Hi Everyone,

I have an '03 TL purchased in April '02 but only 79K miles. The transmission recently went out. The dealership replaced it (really awesome, gave me some serious goodwill); the total cost to me was less than $1600 and they gave me a new warranty on it. Not bad at all considering the original warranty had expired years ago. So the car has a new transmission and new tires and low miles.

Here's my question, when I picked up the TL (in June) the service tech told me to replace the timing belt soon. My daughter's father is driving the TL now (long story...I got a new car). So he is putting a lot more miles on the TL than I would. I want to replace the timing belt now, he wants to wait until 105K (i.e., later, when money is less of an issue).

I'd rather pay now, even put it on a credit card or dip into savings, to avoid a broken belt because the car is over nine years old. He is a much better driver but he is also a lot more aggressive with the car (and he wants to wait because the mileage is so low).

The car is a keeper, I have no intention of selling it.

So, what do you guys say? Replace the belt now or wait? Has anyone ever had one go out under 80K?

Thanks,

Liz

 

it can happen,, but rare,
time is more an issue than miles- as many have gone way past both
there is a safety margin built into the numbers

if it were me,,,wait until feasable, not worth 18% interest to find out all the parts were like new

 

01tl4tl, are you out there?

 

worst case: the belt breaks and grenades the motor- you get a junkyard motor and install the 105 kit, drop the engine in and continue on another 200kmiles happy

 

Hi 01tl4tl,

Thanks for your advice. You saved me a chunk of change on my new transmission so I trust your good judgment. And I wrote a nice TY letter to the GM as you suggested.

 

Timing belts on the 3.2 recommended change @ 160ks, it's an interference engine (which means valves can hit the pistons even on a streched belt and result in major engine repair, new cyl heads etc..) so it's wize to get it done. Transmission! had mine changed under warranty (2001 3.2 TL) @90,k now has 205k with AMSOIL trany fluid and works great so far, as a mechanic I have found Honda/Acuras have a week trany. changing fluid every 50k with the best synthetic trany fluid helps.

 

if thats a link to you selling amz,,thats against the rules- sorry

the tbelt failure results are well known here, but thanks for the info
many here are running amz or redline in the trans with mixed results
harder/firmer shifts seem to be the result, taking away the smoothness of the TL

 

Have it both ways. Go get a cc w/ 0% APR for a yr. (they are offering them again), get the work done now & have plenty of time to pay for it w/ no interest charges.