I just got an 04 RL/nav with 65k miles on it. I know it has not had the 60k service performed and I was about to get it done. However after reading through the manual, the 105k or 7 year service recommends the timing belt to be replaced. My question is should I be just as concerned about the age, or just I just go my the mileage?

Thanks in advance?

 

Just go by mileage. Oil changes would/should have been more frequent due to the fact of the low miles which means it probably ttook very short trip not being able to reach operating temp very long. If you can afford it you may want to switch to synthetic or synth blend. Your model RL can go 7500 miles b4 an oil change or even longer if you like on full synthetic.You've def got a gem of a car. Make sure you fill out your profile and take some clean shots of the car to share. Any personal opinions yet on the cars ride and features? A friend has Premium White 04 RL w/ Navi and he loves it and using it for his 30 mile commute to his corner store.

Again Welcome to your new extended family called Acurazine.

 

I would think about replacing the timing belt in the next year or two. I wouldn't go too long past that. You don't want to risk having to put a new engine in because you were just holding off to reach 105K miles. I've read many horror stories about timing belts snapping online and it ends up costing the owner $2500-4000 instead of the $800 for the initial service.

Congratulations on the purchase, you found yourself a very rare car being an 04 with such low mileage.

 

how handy are you? To ease ur mind you could take a peek under the timing belt cover to take a look at it's condition. Do you know what kind of service history this car has? Where is this car from etc. Different climates change things a bit

 

Timing belts aren't like oil changes. X amount of miles or x amount of years. It's only based on miles. That belt hasn't even had much stress on it to nee to be replaced per the mileage on that motor. Should he change then air filter too even tho the motor hasn't sucked in enough air to be dirty enough to be changed? Take your car to Acura and ask them or even call. I'd be curious with the answer they give you bro.

 

i'll be changing my 03 with 76k on it when i hit 105k.

 

my '02 is at 130K and still on its original timing belt! waiting for tax money to change it. plus, right now it's too darn cold outside to do anything.

 

It depends what you feel comfortable with. I have a 2000 RL with 93k miles on it and I have no intention of changing the timing belt until 105k miles. I may even delay it then. I read 3 different Acura boards and have yet to read where someone had a timing belt let go on a 1st Gen RL and trash the engine. However, what I have read is a lot of 1st Gen owners worry about replacing the timing belt and the costs associated with it. What I have noticed reading from those that have done it early for piece of mind, or when it was due is that they all remarked at what great shape the old belt was in. Only you can decide if it's worth the cost to follow the 7yr/105k requirement. I'm comfortable with my decision concerning my 11 y/o car which is in cherry shape, and I intend to drive it for many more years with the original timing belt.

 

Oh, I'm sorry. I was mistaken. I'll listen to you instead of listening to every auto manufacturer out there. There's a reason why they say miles or time.

Some cars can run 200K with the same timing belt, some cars snap at 75K. It depends on how it's been driven.

Judging by the OP's car, it was probably used seldom and in mostly short drive instances which puts more stress on the belt and on the vehicle than being a few years old with high miles being driven mainly on the freeway.

I did a replacement on my 99 GS400 at 111K, the car was 5 years old and I was terrified after looking at the belt. I wish I'd replaced it sooner and am glad that I did it when I did...either way the 4.0 was a non-interference engine and it wouldn't have done any internal damage.


Being myself, I'd rather not take the chance but I agree with OldHatch 100%, open up the cover and take a look at it yourself. If it looks good, no sense in doing it now....but you will have to do it eventually either way.

 

I just want to add that simply because the belt has not reached the age/mileage to be changed doesn't mean it can't be bad. I've see dry rotted low mileage belts along with chemically dried to the point where they have been cracked before they're time. Have it checked and decide.

 

Heat, humidity and many other factors play into it all.

I've got another 42,000 miles to go on my belt (by mileage) but I'm keeping a close eye on it since it is a 10 year old car.

 

i just flipped to 23,000 miles on my 2004 RL. I'm das original owner. No children, no wife, just me....spotless and I have no intentions changing my belt any time soon.....I guess I win with the LEAST mileage on an 04 RL.....

 

Yes you do. I'm 40,000 miles ahead of you

 

Yea... "das" great bro ha ha ha!!! I agree as i have no wife, kids, and never will. I do add miles due to the fact I travel...

 

got pics?

I think you need to sell it to me.

 

Thanks for all of the replies. I just purchased the 04 RL Navi from my mom. The car has 68k miles on it. I really want this one to last a while so I pulled the trigger and replaced timing belt, all accessory belts, and all filters in the car (All with Acura OEM products). However I am getting very poor gas mileage. When I mean poor, I mean like 16-17 mpg. I filled up using premium (that is all that has ever been put in the car). The dealer recommends a valve adjustment which might better the fuel economy. What's everyone's take on this or am I expecting too much?

