Brandon Allen

I recently called acura to see about getting this done. I know they do t-belt, water pump etc. They said this month it would cost me ~900 and take them about 2 days and they supply a rental. I asked them about a valve adjustment and they said that would be an extra $400.... I was like WTF i thought the $900 was going to cover it all? I know before they told me that they valve adj. when they did the t-belt...

Can anyone tell me if they are just trying to get me to spend more money or should the valve adjustment be included.
I know i has seen other people with cars like mine that have around 200K miles and still never got the t-belt etc. done. If i have to choose one or the other, what would you guys suggest?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the timing belt is the most important piece of maintenance you can ever do.
if it snaps, your engine is toast.

valves can get loose and tight over the years, but wont cause drastic harm.


try going to a Honda dealership and ask for their 105k service. they should charge considerably less.

Brandon Allen

Will do thanks for the advice.

gnuts

iTrader: (1)

I knew the parts manager at a Honda here, but I had it done for 600. Then I adjusted the valves myself.

Ponto

I paid $600 for tb/wp at my local shop earlier this year. My car had 125k and just not worth taking the chance. I paid about the same for my TL in 2010 at another shop with a certified Honda mechanic. I suggest shopping around.

Brandon Allen

Yea i have only checked at the acura dealership. They said with everything it would be about $1300 Which is pretty steep. Not everybody has that kind of money to just trow out at one time when me and a friend could do most of it for $0...

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

I paid about 300 in parts and 500 in labor to do my 105k service including valve adjustment. I went to a local Honda shop.

Brandon Allen

Thanks.
Do you have a list of the parts you ordered? I know the t-belt and water pump is needed but, what else? I can probably find them online myself.

Tosh

Find an independent Honda specialist that uses Honda parts. Take your time. Ask your people. There's no rush...

Brandon Allen

I don't know of any of the top of my head in Kentucky but ill look around. Im leaning more toward the Honda dealership

Tosh

Bring lube.

Acidicheartburn

If you have an independent shop you feel comfortable taking your car to, get an estimate there. Acura here wanted something around 900 for just a timing belt. I got it done at an independent for something around 600. After doing the timing belt, struts install and wheel alignment, water pump, valve adjustment, new sparks, and power steering + alternator belt, I paid $1800~. Acura wanted something around 1200-1300 for new OEM struts + install; after buying my own struts and having them installed I paid around $850.

The car runs and drives like/better than new and I couldn't be happier with the work they did. Acura charges extra "because they're a premium car company". Take your car elsewhere. Also, some of the items on the 105K checkup are superfluous and you can do yourself.

Brandon Allen

???

Brandon Allen

What other items are included in the 105K tune up?

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Off the top of my head, I got spark plugs, spark plug gaskets, upper and lower intake manifold gaskets, EGR valve (mine was clogged), idler and pulley. I think that's it. A little overboard but I don't want to be touching these components again for another 105k/7 years. I think I grabbed my list from another that was posted on here before. You can probably find it if you search.

Brandon Allen

Ok I just want to make sure they do everything they are supposed to If I am paying that much for it. I called the honda dealer that was closest to me and they were just a little bit cheaper than acura but. Still shopping around tho.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

if you're going to the dealer, bring lube, because they will ASS RAPE YOU!

Brandon Allen

Lmao oh im aware... Acura said ~900 for the t-belt and stuff and a extra $400 for valve adjustment.
Honda said ~800 for t-belt, etc. and $400 for valve adjustment.

Acidicheartburn

According to this http://owners.acura.com/service-main...#mid^YA4261FNW Acura website, the items listed on the 105,000 mile tuneup are:

• Replace engine oil.
• Rotate tires (follow pattern on page 246 of your owner's manual).
• Replace engine oil filter.
• Inspect front and rear brakes.
• Check parking brake adjustment.
• Inspect tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots.
• Inspect suspension components.
• Inspect driveshaft boots.
• Inspect brake hoses and lines (including ABS).
• Check all fluid levels, condition of fluids, and check for leaks.
• Inspect cooling system hoses and conditions.
• #Inspect exhaust system.
• #Inspect fuel lines and connections.
• #: See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page 207 of your owner's manual.
• Replace timing belt, and inspect water pump.
• Inspect valve clearance.
• Check idle speed.
• Replace spark plugs.
• Replace coolant.

