decide to go to a shop to get the problem sorted out is the right move by your side. Why we are saying this? Well, car-related maintenance, servicing, and general repairs are pretty expensive.
Namely, a lot of places that do these services often overcharge customers and charge them an arm and a leg for a service of this type. So, you need to be aware of the average cost of the timing belt replacement before you decide to replace it. And not only when it comes to the timing belt job. This is true for most of the repairs that need to be done on a vehicle. And this is why we are here to help you out.
First, we are going to learn what is the Honda Odyssey, then we are going to learn what is the timing belt job and why it is so important. We will also cover the replacement interval, in addition to this we will discuss the symptoms that the timing belt produces, as well as the diagnostics, replacement, and the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Honda Odyssey
Now before we start digging into the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey let’s introduce ourselves to the Honda Odyssey and learn more about this model. We think that this is rather essential because there are a lot of people facing similar issues with the model and we need to further elaborate on it and understand more about its background, so let’s cover this really quick.
The Honda Odyssey is a minivan that was introduced by the Japanese carmaker Honda in the early 90s. More precisely, the first Odyssey debuted in 1994 and as of 2022, there is a total of five generations of this model released on the market.
What is worth noting is that the Honda Odyssey was a real hit and the early 2000s were the golden age of this model. Honda was able to sell more than 170,000 of this model annually.
Even though the sales slowly started to decline in recent years. This is owed to the fact that people often prefer a three-row mid-size SUV to a minivan. So, the minivan market slowly starts to become a niche market with fewer and fewer new models.
But this doesn’t mean that the Odyssey still doesn’t sell well. Honda still manages to get at least 70,000 units sold in the US annually.
What is important to note about the Honda Odyssey is that this is a rather roomy vehicle that is able to accommodate up to 7 or 8 passengers. So, if you have a lot of kids, this model is the way to go. It even has a sliding door like any other van. But what does the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? More on that in a bit.
What Is A Timing Belt Service
Now before we learn more about the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey, let’s take a look at what is a timing belt job. We need to understand more about this type of maintenance that is done.
As you probably know modern engines implement a design that is known as an overhead camshaft. There is a single overhead camshaft (SOHC) or double overhead camshaft (DOHC).
This type of design implements camshafts on top of the engine. The camshafts are then connected with the timing belt to the crankshaft.
And all this makes this type of engine to be something that is called an interference engine. When it comes to interference engines, it is worth noting that these engines need to have perfect timing.
This means that the distance between the pistons and the valves should be perfectly timed out. If the timing is bad, then this will result in engine damage.
So, this is why you have a timing belt that makes sure that your interference engine does not damage itself.
And this requires proper maintenance to be done to the engine. Namely, the timing belt has to be replaced when the belt reaches the end of its operating cycle. In this case, you need to learn more about the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey and replace this belt. But more on this, we are going to cover it in a bit.
Why Is A Timing Belt Replacement Important
Now let’s discuss more about why the timing belt replacement is important before we dive into the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey. Why do you need to perform this service on your Honda Odyssey?
The biggest reason why you need to make sure that you perform this service at the recommended interval is the situation of the timing belt getting damaged or snapped.
And trust me, when the miles and age build up on this timing belt, the belt will start to develop cracks and in some cases, it could also lose some of its characteristic “teeth”.
As you probably know, each belt has teeth that lay in the grooves of the pulleys on which you mount the belt.
And if these teeth start to wear out or fall off, the belt will lose its original timing. Once this happens, the timing can either advance or possibly retard.
And when this happens, you have an engine that has bad timing. So, considering that this is an interference engine, this is bad news for you. Mainly because there could be significant engine damage inside the engine.
The valves could collide with the pistons and this will be a complete nightmare to fix. But what does the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? More on that in a bit.
Honda Odyssey Timing Belt Or Chain
Another topic that bothers a lot of Honda Odyssey owners is the question of whether they run a timing belt or timing chain. So, let’s answer this question before we dive into the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey.
As you probably know, the first generation of the Odyssey uses 2.2L and 2.3L engines which run on a timing belt.
From the second generation onward, the Odyssey uses a 3.5L V6 engine that has a lot more power and overall, drives a lot better on this chassis. This engine is also shared with the Honda Pilot and the Honda Ridgeline.
