Hey guys, so I finally decided to get my '98 3.2 TL's timing belt and water pump changed and the car is in the shop right now. The mechanic just called and said that when I over heated the car a few years ago, it melted the insulation on the variable valve timing sensor. He said he doesn't know how long the sensor will last for in the current condition and what will happen if it does break. It's going to be $295 on top of the $1990 I'm already going to be paying for two tires, rear brakes, timing belt, water pump, and tension belts, and this is just getting to be a huge cost for an old car. I love the car, though, and I want to continue driving it, but I have to ask myself, do I need this sensor replaced? He says he needs to order the part from Acura by 2:00 today, which is in an hour, so he's really putting the pressure on. If I don't replace the sensor and it breaks, it will be the same labor for the timing belt all over again, so if it needs to be replaced, then I should do it now. I haven't seen the sensor so I don't know how bad it's melted and I don't even know how it should look. I guess what I'm asking here is is this sensor a part that goes bad periodically and is it going to be worth it to change it now? It has been damaged for a few years and it hasn't been a problem, so why would it suddenly become a problem now? I expect to get at least 100,000 more miles out of this car (it's at just about 210,000 right now), so how many miles is that sensor rated for? Should I replace it now?

 

To update, I opted to replace the sensor, but my next question is am I getting ripped off? For ~$2300 I'm getting...

- inspection
- oil change
- two tires
- rear brakes
- timing belt
- water pump
- tension pulleys
- 37840PY3026 Engine Crankshaft Position Sensor (apparently that is the sensor they were talking about)

I feel like I'm paying an awful lot, but I don't know really. I'm starting to wonder if I should stop bringing the car to these guys.

 

Yep seems kinda high...

Do you have fb? The majority of the members from this side of the forum moved there and you will get a quicker reply as well. On a side note, glad to see you are still around with the TL!

 

I have Facebook, but I barely use it. Damn, I had a feeling I was getting ripped off. How much should this work cost?

And yeah, I still love my TL!

 

If you would like for me to add you to our Facebook group, then please pm me your name so I can find you, lol. If you ever need to ask anything about the car, you'll get more responses than here.

Prices varies depending on where you live, but here the inspection should have been free, oil change $30, two tires $350 should take care of those 16", rear brakes $100, timing belt with parts and labor $700-800, then that sensor should cost much since they're already in there so you'll pay most for parts.

 

The quote they originally gave me for the timing belt and water pump - parts and labor - was actually $700-800, but then they said they misquoted the price of the water pump or the labor to put it in and said the timing belt and water pump job would be $1100. The owner of the garage said if it were his car, he would not do the water pump to save money, but the thing is, the stupid water pump has been leaking for years and they told me years ago to fix it. Why they would now say don't fix it is beyond me. I kept asking them if there was any way we could get the price down, but they kept saying there was no way. They like to do things the "right way," which is probably the text book way. For example, when my gas line was leaking, one of them said it would cost hundreds of dollars because they would have to take the whole system out and replace it. Then I talked to the owner and made a deal with him to just patch the leak. It was a lot less money to do it the not text book way.

I'm going to rant a little now. I'm getting rather aggravated that the car was driving just fine before I brought it in there and I'm sure that when I get it back, it will drive just as fine, if not worse, $2300 later.

 

To add to my response, I was looking back through my notes from when I talked to them on the phone and I wrote down that the total for the tires would be $228 and the rear brakes would be $360. The timing belt itself would cost $75 and the labor to put it in would be $460, but they said if they did the water pump, too, then that part would cost $250 and the additional labor would cost another $250. I was under the impression that doing the water pump while they have the car opened up to do the timing belt would be no trouble, but I guess not. If only I knew what was going on then I could call them on it if they are trying to pull something, but I'm kinda learning as I go with this car.

 

The fact that the owner suggested that you not change your water pump (whether leaking or not) while everything is already taken apart to replace the timing belt raises a big red flag to stay away from that shop. As for brakes, are they replacing pads and rotors for that price?

 

I have changed the timing belt on my 3.2 twice since ive had it, and it is a decent pain in the butt. I wouldn't want to pay 1100 to have someone else do it for me though,

PS My water pump has at least 150,000 miles on it

 

I was thinking maybe the owner said he wouldn't do the water pump now because if it were his car and the water pump went, he'd just fix it himself and it would cost him his time and the price of the part.

I wrote down that the cost of the rotors was $49.99 and "$360 for rear brakes." So maybe that means they are just changing the rotors, but I'm not sure. It may be pads, too, because I remember after last year's inspection, they made a mention that "the brakes were getting low." I'm guessing that means the pads were wearing down.

I probably should stop going to these guys. They are AAA approved, which I thought was a good thing, but come to think of it, I don't even know how that would make them good.

 

So I got the car back... and the bill. They said that the total came out to more than $2300, so they "discounted the cost of some parts to make it exactly $2300." Here's the breakdown. Please tell me if the prices are reasonable.

Crank Sensor - $295
Extended Life Antifreeze - $39.98
Synthetic Full Service Oil Change - $59.99
2 Doral SDL A/S Tires - $173.98
Ceramic Brake Pad Set - $119.99
Rear Rotors - $117.98
Drivebelt - $19.99
Serpentine Belt - $30.99
Serpentine Belt - $28.99
Timing Belt Kit - $186.99
Water Pump - $261.03

Labor to do State Inspection - $39.99
Mount 2 Tires - $20.00
Balance 2 Tires - $20.00
Disposal of 2 Tires - $10.00
Labor to Replace Rear Brake Pads, Rotors, Service Caliper Slides, and Clean Hubs - $117.50
Labor to Replace Timing Belt Component Kit, Drivebelts, Crank Sensor, and Water Pump - $742.60
Shop Charge - $15.00

 

With old car like this you really need to shop around. Check out the prices for parts at RockAuto Parts Catalog

I am not saying the shop overcharged you, but they certainly did not do you any favours - as expected.

Have you taken a shop class yet? Brakes are pretty easy to do!

 

No, I haven't taken a shop class, but it might be a good investment.

 

those seem pretty expensive. antifreeze should be $25 tops. oil change do it your self for half that price, and you get the good stuff. two 15 tires dont cost that much, unless ur going falken, michenlin, etc.. the good brand tires.. never heard of doral. ceramic brake pads can get for half that price. and rotors too.. and do the change yourself.. easy as eating pie. just time consuming..

 

I agree. The brakes especially. I just recently quit working at an auto parts store that supplied most of the shops in town.
When a shop would buy our Ceramic pads, they buy the cheapest ones we have, which were typically $15.00...

 

I actually brought my own antifreeze (I happened to have half a jug of 50/50 mixed and a unopened jug of non-mixed in the cab), and the owner said they would use it, but apparently that wasn't communicated well enough to the guy working on the car.

 

can you add me on facebook, I am under the same name - mankaraja (region - holmdel, NJ)

 

@mankaraja request to join the group..
https://www.facebook.com/groups/651658691536858/
we can add you then