hey anyone knows what is the best cost effective way to get this service done...

buy the main parts.... and have them do the labor parts are probably a crazy mark up on the parts there at the dealer...

what do you guys think... is it worth it at all.........to save a few

 

there are alota those partsof u will need on ebay.. alot of times alot cheaper. check it out,,

 

get genuine Honda parts for the timing belt and water pump- we know they worked this long- may as well stay brand with these items
Other belts hoses etc- whatever you want
The prob with bringing in your own parts: shop will not honor parts warranty if it fails
If they supply it and it fails- you dont pay parts or labor to replace.
If you brought the part- its on you to pay labor to have it replaced again.
Shops make some of their profit on the parts- and they assume that liabilty by doing so

Find a private shop where overhead and labor rates are lower
Every town has at least 1 acura specialist shop these days
should cost in the 600-700 range for eveything

 

there are definitely local shops that can do just as good a job as the dealer.

if you are mechanically inclined at all and have some tools you may want to do it yourself to save $500 (or more).

 

try the honda dealer, they are usualy cheaper than acura for just about everything. im getting everything done there for $750 including parts, i pick up my tl later today! acura wanted $975 and they are right next door

 

I have a local guy here that quoted me around $450-500 to do the timing belt and water pump on my 00 TL. I will definitely take it to him. He even told me he recommended going with an OEM timing belt and water pump because that's been the best bet in his past experiences.

This guy sounds like he knows what he's doing. We've taken cars to him before and been pleased. I'm doing mine in December. I have 94k on mine right now.

 

i called the acura dealer today and they quoted me 684.00 for the service....
i also wanted to get the transmission flushed and the thermostat replaced so that would be and additional 185.00..... totaling an amount of 905.00.......

should i bother getting the thermostat replaced it cost me 125.00 of the extra 185.00...

i'm pretty sure these i will get the tranny flushed (59.99) because you all know the story on these trannys....

tell me what you all think......

 

the thermostat is a fairly easy item to do yourself. if you're not having trouble with it i wouldn't bother. i remember when i did it on my taurus and my brother's grand prix it was only a 20-30 minute job at most with cleanup.

 

I just finished my 105k service. Actually it's already 112k when I took it to the shop. I found a Honda/Acura specialist in town. Total $685 included tranny service. I think it's good deal.

 

I was quoted $1395 for the 105k service by Price Acura in Delaware. I'm reading about some of you in the $700 range. That's quite a difference.

 

For me, becoz it's not Acura dealer. I went to this Honda/Acura specialist since '97 to service my Civic, then my 02 TL. Did all major maintenance, I never go back to the dealership except recall.

 

bumpin an old thread but how much should just the parts run?

 

150 for timing belt and water pump
30 for drive belts
90 for plugs
30 for coolant

$300 or so ???

 

And id add another 70 onto that for the timing belt tensioner. (which is a cheap peace of mind)

 

Don't know of a single Honda/Acura shop that replaces it automatically with a timing belt job. I guess the failures of that part are fairly low?

I mean if it was truly necessary, like on VWs, then the shop/dealership would always replace it.

 

Use a better shop!

From the shops liabilty perspective: they should be replacing the t-belt tensioner with the belt and pump. A thermostat is cheap insurance to protect your investment. A proper 105k service adjust the valves too- only a few may be off a little- but off= less performace/mileage

plus I like to disagree with soda

 

With that mentality, I should replace all of the idlers, seals, hoses, etc as well?

There's a point of decreasing marginal returns. Perhaps shops have found from experience that the chances of a comeback due to a tensioner failure are very, very slim...as a result it isn't worth replacing the tensioner. Now if the risk of tensioner problems were great, such as in VWs, then of course they'd replace it.

Of course, I love to argue with you as well.

 

When mine gets done- its getting new radiator hoses and any others that look suspect will be replaced too. And even though the coolant will only be months old- it gets brand new too- and a thermostat. Call it track day/long trip prep cost. Rubber doesnt last forever and WILL fail at the worst moment.
Once had a rad hose blow on Lap 2 of a big race, coolant on tire-spun car- continued- ran 4 more laps with no coolant- engine gave up- melted the paint right off it!
ahh the good ol days

Seriously- shops around here include the tensioner, as the risk of catastrophic engine failure due to tensioner failure- on your new belt- the very act of installing said part changes the pressure dynamics on the tensioner long enough to......

All of which the BAR guy would look at the invoice and say- did you OFFER the customer the tensioner- NO eh?- well you, as a shop should know better!!-
guess who just bought an engine~

I would go ahead and replace all the belts and ac tensioner at 105 if not done already.
Pay labor once or brutalize your hands often

 

Which shop? You and I live in the same area. Tell me.