SpeedyR

So my 03 TL that I bought in July 02 has over 100,000 miles on it now.

I took it to Pep Boys yesterday to get all the maintenance done (didn't even bother going to the dealership).

Here is what I asked them to do:

Replace timing belt
Replace spark plugs (platinum)
Oil change (synthetic)
Flush/replace coolant
Flush/replace transmission fluid
Flush/replace brake fluid
Replace rear brake pads
Rotate tires

The estimate they gave was $400 for parts, $900 labor (not including timing belt kit which they did not have in stock).

They called me this morning and said they could get the kit from Acura for an additional $300. They also said I need to replace 3 motor mounts (parts $400, labor $350). The transmission has been very clunky so I believe this.

That brings the grand total to $2350. Does this sound reasonable? If this is how much they charge at Pep Boys, I hate to think how much the dealership would charge!

fsttyms1

No not reasonable at all. whats with the additional 300 for the timing belt kit?? Shouldnt that have been factored into the original estimate? You can buy the parts needed for the timing belt cheaper yourself, The motor mounts shouldnt cost more than 200-250

Buy the parts here.
http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org/...catdisplay.jsp

Change the oil and trans fluid yourself. Make sure the trans fluid is honda fluid. Both ae very simple to do, and if you do bring it in, DONT do a trans flush, do a drain fill

01tl4tl

get away from pep boys!!
A private honda acura shop is what you need
Those pep guy are guessing- they dont know what parts to order- wont use NGK plugs, probably use Dextron trans fluid and other bad things

phee

iTrader: (5)

order the parts yourself and get someone to install the stuff you cant. DIY saves aLOT of money

SpeedyR

Thanks. Anyone have any recommendations in the Tampa, FL area?

01tl4tl

Look in the real phone book for a place with pic of acura/honda in their ad. They are everywhere

A-SPEK

I would bring it to Acura/Honda dealership and get it quote from them. You will get everything original from them.

Doc Holliday

I'm about to order the parts for my 100k mile timing belt... I think you should do some more reading into this... The price seems kinda high

click on search the forums and type in timing belt or something.... Everyone's cool on here with good advice if you do the research on here...

I would get a couple more quotes from local mechanics who work on foreign cars for good measure...

timing belt normally seems to be around $600

01tl4tl

its more than just the timing belt.
You are supposed to do the water pump, and its a good idea to replace all the belts and tensioners while its apart. Then a proper 105, gets a valve adjustment, and many of us would pull the intake manifold and clean the EGR port as well

3.2TLc

It may be well worth your time to check in with your local Acura dealership for price comparison and actual maintenance required. They can provide an itemized list of all necessary parts and be of great assistance with any factory recalls or extended good will warranties. However, as mentioned before, it's always more cost effective to do the minor things yourself and expedite the timing belt project to a reputable independent shop in your neighborhood. Providing "OEM" Acura parts is always in your TL's best interest. Tires, brakes, suspension, fluid changes & tune-up can be competitively priced at most any local shop.

ChucksCL-S

Pep Boys NO!

burnerjunky

how do you drain fill the tranny fluid

BAMBAN

I had the service done minus the synthetic oil at Ramsey Acura, NJ for $860

3.2TLc

A simple search would give you detailed instructions. Basically, locate the tranny's fluid reservoir pan, then look for the drain plug which can be loosened with a 3/8" square drive ratchet. Relatively easy to do !

SodaLuvr

Nothing wrong with a transmission flush, really, as long as they don't dump some mystery solvent and conditioner into the fluid.

Honda fluid is so crappy that any fluid might be better than it.

DUI4Less

Can't agree more. If it wasn't for warranty issue, I would not use honda z1 period; crap crap fluid.

bmw73

i have an 02 with 103 on it getting ready to do the t-belt what should i expect to pay around a grand or so. seems to be the going price on the forum. if this don't make sense sorry i've been wathing football & drinking all day

SpeedyR

Got a quote from the dealership to replace timing belt/water pump/belts for $750. Made an appt. for this Thursday.

Well, guess what happened over the weekend? The transmission started slipping big time, so I called the dealership to see if I could drop off the car earlier to get this checked out.

So I drop it off yesterday (by the time I got there, D5 was blinking and I couldn't even get out of 1st gear) They said the transmission is completely shot and needs to be replaced. Warranty will cover the cost of a remanufactured transmission and I will pay $600 labor.

I get the car back in 1 week and in the meantime, they gave me an 08 TSX with nav as a loaner.

socko

Re parts:
rear brake pads @ $35
platinum plugs _ I recently put in Bosch platinum @ $6 each (I think NKG Iridiums are original equipment - they're @11 each)
Synthetic oil - Walmart has 5 qt. jug of Pennzoil full synthetic for less than $20 or Mobil 1 for about $22.
Coolant - 2 gal. premixed for @$10 or $11/gal.
ATF - Honda ATF Lists for @ $6 +, buy it at a Honda dealer (not Acura). I paid $4.75/qt. capacity is 7.6 qts. but you only get about 3.2 out when you drain and refill.
Brake fluid is cheap - Honda or Dot 3 @$5
Timing belt - not sure but I recall that my dealer gave me a $100 certificate and I got drive belt, timing belt, radiator hoses, and a gal of coolant for that.
I agree that it makes sense to change the water pump ((I think I paid about $80 for it) when the timing belt is changed.
So the bottom line is that the parts shouldn't cost you more than $200 - $230.