 

Spark Plugs. Instead of Platinum do Iridium plugs. Should help a LOT. Let us know/ Keep us posted.

 

I would love to post pictures here but again this site doesn't allow or never has as I joined this site when it first launched....still doesn't allow posting pictures....

 

Acurazine doesn't host pictures except profile pictures.

Use imageshack or photobucket

 

Ken,
you know this has been my beef since day one....every other site allows posting pictures without having to join photobucket and the like which I have no interest in.....
Ole timer out....

 

You don't have to join imageshack, you simply pick what picture you want to share and imageshack gives you a dozen ways to share it. Takes less than a minute per photo

 

Old Hatch,
Just picture a brand new 04 RL driven home to be hand washed with ZAINO from day one and parked in a garage driven once a month on a Sunday. Black on Black, pure OEM STOCK and has NEVER been rained upon or driven during the rain. The undercarriage is as clean as the car. funny story I had to have it smogged checked for a first (my first time also...). you should have seen the guy face when he looked under the car, under the hood and then walked over to me and said are you sure this is an 04 (this was a few months back)....I said yes....I'm the original, no kids, no wife, no smoke....just my pride and joy that is seldom driven on the roads....he couldn't believe his eyes......once done I hauled ass back home to pack her away where she sits today with over 50 coats of Zaino wax......

 

I'm a member of www..com edit(wow why do you guys block websites of other forums) when i owned an 8th gen Accord and that site would let you uplaod 5 pictures for use on the thread you're currently doing. It's great. AZ is the only site thate cant do this or limits edits for a 1/2hr. DA I can edit a post i did 2yrs ago if i wanted. It justs seems odd thats all.

Fabvsix, if you'd like ill post your pix on here. Just email me @ parasurfer1979@gmail.com I'll fix them as well before posting and email you copies of the repaired/fixed pictures I did.

 

lol


take up his offer. I want to see a minty RL.

 

Parasail is working on those pictures....

 

Correction: ParaSurfer......sorry about that....

 

Subscribed. Always been a fan of Fab's car. Hope you have some shots of the interior. Love the wood dash kit you have too

 

Wow you remember the kit! Ordering that was a nightmare....

 

Here are Fabvsix's Pics. Very emaculate 04 RL...








A very clean car. Enjoy the pix Guys & Ladies.

I think he needs to remove the bra. It does more damage than good especially on black. Those things have no place on a luxury car .

 

He didn't send me interior shots but hes free to send me them and I'll post .

 

Booo!!!!

Most of those pictures are over 2 years old! Seen them before.

Come on Fab, get out there and snap a few pictures! I want to see what an RL with 50 coats of zaino looks like. And don't forget the interior.

My RL has the same color combo and I have a lot of detailing to do after this past snowy winter.

Post up the motivation already!!!!!!!

 

No sunshine today.....so maybe if I have some time. Got to pay the taxes....

However the first one is this past Sunday when I finally washed it (Engine bay shot). The others are from a few ago. Interior is FLAWLESS.....NO KIDS, NO BRATS, NO WIFE.....NO CIG SMOKE (LOL). Limo spotlessssssssss:tomat o: I'll see if I can get some shots with my Motorola Droid X which take GUD pictures.....

 

Ill bee like you till I die. Single, no kids, no cigs, and a dog . Gud? Wtf is Gud?

 

Looks great! And yeah beware of car bras, oops sorry 'nosemasks'.

 

I keep the nose mask on to keep the bumper spotless from bugs and we all know how shitty acura's paint is.....

Gud = Slang for GOOD....if those kids can talk in code so can i.......

I have 3 cheeewaawaa's and they are my heart and soul and two big brother cats that are going on 10 years old...one happy family! The dogs ride in the MDX (which is my daily driver...LOL when I drive....) and some times they get to ride in da BIG CAR...... The were great companions with my recent drive to Louisiana from California for Christmas! MDX is an awesome highway machine...esp. the SPORT model.....drool.....I got 22.0 miles per gallon cruising 85-90 mph......cruise control of course...

RL was washed Sunday but didn't finish detailing it yet as I had to wash the MDX and the RDX. 3 cars in one day for an ole fellow like me all but wore my ass out.....so I may just go finish it after my conference call.....thanks for the motivation R_R4...

Thanks again ParaSufer for posting these OLD pictures.....more to come....

 

Nice 04. Those cluster lights look bright white, not amber. Did acura change that for the RL or did you install LEDs? I don't imagine they're LEDs as the rest of the car is stock.

 

Pure STOCK.....came this way for 2004

 

Good stuff. Looks stunning!