And this 3.5L V6 engine is a timing belt engine. This means that it doesn’t run with the help of a timing chain. What is good about the Honda Odyssey running a timing belt is that the overall service for replacing a belt is much cheaper in comparison to replacing a timing belt.
So, if you opt for the Honda Odyssey, you will save quite a significant amount of money on maintenance. This is why it is a good idea to go for this engine. But how much is timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? More on this, we are going to cover it in a bit.
Honda Odyssey Timing Belt Replacement Schedule
We learned more about if the Honda Odyssey runs on a timing chain or a timing belt and we understood the fact that the Odyssey is running on a timing belt. Now before we understand more about the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey, let’s take a look at the replacement schedule. When this belt has to be replaced?
The timing belt on the Honda Odyssey should be replaced between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Or every 7 years.
This is the case because the timing belt is made out of rubber. And rubber over time becomes really hard, starts to crack, and also, starts to disintegrate.
So, once the timing belt reaches this age, it is better to replace it. Also, you should not push the timing belt up to 100,000 miles. It is a much better idea to replace it every 80,000 miles just for a good measure.
You just don’t know what could happen in life, you should never leave things to chance. But what about the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? More on that, we will cover it in a bit.
Symptoms Of A Bad Timing Belt
So, we have covered the timing belt service and we understood why this service is really essential when it comes to keeping your engine health in check.
Now it is time to move on and learn more about the symptoms that you will experience when you have a timing belt. As we mentioned previously, it is advised that you check this belt somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles or every 7 years. In some cases, when you don’t know the service history of the car, you should replace it for a good measure.
Or if you want to drive a car like this, make sure that it doesn’t have one of the following symptoms that we will list in the article. Once we complete the symptoms, we will discuss the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey. So, let’s cover the symptoms.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey, Symptoms #1: Check Engine Light
The first symptom of a bad timing belt is probably the check engine light. So, why this is the symptom of a bad timing belt, even though the timing belt is not connected to the car’s computer? This is a good question, so let’s answer it.
If you are not aware, on the engine there are a lot of sensors. More specifically the sensors monitor the position of the crankshaft as well as the position of the camshafts.
So, if you have a problem with your timing belt, the engine could skip the timing a little bit. And once the engine skips timing, there could be a problem like a check engine light. Because these sensors noticed that the camshaft and the crankshaft are not aligned. A clear example of this type of problem is the P0017 code.
There could also be other codes. But the camshaft and crankshaft-related codes are far more common.
And when you have codes concerning the camshaft and crankshaft, there can be a problem with the sensors themselves. Or indeed your engine skipped timing and is performing quite poorly because of this.
A thorough investigation of this issue is needed in order to be determined the right cause for the matter. If the belt is bad, then a timing belt replacement cost has to be paid and the problem sorted out. Now let’s move on to the next symptom.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey, Symptoms #2: Engine Tick
The second very common symptom that indicates a need for timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey to be paid is the engine ticking sound that will develop once this belt fails.
So, why does this ticking sound happen? Well, there could be because of engine misfires and also because of valves coming in contact with the piston.
What is certain is that this sound is probably caused by a bad timing belt in most cases. A belt that skipped a few degrees of timing and now it is developing this sound. So, a ticking sound should be quite alarming for you.
If you determine that the timing belt has failed, you will have to pay the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey. And more on how much this cost is, we are going to cover later on.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey, Symptoms #3: Engine Misfires
The third symptom that is closely associated with a bad timing belt is the situation when the engine starts to misfire.
For example, you get a check engine light and a P0300 that indicates a random misfire. Then you can safely assume that something with the timing could be causing this problem.
Usually when an engine misfires randomly, it either has a problem with the variable valve timing. Or possibly it has a problem with the timing of the camshafts because of a bad timing belt.
In this case, the timing belt has to be replaced and the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey has to be paid. But how expensive is this replacement? More on this we are going to cover more in a bit.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey, Symptoms #4: Belt Missing Teeth
The next two symptoms are visual symptoms that you have a bad timing belt. Namely, when the timing belt is old, it starts to wear quite exponentially.
It might start to develop cracks, as well as some of the teeth of the belt will wear off or fall off. When this happens, your engine could skip timing and you will face problems.
