Hey guys!

The lights for A14 services came up on my 2010 Acura TSX and I'm at 103,090 miles on my vehicle now. I had called a few shops up before taking the car in, and Firestone told me that they would suggest I "hold off on replacing the timing belt until my car doesn't run anymore, because people don't usually try to mess with the belt unless the car doesn't run anymore". My oil life was at 5%, so I ended up taking the car in to get the oil/oil filter change as well as tire rotations done and decided that I was going to hold off on the timing belt and spark plug (the 4 service) until I get home (192 miles drive from where I am now).

After I got the tire rotation and oil change, the light for maintenance just disappeared, including that of the 4 (for timing belt and spark plug). So I was wondering if that just means it's not urgent that I seek out these services? I was planning a trip that's about 500 miles round trip, as well as the drive home, which is around 200 miles. Is this not wise/safe in terms of my car and my safety?

Trip aside, should I get the services done before I even try to head home?

Thank you!

 

Can you confirm if this is a 4 or 6 cylinder?

 

The V6 uses a belt, the 4 cyl uses a chain. Don't worry too much about the chain, the belt is another matter. Especially if the engine is an interference fit (others will confirm I hope) If it is, then when the belt breaks, pistons crash in the valves and you have to rebuild the engine or throw the car away. Might as well replace it when it's due otherwise it will be at the most inconvenient time.

 

Yes, the V6 is in fact an interference engine; if the belt breaks then engine damage is a 99.9% probability. Said another way, only an idiot would tell you to wait for the engine to quit before having the service performed.

 

Yes, I believe it's the 4 cylinder! 2.5 L? I remember seeing 2.5L on past maintenance paperwork.

 

Ok I'm pretty sure mine is a 4? And like I mentioned, the lights went away after my oil change and tire rotations. So should I just not be worried about it?

 

Oh my... I'm not sure why the man at Firestone told me otherwise! What about the spark plug replacement?

Also after prowling through these forums I saw that timing chains are built to last and that they shouldn't have to be replaced? Can anyone confirm if that's true?

 

The 4 cylinder has a timing chain, as previously mentioned, so you won't have a timing belt to replace.

The lights went away because when they replaced the oil they also must have reset the oil life counter, which clears the maintenance codes/lights.

I would recommend doing the spark plugs soon. Nothing bad is going to happen immediately, but it is time to replace them.

 

You also have a serpentine belt that you'll want to replace at some point, 100k is a good point.

 

Ok thank you so much!!

I actually just called Acura and they confirmed that my car does have the chain, and that it shouldn't have to be replaced. He recommended replacing the drive belt, spark plug and coolant flush (something like that). He also said I should be able to drive another 500 miles just fine. But I'll definitely get it done when I go home in a week or two.

 

Yep, those would all be good to do!