Could someone please let me know if a 1999 Civic DX 1.6 liter SOHC engine is an interference or non-interference design. I've been searching the internet and have gotten conflicting information.

I'm advising a friend about timing belt replacement. The maintenance schedule calls fo replacement at 105k miles, but we may want to do it sooner for peace of mind, especially if it's an interference design.

Thanks!

***edit*** Thanks everyone, topic closed.

 

Interference. It will bend valves if it goes.

Unless you already have it apart, I probably wouldn't do it till 105 and I'd replace the water pump and belt idler pulley/spring at the same time. It's not a horrible job, the only difficult part is getting the crank pulley loose. Sometimes you need a huge breaker or lots of air.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. Now, our plan is change it out between 100 and 105k miles, and for sure do the water pump, pulleys, etc.

I have a nice 1/2" breaker bar and enough air to get the crank bolt off a Miata engine that was sealed in place with loctite.

 

Moving to Car talk.

 

Basically, there are only two (I think) relatively modern Honda engines that are non-interference. One is the '98-'02 Accord engine (F23) without VTEC (the others with VTEC actually won't interfere as long as you aren't in the VTEC engagement range) and another is one of the Civic engines - I forget which one, but I think it's an early 90's engine.