What is bad in this situation is that the engine could get damaged inside. And what is unfortunate, you are not able to see the condition of the belt unless the timing cover is removed. Once a mechanic gets their hands around your engine, they’ll be able to tell whether you need to pay the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey or not.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey, Symptoms #5: Bent Engine Valves
The next symptom that is closely associated with timing belt problems is physical damage. We have mentioned the ticking sound.
And this is the situation when the timing is off by a bit and the valves touch the pistons. But if the timing goes off quite significantly, you will start to experience serious engine damage.
Namely, the valves and pistons will collide with each other and there could be serious damage inside the engine. And to fix this, you will need a major engine overhaul. This is why replacing the timing belt on time and paying the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey is crucial to sort out the problem. Now let’s move on and see how you can diagnose the problem.
How To Diagnose A Bad Timing Belt
Now before we dive into the costs and learn the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey. Let’s learn how you can diagnose this component on your Odyssey.
We frankly do not recommend you reach this stage and learn how to diagnose a bad timing belt. We advise that you replace the belt once it reaches the end of its lifetime and not push it over the limits because if you do push it too much, you risk having a snapped timing belt.
But if you suspect that the belt is going bad, it will definitely start to show its downsides. A check engine light and a P0017 or a similar code is a good lead when it comes to determining that the belt is bad and your engine has skipped timing for a few degrees. Also, the check engine light and random misfires are also quite common as well.
The next thing you would want to do is to perform a visual inspection on the timing belt. For this purpose, you will need to remove the timing cover and see what is going on behind it.
Check if the timing belt has tension, then check for cracks, and lastly, check if all of the teeth of the belt are still standing. If there is some cracking or the teeth look worn, then you should replace the belt. But what about the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey? More on that next.
Timing Belt Replacement Cost Honda Odyssey
Now let’s take a look at the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey and learn how expensive it is to replace this component on your Odyssey.
What is worth noting is that if you are a beginner or even intermediate, you shouldn’t try doing this at home if you are not in what you get yourself into.
Namely, because you can fail to adjust the timing belt, and once you give the engine a crank, the valves and pistons will collide and your whole engine will seize. So, always go to a shop when it comes to a service of this type.
But what are the costs of performing this type of work on your car? Well, we can say that the costs are rather high.
Only the parts that include the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, idler pulley, and water pump can cost between $500 and $600.
The labor on the other hand is somewhere between $350 and $450. So, overall, the average grand total of this type of service is between $950 and $1,050.
It’s an expensive service but it has to be done if you want to keep driving your car safely without worrying about the engine suffering catastrophic damage. What is good though, is that the timing belt replacement is cheaper when compared to a timing chain job. A typical timing chain replacement cost can be well above $2,000.
Final Conclusion
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the Honda Odyssey timing belt service. First, we learned what the Odyssey is and the main characteristics of this model.
Then we learned about the timing belt service and the schedule for when this service should be performed. We learned the symptoms of a bad timing belt, as well as the diagnostics process. Lastly, we discussed the timing belt replacement cost Honda Odyssey and learned about the costs involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
When To Replace A Timing Belt
The timing belt should be replaced between 60,000 and 100,000 miles or every 7 years. This is due to the fact that the timing belt is made out of rubber and rubber over a long time of use starts to degrade.
How Much Is A Timing Belt
A timing belt is not expensive. But with the timing belt, you also have to purchase the timing belt tensioner, pulleys, and also water pump in most cases. And this adds up to $450 to $600 only in parts.
How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Timing Belt
You cannot fix a timing belt. If the belt is cracked or missing teeth, it has to be replaced with a new one, and the sooner you do this service, the better will be because driving like this is risky. Imagine if the belt snaps, there will be instantaneous engine damage.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Drive Belt
Replacing a drive belt is not expensive as replacing a timing belt. A drive belt job will not cost you more than $300. On average, this type of work costs about $220 depending on where you take your car to have this work done.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Tensioner Pulley
A tensioner pulley is cheap to replace. The part alone is no more than $50 and the labor is about $50 to $80. So, the overall cost is somewhere in the range of $100 to $120.
Which Hondas Have Timing Chains
Honda prefers using timing belts on most of its engines. But there are still some models that use timing chains. Namely, the CR-V and the Honda Civic.