Obviously, don't have them do anything you've had done or looked at recently, and it'll save you a bit.


Also, I paid exactly $231.40 at my independent for a valve adjustment, so $400 from Honda seems a bit steep. I really don't want to beat a dead horse here, but you should absolutely consider an independent shop. Just try and find one you trust, and one that does work on our sort of vehicle. The fact of the matter is, the work you're likely to have done is pretty routine stuff that doesn't need a specialist. I will admit that I do feel better about Acura knowing about known problems to look for, but that doesn't always pan out in my experience.


I had my car in for some maintenance and asked them to check for a broken front swaybar linkage after my oil change place told me it was bad. They said it was fine (I knew otherwise, since it was making noise). Next thing I know, my tranny dies and while they're replacing that, they tell me my front left swaybar linkage is broken. Obviously they didn't check.

Stephen Jackson

save some money and do the valve adjustment yourself. i did it on my accord and on my moms odyssey, it only takes about an hour. let the car sit overnight so the engine is cold, then spin the crank by hand to get each cylinder at tdc, and adjust the valves to spec...there's gotta be a vid on u2be. or a write up here...even those books they sell at auto part stores, i havent seen a book for the cl, but the tl with the 3.2 should be identical

Brandon Allen

Yea I talked to buddy of mine that said we can do the valve adjustment our selves. So just to make sure the only things I need done are the
timing belt, idler, water pump? I have already done the oil and tranny change and also spark lugs. Looks like they just inspect everything else.

Stingray

Thanks for this very informative post!

aameghoo

is there any way to tell if the service has ever been done? I bought my car back in march 2013 with 117k on it but with no service records, I am the 6th owner and I dont want to spend ~$700 just in case when I could somehow check and be sure if I need to do it or not

Acidicheartburn

I think the most obvious thing would be to check/have a mechanic check to see if the timing belt was replaced. That's important regardless of everything else having been done, because if that breaks your engine is toast. A mechanic could probably also tell if spark plugs have been replaced. Other options are possibly checking the VIN number with Acura to see if they've had it in for the service. Not sure if that one would work.

Tosh

If the car is so unloved as to have changed hands every two years I think it's a safe assumption that nobody has ever done anything to it...

aameghoo

double checked the carfax, Im actually the 8th owner The car came with a few mods when I bought it though, also the heads seem new, had new motor mounts and the transmission was new or freshly painted so it would seem as if the previous owners did in fact put some money into it so it's not hard to believe one of them might of done the tune up too. Just wish there was just some way to tell if the TB was done by looking at the engine, it's surprising there isnt a sticker or something placed on the cover when it's done, would make guessing a lot easier when buying a used car

Tosh

Guessing is ALWAYS easy!

But KNOWING on the other hand....

harrisonk168

I would wait on the valve adjustment, if its not that noisy. I have 130k on my CLS6 and never had them adjusted yet. I plan to do it next spring. Its also a great DIY project over the weekend, pretty straight forward job.

aznboi2424

iTrader: (10)

Loose valves make noise but valves that are too tight won't.

YeuEmMaiMai

had mine done for about $1K included a few tensioners

03-6/6

i was quoted 600 for tb/wp/cam/crank seals etc at a local honda shop using all oem parts.

local acura dealer wanted 1200 for 105k service.

did my valve adjusment a couple weeks ago. it really made a difference. but mine were REALLY loud. car is so much smoother/quieter now. can barely hear it running.

Brandon Allen

did you take it to a Honda dealership? they told me 800 and Acura said 900

03-6/6

nah never took it to a honda dealership. i have a friend that works at one and he said he'd do it on the side. haha

Brandon Allen

Nice!
As old as this thread is I still haven't got mine done yet... This will definitely be happening next month, along with a few more things.

Jbukez

I'm getting close to tune up time! 85,000 and climbing

Acidicheartburn

You have an 85,000 mile CL? If it's a Type S, I am so jealous. Mine just rolled over 108,100 today. I took a picture of it for fun.

jetsfan2016

just got a quote from a Honda dealer for 675 for this service