It is time to replace the timing belt/water pump. I can get the Gates parts quite a bit cheaper than OEM Acura. Are they as good or reliable? I would like to save some $ but don't want problems down the road either.

Thanks for any info.

Gates is called Unitta in Asia. Unitta is the manufactuer of most of Honda's timing belts (Including Civic Type R's with an 8900rpm rev limit). It's printed right along side Honda on the OEM belts. Gates is the OEM belt in a lot of cases.

Additionally, their TCK tmiing kits include OEM koyo tensioner and idler bearings. That's worth a few more dollars in savings over buying Koyo bearings from Honda or Acura.

+1 on the gates belt, not sure about the other parts tho

This is where I read that (plus some Amazon reviews of TCK kits confirm):

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=3487

Thanks for the help and saving me $.

No problem. Just trying to spread the word.

I started researching this stuff after I bought a brand new belt from Acura for my Integra Type R motor. When I saw "Unitta" printed on it, I headed over to the computer to do some research. That's basically when I learned you could buy OEM parts in aftermarket packages and save quite a bit.

Timing Belts from Gates
Tensioner bearings from Koyo
Radiators & O2 sensors from Denso
Wheel bearings & hubs from NTN

Hell, I found $111 Integra wheel bearings for $37 shipped!

Just like when I needed oxygen sensors for my '89 Accord SE-i.

I found the original NipponDenso equivalents on the internet, the EXACT same ones with the ND logo printed on them instead of the H symbol for HALF the price of buying them at a Honda dealer!
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Yeah, you can even get them for less money if you buy the "universal" style where you cut the wires off your old sensor and splice them onto the new one. Exact same sensor with different color wires.

The Gates TCKWP329 is all OE. $177 at Rockauto.com or ebay. I used this kit and have no problems (about 10K on it so far).

The TCKWP kits include the hydraulic tensioner and the water pump. But I thought their water pump was their own version, and not the Honda/Yamada brand pump. Can you confirm?

BTW: That price is $21 less than Amazon (shipped)!

No, no markings on the pump. But the Gates website and RockAuto both claim full OE for the kit.

And there is a flyer that comes with the kit which states all parts are OE and have full OE warranties.

Yeah, their water pumps are their own versions and not the Honda/Yamada part (Honda's have the Honda name cast into the front). Not a big deal IMO. The flyer included in your kit is specifically related to the timing belt pulleys and maybe even the auto tensioner:

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?br...cation_id=2851

just confirming this post, i received my TCKWP kit yesterday and it is a pump made in china..it'll probably fine for all intensive purposes. Everything else is Japan made, belt is USA made.