Has anyone replaced their timing belt yet?? If so, at how many miles?? The book says around 60K........but I think our belts can hang in there much longer.

 

I am pretty sure it is 100,000 miles for my 2002.

 

if you drive in 110F, or -20F temps, then it should be changed at 60K miles

if not, change at 100K miles

our cars have interfering engines, which means if a belt snaps your going to have major internal damage...which i dont think is a good thing...

 

From what i hear this service with the timing belt is over $1000 bucks and i understand it's a rubber belt why is this so expensive?

 

i'd say get it doen 60k..if not then 80k. but i would get it done at 60k..

$1000 bucks?? hm...duno bout that but labor is a ***** when it comes to chaning timing belts..i would say around 400bcuks u can get it done. i may be wrong

 

Now our engines are similar to the Accord V6, and I have had the timing belt replaced. It cost me $450 CDN including the belts, water pump. I cannot see our TLs costing much more.

 

The '02s were marketed as having no required service until 105K miles. Other than routine oil and filter changes, coolant flushes, brake pad replacements, air filter changes (and other wear items), you shouldn't have to do anything else to the car. Timing belts are usually good for 100K miles or more. But because you can't see them, you can't tell if it is wearing or not and when it goes, you're stranded. The belt itself only costs around $30 but the labor to replace it is expensive (usually $200-$300). Like someone else said, while they've got the side of the engine that far apart, changing the water pump isn't that much more expensive. I plan on keeping this car for 10 years, and I plan to change timing belt and serpentine belts at 100K (unless they show premature wear).

 

On my moms old 91 Legend the timing belt got replaced at 86k miles. Its around a 1000 dollars for some reason. Labors alot too.

 

With all these tranny problems going on now. Don't know if our cars can even make it to 100,000 miles to get a timming belt change.

 

If at all possible, don't get it done at the dealer. They WILL charge you $1000 with water pump replacement. Find a good mechanic and you should be able to get it done for around $400. I would think from my past expeirence that 60,000 miles is too soon, but 100,000 may be pushing it.

I had a '92 Prelude and the belt broke at 102K. Cost me $2200 for a rebuilt engine. When the belt snaps is messes up the entire engine and bends the valves.

 

It's mostly labor, and some dealers actually replace the water pump also. The reasoning is that once you disassemble everything, the water pump is right there and if you don't, and the pump goes bad in a few thousand miles, you have to do all that labor again, so it's insurance. Especially when the actual cost of the pump is minor compared to the labor.


It cost me $500 US on my Vigor. That included the water pump replacement. $1000 seems high, unless that's the whole maintenance, including spark plug replacement,etc.

 

The last time I did it (87 Legend) it cost me about $250-$300 in parts alone. This included all Acura parts: Timing Belt, Water Pump, Idler Pulley & Antifreeze plus some aftermarket fanbelts. Standard labor rate at a friends shop was $200-$300 on top of that when I asked about it. I did the work myself, twice (109,000 & 205,000 mi). Took me longer than a shop but not that difficult on the '87.

The recommended interval for the 87 was around 90K-100K. I was on borrowed time for the first change but the belt still looked good, no cracks. The idler was pretty rough though, which could be just as catastrophic.

 

I would get the dealer to do this job. It is very labour intensive and they know these cars well. I would not trust a mechanic down the street as although they may have done timing belts before, not necessarily for you're vehicle.

Also, make sure you do the waterpump as it is about a $60 part and to do it separately is the same labour. Take it from somebody who knows. I had the timing belt done on my 1992 Accord, and about 2 months later the water pump went. The same labour, about $300 had to be performed. The dealer did not tell me about the water pump, when I had my timing belt done. I freaked, and they ended up not charging me the labour.

 

The timing belt on my old Vigor was shot after 50,000 miles. My mom had that car before me, she drove it for about 45,000 and she never revved it about 4000 RPMs. You know when your timing belt starts to slip, the enginge starts revving really funny, or it'll rev really high but the car won't move much. I found it pretty odd the timing belt went so soon in that car, so did the service guys. Hopefully that was just a rare problem and most of Acura's timing belts are fine.

 

All I can say is err on the side of caution. Honda/Acura motors will destroy the valves if the belt slips or breaks. This is a design that some manufactures use and I'm not sure why but when the belt breaks the piston will reach TDC and hit the valve requiring major reconstructive surgery on your motor.

Trust me on this one, I've seen it so many times before in Honda vehicles.

Shane

 

It's a design of a high compression engine and results in very little clearance between the valves and piston. It's not a design flaw, but just a consequence of trying to wring out as much power out of a small displacement engine. Some manfacturers are going back to timing chains. Although that doesn't mean it won't break either. I had a '78 Chevy Impala during my college years (Ahh the memories in that car!!) that had the timing chain break at 110,000 miles, but since the big V8s had more valve clearance, all that was required was to put on a new chain and drop the oil pan to clean out all the metal pieces of the broken chain. Say what you will though about those old V8s, my TL would have smoked that Chevy.

 

Isn't there another manufacture that does the same thing. I know Ford, Chevy, Toyota and I thing Nissan(maybe I was mistaken on this one) are safe. BTW, my ford truck would smoke your TL-S, you wouldn't have a chance(Stock 0-60 in 5.8 secs)

 

The VQ-series engines for Nissan (4th/5th generation Maximas) have an interference timing chain. Should be good for the life of the motor but if it breaks it's like a hand grenade going off inside the block. Shredded valves....

 

Anyone know if the Mazda does it as well?

Shane

 

Those numbers, you must be driving a Lightning.

 

380 horse stock, I'm getting a 4lb pulley for $250 and a chip that should give me 12 sec 1/4 miles. Don't get me wrong I prefer the ride of the TL.

Shane