TLTrance

So I called my local dealership to get quotes on various services that I will be needing soon:

1. Timing Belt Service - $1,350. Includes timing belt, drive belt, water pump, and tensioner. Does NOT include adjuster or idler pulley. If I provide my own parts, its $828.

2. Spark Plug Service - $250. If I provide my own plugs, its $145.

3. Valve Adjustment - $550

4. Thermostat Replacement - $255

Put everything together, it's $2400 and this doesn't even include the adjuster or idler pulley.

TLTrance

Another dealership quoted the same ($2400), but includes the adjuster, pulley, and even the AC belt. But no thermostat. However, he was willing to charge $40 for the part and zero out the labor for the thermo. So all in, $2440. I can save another $100 by buying the plugs myself, so $2340. He's willing to give me another $150 or so off, so $2200 is probably the lowest I can get for all services/parts included.

07tl-s6spd

iTrader: (1)

thats insane man!!

lazytik

Buy your own parts from a vendor and go to an independent mechanic. I just bought motor mounts from a vendor here, all 3, went to my indy and had him install them, resurface the rotors, oil change, and tire balancing and alignment, all for $300 + parts. He did my spark plugs (I provided) for $130.

cjTL

iTrader: (2)

I was quoted $1300 for items 1-3.

deepen03

F*ck dealerships! Wow.. what bastards..

Flyer92

You definitely have to call around; this includes Honda dealerships local to you. Needless to say, the quoted price on belts, pump and tensioner is excessive. Should be sub $1000 incl labor.

TLDude876

iTrader: (7)

My dealer was charging me $350 for the labor since I have the parts

dbqkqh

Just out of curiosity, did you get the display telling you the code/maintenance that needs to be performed, or just kept track of your mileage?

I'm questioning whether or not to do the timing belt service done on my vehicle (65k mileage) but at the same time, whether or not to wait till' I get some kind of message from the display (although most of the maintenance was taken care of when I first bought the car at 44k)

Thanks.

TLTrance

My MID has yet to display the "4" maintenance code. However, my car has 103K miles, so I'm pretty much in need of the TB service.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

1. not quite sure what you mean by adjustor (i would assume tensioner, but you have included that though), but yes indeed make sure to also do the idler pulley also, you really only want to go in there once till the next t/belt job is required at roughly 210k miles), also don't forget seals either, don't want oil leaks eventually

2 & 3. valve adjust takes a little bit to do, cause the intake manifold has to come off and such, and since the ignition coils already have to come off for the valve covers, and the valve adjust, changing plugs out, should only add like 0.5-1 hour worth of labor, since you are already basically in there

4. coolant loss, overlaps with the t/belt service, since the system will already be drained, and i would assume they are charging about an hour to do it (a little less, since the cooling system drain and fill part, ishould be part of the t/belt)
and i am figuring there shop rate is $140 an hour, i know here in Colorado, most independent shop rates are somewhere around $100 or less, so that $40 an hour buys you alot lol (you do indeed pay for those fancy waiting areas, and nice loaner cars)


but as others have said INDEPENDENTS FTW (except for warranty work though lol)

TLTrance

Yeah, labor here in the bay area Acura dealerships is around $140-$150/hr. I just don't have an independent shop that I know that I can trust to do this job. I'm definitely all ears if someone knows of any mech that they would trust to do this.

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Anywhere can do it for a lot cheaper.

Buy the parts yourself.

Kaleb (?) is still selling his full timing belt kit for $299 I believe.

Should cost a independent shop about $500 for the labor as you provide the parts.

Shring

They don't call them 'stealerships' for nothing.

You have to get in good with the parts manager. I did that with my Subaru and ended up getting any part I wanted at dealer cost or sometimes 10% under dealer cost.

The markup of parts is ridiculous and how they make most of their money now.

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

biggest thing i can say is world of mouth (but do not still go for the cheap ass places, generally speaking you get what you pay for, dealer excluded), and geneally speaking one of the best ways is to go to them just for oil changes and such, and get to learn to trust them (since nothing major would be on the line)

also another way to help find a good place, is call up the local tow companies, they normally have a pretty good idea of who does quality work
along with the tool representatives/dealers also for Snap-ON, MAC, Matco, Cornwell, etc.
lol

and i get Acura (my car), Subaru (wife's), Hyundai (if i wanted lol), AND from there performance division (sells mostly subaru parts in stock, but can order for my car though) all at wholesale

jime

I don't know how far you want to drive but my trusted "Japanese car" mechanic in Fremont did my timing belt, water pump, all drive belts and hydraulic tensioner; along with the spark plugs, an oil/filter change and replaced a front engine mount – all for $1211. The parts were $595.

I have been taking my Acuras and Lexus to Kenny for over 10 years now and have always been very satisfied with his work. Google Kenny’s Auto Repair (5 stars).

Roger555

iTrader: (3)

#1&4 are DIY candidates for sure

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

if anything i would say 2 & 4 are, not way in hell is 1 a DIY, unless you feel absolutly comfortable doing it (so what happens if, you put it a tooth off, and then bend a valve )

bukjoe15

iTrader: (1)

dude do what i did: I went up to one of the techs and ask him if he did side work, and he did do it at home! So when it was time to change my belt, water pump etc... He only charded me 450 with OEM part that he got from work!!

LasVegasTL

Yeah pretty steep prices. Local garages are always cheaper. Just gotta find a good one that's all.

D1G1TAL GHOST

Tltrance, i live in sf and a shop called rex garage in the sunset distric is pretty cheap i think just for the TB they quoted me 400 if i heard them correctly.

mikedog4

iTrader: (1)

at the Honda dealer i work at we charge $830 for the timing belt job. that includes timing belt, water pump, crank seals, drivebelts and coolant. we will replace tensioners if needed no addtional labor, only parts. thermostat $90, spark plugs $215.

valve adjustment $330 ....$550 is insane.

akertulis

id say buy the parts but do the spark plugs yourself very easy to do without having to throw away $145

Acutron

The funny thing about dealership labor costs, is this: If it takes them 2 hours they can/will still charge you for extra time.

Roger555

iTrader: (3)

Oops I meant 2 & 4 .. #1 will be a DIY for me though

friesm2000

iTrader: (4)

those prices, seem to be about inline with independent shop prices (at least no additional labor for the tensioner/idler, and personally i would still replace them, cause i see it as they are not going to last another 105k miles [unless you like to gamble though])

was just wondering, and doable checking

LoveMyTL-S

You may want to post up in the Regions section, in your region to see if anyone can recommend a good shop in the SF area. Good luck!

jdm_94-07TypeS

iTrader: (10)

I saw you are from Jacksonville,Do you know any place that you can recommend for the same job??

I have a friend that is mechanic in Acura dealer in Gainsville ,FL and he told he can get all this job done in his house for $250. I already have all the parts but I'm not sure because I would like to have a receipt from all the work done just to have records, but just $250 is very tempting!!!

mikedog4

iTrader: (1)

flat rate time does not = actual time spent.
say you have 2 brake jobs that pays 2.0hrs a piece flat rate, 1 master tech and 1 entry level tech. they do the same job and get paid the same but it may only take that master tech 1-1.5hrs and that entry level tech 2.5hrs. should you be charged more because a slower tech worked on the vehicle? should the master tech make less because he is quicker?
if a shop pays there techs flat rate then you will be charged for the job by the menu pricing set up at that shop not how long it takes.