Mstyle

Has anyone changed their timing belt...I have a little under 88k on a 99TL and Park Ave told me to change mine soon....like 90-100k soon.. Damm it...That's another $700 just for maintenance....

99LagunaTL

Not yet, but $700??? Seems a little pricey.

2001TL4KCdude

$450 - $600 for timing belt. This includes a total of 4 belts and the water pump

CKacura

You don't really need to take your car to the dealer for every small maintances unless its under a warranty service. Look for a Honda/Acura specialist shop. They perform the job just as well as those mechanics at the dealer, and they don't clean out your wallet either. Just my .02

ChucksCL-S

I had mine done with water pump at the dealer for $742 but at least I know it was done right. A '99 was in there with 130K miles having his done too. Mine had 102K miles at the time, a '00. Tech said belt will make it fine, it's just that if it does break you're looking at 24 bent valves.

KJ32

Dealer or not is just your luck. You could bring it to a good dealer but a not so experienced/careful mechanic working on your car. It's not any better than getting done by an indep. shop with a good mechanic. Only difference is dealer charge you more for their bigger cost and to cover their rearend in case there's followup, of course bigger profit margin. If I can find a small shop but I'm satisfy with their work and ask them to use original parts (if that makes me feel better), I would rather bring it to the small shop. In fact, many new grad mechanics start their career at dealership. Dealer may have some equipments that small shops don't have, that's all I can think of. Just my thought. Don't need to fire back. Thanks.

Mstyle

Thanks for the input...I hope that it is $700 for timing belt and water pump....I have always gone to the dealer for major repairs or maintenance...I always have seen quality work done by Park Ave....I'm sure other shops can handle it...I just feel more confident when Acura Mechanics are working on it...

johnnyb_s

Why get the water pump changed? That's not a disposable item...

t-rd

Whaaatt? Water pump is always changed with the timing belt since they are right near the same area. It's a required service item stated in your owner's manual! A bad water pump is what causes an aging car's engine to overheat.

johnnyb_s

Hmm...I think they always want to change the water pump to make some extra $$$...yes, water pumps do go bad, but not at a certain mileage or a certain car. Some even last the life of the car. Besides, if you don't have the cash or don't want to spend it on a new water pump, you can wait for it to go bad...they don't seize up instantly, but the bearings will start to squeak when it starts going bad...change it then.

FTM-1

Well let me chime in on the subject with my limited knowlege.
From my 22yrs of owning cars myself all of them Honda products purchased new by me. I have only had one car that needed the belt replaced do to mileage. This was my 1980 Honda Prelude it was always serviced at the dealership mostly in the 15yrs that I had it.
They told me way back then to change the water pump at the same time you replace the timing belt. The main reason is cost to you its cheaper to replace the water pump at the same time. I have also seen this in tech tips in auto mags like Car & Driver & Motor Trend.
I have also seen it on Motor Week TV with Pat Goss & on his local TV show. They all say the same thing replace the pump with the belt. I just got a flyer in the mail from a independet HONDA/ ACURA
service place yesterday. They had preformed service on my 94 ACCORD. The flyer add at the top said timming belt replace & water pump to replacement same time. The guy that owns that shop use to work at the Honda dealer service were I purchased my previous cars from. He employs some other former dealer techs also. I also have in hand my dealer MAINTENACE SCHEDULE BOOK. This has service schedules for all models except the 02-03.
It does cover however say like 00-TL models up. They say for instace 96-99 RL @ 60,000 Timing belt & tensioner inspect water pump (recommend replacing) ** additonal cost at 90,000 With the 00 TL & up models it says change timing belt, water pump & all drive belts @ 105,000. The same is listed for all other models newer than 2000. The older models are 6 years or 60,000 miles.

johnnyb_s

I see your point...my point of view was that of a DIYer...if you bring things to the dealer, or any mechanic for that matter, it is cheaper to change both since they are right there together.

I guess I am just somewhat frustrated at the fact that they don't make water pumps(or if they do make them, why Honda doesn't use them) that can last as long as the engines...but then again, the more parts that go bad, the greater the potential for making more $$$...

tdoh

All things being more or less the same (proper maintenance, etc.), maybe it's because engines are lubricated with motor oil? Coolant isn't really considered a lubricant IMHO because it's primary purpose is to aid in keeping the engine from overheating, not to prevent wear on moving parts.

Just saying that that may be a reason why water pumps don't last as long as motor engines...

Edward'TLS

The major reason to change the water pump during timing belt replacement is that when water pump fails, it will almost always seize dead solid, and will therefore take away all the teeth from the timing belt driving it. The result is that the severed belt can no longer drive the cam-shaft, etc. With the lost of proper valve timing, the intake and exhaust valves will crash with the pistons at will. The repair job can range from replacing a few bent valves and dented pistons, if you are really, really lucky, up to an entire engine block replacement due to broken valve stems punching holes into walls of the engine block.

The labour cost for replacing the water pump is the same as replacing the timing belt. So they are always be replaced at the same time, instead of paying twice the labour charge if replaced at a later date.

FTM-1

Thanks Edwards'TLS This is what they told me many years ago when I had to replace the belt on my 1980 PRELUDE I forgot what they had said. If you go to www.hotbot.com & enter Timing belt replacement or water pump replacement. I saw a few that sites that said its a good idea to replace the water pump at this time. But you said exactly what they told me some years ago as I was stunned by the repair cost.

BLEXV6

I can tell you all that on my 1992 Accord I had the timing belt done, and the Honda dealer neglected to tell me about the waterpump. About 2 months later, the waterpump started leaking. Guess what, as said before it was the same expensive labour to do the timing belt. I was pissed @ the dealer and they told me they would have advised me of changing the waterpump which was BS. Anyway, they paid for the labour when I wrote a nasty letter. Funny, when I had the timing belt done the second time, they asked me to do the waterpump.

Also, this is a job for the dealer, as they are experts. My dad had his Accord done by an independent garage and it was never the same.

johnnyb_s

I just think your dad went to a bad mechanic...just because you bring your car to a dealer doesn't mean you will get better service...

BLEXV6

This is true, however I figure your average mechanic may change the timing belt on a TL, maybe once with your car being the one they learn on. Can you say Guinea pig. Where I am sure the guys @ the dealer have changed a timing belt or 2 for a TL specifically. This is an involved, labour intensive job.

TLover8888

at least if you have work done at the dealer and are not satisfied by the work, you can complain to Acura itself and they would help you (hopefully) instead of just dealing with the dealership. the dealers would get a bad rep with Acura if they constantly do bad work so it would be advisable for their part to have competent mechanics on the job. if you do it by some local shop, they dont give a **** about you because they have no one higher-up to worry about. having the "Acura" name attached to the dealership is its livelihood and if Acura gives them a bad rating, Acura could pull their license and the dealership would be out of business, so i would get major work by the dealership.

johnnyb_s

The timing belt on our TLs isn't anything special...most cars have timing belts, and they work under the same principal. Besides, I would prefer having a mechanic that has 20 some odd years of experience, owns his own shop, stands behind his work, (because if he doesn't he losses customers) as opposed to some right out of high school kid under the hood of my car making $10/hr. at a dealership.

TLover8888

thats the problem, there arent many mechanics that have 20 years experience that actually work on cars. they're usually behind the desk while the hired help (with much less experience) works on the car. besides, unless you know personally the mechanic and his work, then who knows what kind of parts that he uses. they could be used parts he bought off the black market or non-OEM stuff that breaks prematurely.