Midwest

1/ Anyone changed the timing belt without the water pump?
I called Honda dealers and one of them say the first round of timing belt don't need to change water pump. If change the timing belt second time, then water pump can be changed at that time (save around $200). Honda charge $580 for timing belt only and $780 for TB and Water pump... just 50 bucks less than at Acura dealer ($830).

2/ This brand new Honda dealer just opened today and can do timing belt and water pump for $520. What is your opinion on this? go for it? or get a experienced dealer do it?

eyesnake02

usually when u change your timing belt you do the water pump also because everything is already apart. Because if you water pump fails I dont think you want to pay another few hundred for water pump + labor.

Johndoyle

I wouldn't do it without the water pump. I think the difference they're charging you to do the WP is excessive, because the water pump is looking at you when the timing belt is removed, and it's only held on by 5 or 6 bolts. If you do just the belt now and the water pump fails later, it's gonna cost you way more than $200 to replace it -- and then they'll tell you they might as well put in a new timing belt while it's apart. The Honda dealer for $520 sounds like a winner. Also, just curious, how many miles do you have on your car? This service isn't required until something like 105,000 as I recall.

01tl4tl

The book says at 60k miles for severe service, 105 for normal
Some have gone far past that- are you feeling lucky?

ALWAYS replace water pump, timing belt and timing belt tensioner together on a gen2 TL

Have a private acura/honda shop do the job for less and better
Dealers charge so much because someone is paying for the fancy showroom- thats you!!

Have them install NGK Iridium IX spark plugs too, thats part of the 105 service, and have the brake fluid flushed.

Failure of the water pump isnt a few hundred dollars- its a blown head gasket, maybe 2, maybe warp a head, maybe 2500$$$$$$$$$$$

SodaLuvr

No need to replace the tensioner if it's working correctly. Recompress it with a vice and reuse.

For a 105k service, replace:

- Timing Belt
- Water Pump
- Drive Belts
- Plugs

ALWAYS replace the water pump and the timing belt together in an interference engine application, such as the TL. In the event that the water pump seizes, your engine is history.

The Iridium IX plugs are good, but they will not last the full 105k. If you are planning to replace them every 60k or so, then I would use them.

Midwest

Thanks for replies
I got 89k miles (normal driving with FL weather)this is what it has been done:
Coolant.
Tranny fluid (original tranny)
Plugs (Iridium iX)
Carbin Filter
Air Filter
SeaFoam

Need:
Timing belt + water pump
Brake Fluid
Money


The Honda dealer can do it for $520, but this dealer just opened. I afraid the technicians are not having enough experiences...... I can wait til car get 105k.

SodaLuvr

Timing Belt work doesn't require experience. You either get it right or you don't. Experience helps by speeding up the job, but that's about it. It's more time consuming than anything else.

520 is a steal. Jump on it.