I agree with the suggestion that you change the ATF and oil yourself. It's easy. By the way, your owner's manual recommends not flushing ATF - rather you can get almost all of it out by draining and refilling three times.

TLover8888

which dealer did you use? Ferman Acura? My car needs the timing belt and water pump replaced too. thanks!

2K3_TLs

can I purchase/do all the 100k maintenence myself? Well, with the exception of the timing belt... last thing i want to do is not do it right and cause more problems than i started out with...

jimstractors

Here is another source for OEM parts:
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/jsp/home.jsp

SpeedyR

Yes. Ferman Acura.

Djcam954

Luckily for me, I get a discount on most of those parts so hopefully when time comes for me to do maintenance, im good 2 go

01tl4tl

socko:
get those Bosch plugs out of the TL
NGK Iridium are 7 bucks each at major name parts stores
only NGK or Denso are approved for use in the Acura
It does make a differance- other users thought they were fine- then mileage went down and plugs crapped out
Are the Bosch a 1 super fine wire or their 4 chuncks of metal type?

socko

01tl4tl:

I've had the Bosch plugs for about 30xxx miles and they're doing just fine, thank you. If I had found NGK locally here in NE Missouri, USA, for $7 I would have used them.

TLover8888

but you'll probably have to change them soon, as opposed to the NGK's which last a longer time.

fsttyms1

His statement also follows along the lines of those who drive with the CEL light on. Just because it "SEEMS" to be running ok doesn't mean it is. Our cars are finicky and those plugs just arent designed to operate optimally for us. Others have seen mpg decreases from them. Id personally spend a few extra $$ and get the correct plugs for our cars.

SodaLuvr

The Bosch plugs seem to last in applications where the ignition system doesn't fire in reverse polarity (like they do in some GMs).

No guarantees about the CEL though.

BrotherDavid

I just had the 105K service done, although my TL has 115K on it. Local mechanic who I use regularly wanted $1,050 to do the timing belt, water pump and tensioner.

Local Acura dealer wanted $1,090 and gave me a loaner for the day. It included a bunch of other stuff ("lubricating all moving parts" whatever that translates to) and other nice add-ons that they throw in there to make you feel like you're getting your money's worth.

It took most of a day, and with a new side engine mount it came to $1,399.

I use a local mechanic for almost everything, but for a job like this, I'd rather the Acura mechanics, who take them apart and put them back together all day, handle it. Plus, the free loaner saved some hassle.

Not a big fan of dealerships, but for stuff like this, I do. Good luck!

01tl4tl

all moving parts- they lubed your door hinges and that sort of thing
Sometimes the dealer is actually a deal- who would have known.
I do agree that I want someone who does many of these a year, and doesnt fumble and wander as he learns on my baby
I went to price the 105 for my car and they guy looked out the window at it,
~hmmmm you got some money invested in this car!
Reckon that'll run a few hundred extra~~~

bill yanossy

our acura dealership has recommended the 7 yr. / 100,000 mile service. my 2003 tl type s has 45,000 miles. should i do the service now or can i wait? and how long can i wait if that is suggested?

hANDYcaptd

iTrader: (5)

Wow that's pretty low mileage. I think it can wait til next year.

You don't live in the extreme climates do you?

ANC297

iTrader: (2)

I would do it relatively soon, eve though you have low miles the time has come.

soriano11

I also have a 2002 acura tl type-s that was purchased in october 2002. it just hit 101,000. i replaced:

Timing belt
2 drive belts
timing and drive belt tensioners
water pump
flush out transmission fluid
flush out coolant
tire rotation, balance and alignment

all parts were bought online, and all labor was done at a private mechanic. EVERYTHING was approx. 1000.00.

900 dollars in labor is RIDICULOUSLY expenseive. even for a pep boys.

LeeDan00

let's make this short and simple. DO NOT GO TO PEPBOYS. they have no idea what they're doing and if you're asking them to do a more complicated task outside of an oil change and tire rotation, they will f*ck it up.

labor at $900?? you gotta be joking my friend.

if you really don't want to see a dealership, take it a certified honda/acura shop. they will know the ins/outs of your car better than pepboys.

probmxstyle

I had my timing belt and tensioner done at the dealer a few months ago for 650. Just do the oil change and spark plugs yourself

jperdoch

Had my timing belt, tensioner and water pump replaced at 110,000 for 800 bucks by Motorworld in Wilkes Barre - my local dealer wanted 1100.

Plugs and trans fuild are easy DIY things...

Alex D

Thats over $1000 more than what the dealership charges.