Thank you in advance to reading and replying to this post.

I have a 04 Acura TSX and I had the check engine light come on along with the VSA and (!).

I had the codes checked and it came out as Camshaft Position Sensor. From reading the threads on this, I might have to replace my timing chain.

SO...yesterday, I took my car to get an oil change, was working fine when I brought it in, they changed the oil and now it won't start.

I towed it to the dealer and they told me that the timing jumped and I need to replace the chain, HOWEVER, there could be other issues with the engine such as compression not being there, valves bent, or other issues.

Now they wanted $130 to diagnose the issue. The dealer gave some some options.

1-Replace the engine. Cost=14,000. I said definitely not. For that much, I would buy another car.

2=Replace the timing chain and pray that it will work. Cost=1,300. No guarantees that it will work.

3=Open up the head. Cost=800. They will find out what the cause of it is.

Can you point me in the right direction regarding this because I don't know what to do. Option 1 is out.

Thanks again in advance.

 

In any event, you will need to replace the timing chain, unless you get a new engine. I would start with that. I wouldn't have that dealer do it though. $1300 seems WAY too high.

 

Should be @ $400 labor + part(s)

 

$14,000 for new engine???

 

I have several questions:

1) Are you the original owner of the car?

2) Prior to you having this problem, did the car burn oil between oil changes?

 

Hilarious, I thought the same thing.

 

Someone should be able to tell you whether the valves are bent or not for maybe an hour's labor. After that the decision is pretty easy.

 

more than likely this car was burning some oil, the timing chain runs off oil pressure, it skipped because of that.

The FIRST thing you have to do is a compression TEST

if you bent a valve you dont need a new engine. the head needs to be sent out to be redone. you can have a private mechanic remove the head ( assuming you cant do it ) and you can send it out to a specialist and have that same mechanic reinstall it. I dont know how much that would cost but it has to be cheaper than an engine replacment.

Timing Chain - Id have that same mechanic do this too. It should be easier with the head off, but still gonna cost extra ( LABOR ).

Overall this sucks and this was the reason I sold my 04 TSX.

How many miles. If under 100K I would go after Acura Hard but thats a losing battle, but worth trying.