Hello all,
I got a '03 TL-S with 88k. LAst night as I hit the gas when the light turned green, a loud band/clunk followed by me pushing the car to the curb and my axle in the middle of the street by the light.

Since I bought it cert used I have powertrain coverage for 7yr/100k (my 7yr is up next week) Service advisor said that Acura may 'charge' since it is close to expiration. But when I told him I needed a timing belt service too he said the axle was 100% covered...hmmm.

He is charging me a 'discounted' rate of $1058 for the service (water pump, tensioner, belts) since I bought the car there? ISn't that still high???

I read somewhere that certain model TLs get a special rate based on their VIN number??? Or was I dreaming???

Thnaks
Marco

 

that still high. just bc ur close to having no coverage doesnt mean that u are still gonna have to pay some, its like if u buy a house and are $1000 from paying it off and tell them that u dont want to pay them anymore bc ur close to being paid off. they shall cover it 100% with or with out doing the timing belt service. if they try to bs u call acura customer service.

 

Thanks for the reply. He is telling me that the 1058 is for the timing service and the axle is covered under my warranty. So you think he is charging me for part of the axle work???

How much should a timing service cost? I am also going to call another local Acura dealer for a quote first thing Monday morning.

 

get the axle done and call them to see how much it will be for the timing belt service. should be around $800

 

Yes, get them done separately so it's easy to tell what they're trying to do.

 

I just paid 795 for my timing belt and tensioner.

 

my acura charges around 900 for Timig belt and water pump service...

the charged me 425

 

did u have any symtoms before? vibration at cruising or wot, thats retarded for it to do it like that out of the blue..

inner axle i believe?

 

I will call them Monday morning and tell them to hold off on the timing service. Sounds like I am overpaying by at least $200....

No symtomes before with the axle. Just before the car was running great then all of a sudden....boom. It was the inner...

Looking at it, the shaft actually broke about 6-8 inches from the boot. In the center of the shaft there was a hole about the size of a pencil eraser. THe service adviser believes that was a defect that caused a weak spot in the axle, hence it broke off.

 

i would would say the axle is defective cause it should not be snapping like that unless you are seriosly modded(aka forced inducted or stroked) and have super sticky tires (like slicks)

 

So I decided to call other dealers in my area (Long Island, NY) for a quote on a timing service. I got quotes from 1100-1300. Nothing like $800....

So I will leave it alone....since it looks like I ddin't do too bad. And judging by the prices I was quoted today, the axle is going to be free.

Thanks for all your replies!!

 

"...close to expiration" so they have to charge; ridiculous, greedy dealer. Demand them it is within warranty period, even the last minute still within warranty period. Do your timing belt at a private shop. Nothing is special with timing belt change that you have to do it at dealer, and the price could be just slightly over half of that.