To do or not do the 105,000 mile service
 

I plan on selling my TL in about 1.5 years. It is currently at 102,000 miles on the odometer. With my driving habits it will be at 125,000 miles in a year in a half. My car hasn't gotten the 105k service code pop up yet but when it does, is it fairly safe to ignore it and just let it go until I sell the car. The cheapest service around here is 1250 bucks and I hate to invest that when the car may be out the door soon. Do those timing belts last pretty good? I hear all the time of people getting these TL's with 200,000 miles and hasn't had a timing belt changed. Anyway, Suggestions would be appreciated.

the belt is supposed to be replaced at 105K along with a valve adjustment and the waterpump replacement. Acura has done countless studiest when R and D 'ing this car and figure out the optimum replacement time is 105K.

If you fail to do it, you run the chance of the belt snapping and destroying the motor, and then it's going to be almost 5K for a new motor! It's 350 for the parts and around 600 for the labor. Contact our Acura parts vendor and you can save a bit more on the parts.

Doing that (ignoring a MAJOR service interval and then selling the car) is a dickhead move.

:shrug:


:2cents:

Either pay them a grand now, or 5 grand later if the belt breaks. Think positive in that you'll be able to use the service as a selling point when you decide to get rid of the car.

Where are you located?

Again, there is nothing in the owner's manual or service manual associating a recommended mileage with when to change out the timing belt. The belt is due when you get a "4" on the MID and the message changes from "Service due soon" to "Service due now".

Most likely, you won't have any problems going to 125K, but if it does happen to break, you're screwed. At least one member (Swoosh) has reported going to 133K before replacing the belt:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...9&postcount=14

And remember, the value of the car will be reduced by the cost of this service if you don't have it done before resale, not to mention it might be harder to find a buyer. On the otherhand, if you're trading it in to a dealer, the dealer can discount the cost.

For informational purposes, please post back when you do get the "Service due soon" message and when you get the "Service due now" message. The service is not actually due until the message changes to "Service due now".

How is it a dickhead move if I tell the person or dealer I'm selling it to that the belt hasn't been replaced? Dealers screw people over all the time, why would I foot a $1250 bill just to trade it in if I can go without it!

Have you checked the timing belt price at a Honda dealer or at an independent mechanic? I've seen where other members have posted that Honda dealers will do the timing belt/water pump job for a good deal less. $700-$800 I think.

I'd do the belt. The stakes are way to high if you lose the bet. Just in case you don't know it's not the price of the belt and installation you are deferring but rather you are risking trashing the engine.

Plus, if I was looking for a car in that mileage range and the owner couldn't prove they did the belt then I'd walk if they wouldn't lower the asking by about $1200 and I'd promptly get the job done. So I don't think the total price of the job will be lost. You will get another 1.5 years without worrying about the belt and you should get a bit more when you sell.

Look at it like this,you will look like a person that didnt take care of his car.
On top of that the dealer will deduct that cost off the trade due to them having to service the vehicle. Either way it will catch up to you. Waiting to 105,000 miles is pushing it anyways. You really risk the engine iqnoring the obvious:2cents:

You are correct. Let me re-phrase that: Skipping a Major service interval and not telling prospective buyers when selling the car would be a dickhead move.

:shrug:

:2cents:


As far as dealers ripping people off, just because they do, doesn't make it right if you do too.

Like another guy has said, if you don't do it you run the risk of damaging the car and when you trade it in the place that buys it will probably deduct the cost of it from their trade in offer because they know they have to do it.

Joe

I am at 176,XXX miles now with the original timing belt. The greedy local dealership wanted me to replace it at 100,XXX miles. I told them I will think about it. While walking away from the service manager's office, I got into my TL and started laughing my way to the bank.

I do suggest that you replace your transmission oil every year from here on out. Honda transmissions don't last past 100K miles.

I have an 06 TL and have A14 service light on the MID at 102500. I gave it to an Acura dealer for 1280(and 15% discount ) which comes to 1040 before taxes. Is this a good deal and can I ask them do anything else while I'm getting this done?

Get it done & drive the car a while longer.

I agree with Bearcat. It's just not the right thing to do. Plus what if it breaks down on you before you can sell it then what? You will just end spending even way moreeeeeee. But if you do get this done ASAP then you can use this service as your one of selling points!

