Timing Belt or Chain?
 

Hey everyone,

I just bought my 2008 Fit, and I had a quick newbie question lol. Does the Honda Fit have a Timing Belt or Timing Chain?

Thanks,
Jon

Belt.
I don't know of a modern 4 cyl that uses a chain.
Many V8's still do though.
And my V10 Ford has timing chains for it overhead cam heads.

It has a chain !

I stand corrected.
No matter what this link is selling....
Honda FIT Timing Belt - Partstrain.com

I think most modern timing chains are good for 250k. Go back 50 years and the first timing chains were good for 50k if you were lucky...

Your link does not show timing belts for Fits. We have timing chains, just like it says in the Fit shop manual.

No, I agree its a chain.
And thats good news to me. No belt to change.
I wonder if the water pump is easier to get to without being hidden behind a belt?

It will have to be driven by something - timing chain or external belt would be the easiest...most everything on a modern engine is buried.

Now keep in mind - I have worked on quite a few cars and trucks from the 50's and 60's. Actually worked on an inline 6 in a 1966 Ford pickup that you could almost sit next to the engine in the engine bay.

every 4 cyl honda uses a chain now, only the v6 still uses a belt

I always loved the fact that you have to remove the bolts from the engine mount and jack up the engine a bit when doing a timing belt on an older Honda. Of course, I don't where else they could have put the mount if not in the center of the belt path...not much room in there!

Thanks!
 

I have been meaning to find this out for sure, just out of curiosity, but I kept forgetting to look it up. I did think it was a chain, but wasn't 100% sure.
Thanks for bringing it up!:D

This is so true. I recall my HS day fixing my 71 Buick LeSabre, I actually sat inside the engine bay with room to spare.

Thanks for all the info! I was pretty sure it was a chain (which I am happy about) But i wasnt quite sure. Thanks for all the replys

Guess what? The Nissan SR20DE (SE-R) used a chain, all the way back in 1991 :D

Yes, it has a timing chain. There's no set interval to replace it.

I have a maintenance sheet that says it's to be replaced at 105K. Since it's an interference engine, naturally I'm concerned. I go to an honest, old school mechanic who doesn't think it should be necessary under normal circumstances.

It would be something like $400 or so, I'm guessing. Perhaps someone else could chime in.

good god no. Don't replace it. It's not a maintenance item. A timing chain is good for the life of the engine. If you're rebuilding the engine that's the time to replace it. Whatever maintenance sheet suggests 105K is for older belt driven camshafts.

Leave the water pump alone unless it's leaking. The MM will call for coolant change around 100K. Mine did at 107K.

At the same time, 107K, it called for new plugs and and valve adjustment. That's not cheap, $500+ at your friendly honda service dept, but you can probably get it for half that at another shop. Or DIY. It involves removing the wipers and the cowl at the base of the windshield, the intake box, and finessing the valves with a feeler gauge and special wrench after rotating the crankshaft for each piston to be top-of-dead-center. Plugs are pretty simple but over tightening can be catastrophic. It's not a simple DIY.

ETA: if the water pump needs changing (leaks) it doesn't require removal of the timing chain, it's on the outside of the engine. Older engines would require timing belt changes every 60-110K miles and the water pump was typically inside the belt housing. It made sense to change these with the belt (most belt kits include the pump), pump is about $50 and could damage the belt if it leaked. Be happy you don't have one on the Fit.

Valve adjustment is annoying, but don't put this off: burned exhaust valves can result (but probably not until after 150K if not done). Other cars have hydraulic lifters that don't need adjusting, but when these need replacement are a major job and very expensive. Better to adjust solid lifters.