Timing belt and other cr@p
Discussion
Hi,
I bought a new car (civic). The dealer seems to be running a service shop + a car wash as well. However, I bought it from a Pakistani dealer and I'm not too sure how much a Pakistani or indian guy knows about repairing cars. I have a lot of Indian friends but I always thought they were more in IT and stuff
(no offense).
The car has done 95 000 miles. It was serviced regularly till about 30000 miles (official stamps) then at 95 000 miles it was serviced by the dealer. I don't know what's been going on in between. I think the previous owner just realized it was a Japanese car and there's no point it regular servicing if you know how to do a few things and you have an extra couple of hours free (although I'd rather do the regular servicing).
Anyway, I'm not sure what parts I should be checking and be worried about. The dealer said they've just serviced it and showed me a receipt for a new air filter, oil filter and it's passed MOT in March with no remarks. However, air filter and oil filter seems like basic servicing i.e. nothing deep. I doubt the timing belt's been checked and I don't know how to check it. I know it should be replaced roughly every 60 000miles (although I know a few people with over 150k and they've never replaced it).
What should I be worried about? What are the parts that if they go wrong, I either crash or the car is bust? I don't take into account things such as tyres etc which I can inspect but more the things that I can't. I have a 3 months warranty (bronze cover...yeah the worst) but still.
Thank you
I bought a new car (civic). The dealer seems to be running a service shop + a car wash as well. However, I bought it from a Pakistani dealer and I'm not too sure how much a Pakistani or indian guy knows about repairing cars. I have a lot of Indian friends but I always thought they were more in IT and stuff
(no offense).The car has done 95 000 miles. It was serviced regularly till about 30000 miles (official stamps) then at 95 000 miles it was serviced by the dealer. I don't know what's been going on in between. I think the previous owner just realized it was a Japanese car and there's no point it regular servicing if you know how to do a few things and you have an extra couple of hours free (although I'd rather do the regular servicing).
Anyway, I'm not sure what parts I should be checking and be worried about. The dealer said they've just serviced it and showed me a receipt for a new air filter, oil filter and it's passed MOT in March with no remarks. However, air filter and oil filter seems like basic servicing i.e. nothing deep. I doubt the timing belt's been checked and I don't know how to check it. I know it should be replaced roughly every 60 000miles (although I know a few people with over 150k and they've never replaced it).
What should I be worried about? What are the parts that if they go wrong, I either crash or the car is bust? I don't take into account things such as tyres etc which I can inspect but more the things that I can't. I have a 3 months warranty (bronze cover...yeah the worst) but still.
Thank you
Edited by s5s on Monday 17th June 23:28
jimbob82 said:
if the timing belt snaps it'll bork the engine, simples
for what it costs it's best to get a new belt on there just to be safe.
How much does it cost approximately? My impression is that it's about £250-£300. I was also wondering if there's a way to tell if a belt change is needed.for what it costs it's best to get a new belt on there just to be safe.
Edited by s5s on Monday 17th June 23:56
You've bought a 95,000 miler with a 65,000 mile black hole in its nonexistent service history with a almost worthless Bronze warranty you have paid for ( probably unbeknownst to yourself) from a Pakistani car wash and you're worried about the timing belt?
Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Tony427 said:
You've bought a 95,000 miler with a 65,000 mile black hole in its nonexistent service history with a almost worthless Bronze warranty you have paid for ( probably unbeknownst to yourself) from a Pakistani car wash and you're worried about the timing belt?
Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Thanks Tony. I have full set of MOTs for each year up to the present one. I have the HPi too. There's nothing missing that I can see - all lights are working fine.Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
s5s said:
Tony427 said:
You've bought a 95,000 miler with a 65,000 mile black hole in its nonexistent service history with a almost worthless Bronze warranty you have paid for ( probably unbeknownst to yourself) from a Pakistani car wash and you're worried about the timing belt?
Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Thanks Tony. I have full set of MOTs for each year up to the present one. I have the HPi too. There's nothing missing that I can see - all lights are working fine.Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
s5s said:
Tony427 said:
You've bought a 95,000 miler with a 65,000 mile black hole in its nonexistent service history with a almost worthless Bronze warranty you have paid for ( probably unbeknownst to yourself) from a Pakistani car wash and you're worried about the timing belt?
Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Thanks Tony. I have full set of MOTs for each year up to the present one. I have the HPi too. There's nothing missing that I can see - all lights are working fine.Unless it was heropically cheap I get the feeling you've been a bit too trusting which will probably end up biting you in a most tender place.
Did you HPi the car before purchase? Are there lights missing off the dashboard display, are there bulbs missing where there should be warning lights, is the car a write off or damage repairable? Is it a cloned car? Why no old MOT's, garage invoices, old tax discs, MOT printouts etc.
It all smells very fishy to me, and timing belts may be the least of your worries?
What were you thinking?
Cheers,
Tony
Still a black hole in service records will undoubtedly effect its value. Did the guy service it himself. are the Mot's all from the same garage. If so it may be worth ringing them up and asking a few questions.
Cheers,
Tony
Tony427 said:
Not quite as bad as you were making out then as its got provenance. HPI clear and known MOT history is good.
Still a black hole in service records will undoubtedly effect its value. Did the guy service it himself. are the Mot's all from the same garage. If so it may be worth ringing them up and asking a few questions.
Cheers,
Tony
The initial servicing were all done at exact 10 000 miles intervals and were at an official Honda dealer/service. It's my first car and I don't expect to be making money reselling it (although I wish I haggled as I'm good at it but I was just busy and didn't want to waste time. I bought it as quickly as I buy a bag of tomatoes.Still a black hole in service records will undoubtedly effect its value. Did the guy service it himself. are the Mot's all from the same garage. If so it may be worth ringing them up and asking a few questions.
Cheers,
Tony
I do plan to drive it for at least 1 year as I really like it. I just need to change the stereo and add a few gizmo's and gadgets.
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