Be a man do the right thing :)

I'm reminded of the Dirty Harry (Clint Eastwood) quote, "Well, do ya feel lucky, punk?" Seriously, if you're sellling the car outright, real prospective buyers, having done their homework, will probably ask if the TB has been changed and reduce their offer accordingly. If you trade it in to a dealer, probably no biggie as they'll just lowball the trade and dump it at auction.
What exactly are you looking at buying next year? Perhaps you could move your timetable up? Either that or get the service done run her a few extra years. No one on here is going to tell you "Sure, you'll be fine" because we don't know. Most likely yes, but the cost of failure will put a serious crimp in your budget. "Ya pays your money (or in this case not) and ya takes your chances...."

P.S. Thank you for your service! :patriot:

Sounds like another dealer rape. That had better include a happy ending for that price....What all are you getting for $1040 plus taxes?...

i had timing belt service done recently. not quite at 105k but the old belt didn't have any wear or cracks that were noticeable. prob could have driven lot longer on the original. i do plan on doing spark plugs soon when i get closer to 105k.

^^^ what mileage did you get it done it....i got mine done at 133K and the belt was still perfect....

PS: follow the MID and not my route.....

When Honda/Acura was developing this engine (or any engine), they ran it until it broke. Then they calculated the safe mileage to do maintenance before it broke. 105k is the mileage the manufacturer decided upon, leaving a wide margin of error. Will a timing belt go 200k? Maybe or maybe not. Would it go 150k? Maybe or maybe not. Would it go 105k? Almost definitely. Aha! That's a good mileage to recommend a change. The recommendation to change the waterpump at that mileage is only to save on later labor charges. A waterpump can easily go 200k miles, or it can leak at 30k miles, but that's unlikely. Many mechanics do not recommend changing the water pump unless there are signs of leakage. I, personally, change it when I do a timing belt simply because the part is relatively inexpensive and I've got everything apart already. I changed the TB on my last car, an 05 Toyota Solara, at 100k and then traded it for my Acura at 145k. it was alot of work to change, but I had 45k miles of carefree driving. Isn't your peace of mind worth it? Go to your local mechanic if money's a concern, but change the belt and pump. Hy

Well this is a dumb post. Your basically saying because people rip people off means you can too. So if people start jumping off bridges means you'll do it too? I'm at 87k on my car and I'm already thinking about doing my 105k maintenance just to have a clear mind and not worry about it. I been there before I was driving a 96 corolla belt was fine at 100k and went at about 110k how do you think it made me feel. I was lucky when the belt snapped none of the pistons went or nothing actually happened. Remember its a belt just because it looks okay doesn't mean its guaranteed to last so much longer than it is rated at.

I'm at 104k and have the A14 Due Now light on. I'm in Orlando. Thinking about Holler Honda and trying to get them to do a deal for me.

I have a 6MT and am thinking about also doing the door actuator and clutch at the same time. I've had a slipping (i think) clutch noise for almost 50 k mi - thinking they'll give me a deal if I get all the work done at the same time.

Any thoughts?

*sigh*

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/question-timing-belt-serpentine-belt-replacement-interval-890093/

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/when-change-timing-belt-890171/

I was looking for these posts and could not find them as fast as you did.
I am being quoted $798 for the timing chain, water pump, etc. portion of the service.

They want $1577 for the clutch service. (inc Labor on these)

Is this fair.

heck yeah, that's more than fair for a chain and all the modified pulleys required for the chain :biggrin:


$798 is not bad from a dealer, assuming it includes the tensioner, pump, belt and pulley (e.g. the full Aisin or Gates kit).

and for the clutch, that doesn't sound bad for a clutch, but again, depends on parts....

Post #262 of my thread:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=852444&page=7

https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/uh-oh-time-new-clutch-846900/

http://www.partsgeek.com/5cvlft1-acu...lutch-kit.html

You're lucky im bored. Learn to search newb.

I have a customer who was past 140k on her '05 TL with the original timing belt, said she was going to wait to 160k to replace it. Never got a good reason why 160k.

I did mine at 115k miles. Talked to my mechanic plus a Honda tech and both said as long as you get it done before 120k you should be fine. Once you get past 120k you are on borrowed time.

And I agree with some of the other comments. I'd walk away from any car above 105k that didn't have proof the timing belt/water pump had been changed.

I just had mine done at about 116K miles - paid about $890 from the dealer to do the pulleys and all including water pump. I was sweating for a week just thinking about that belt breaking! I should've done it sooner and saved myself unnecessary stress!

:iopinky: