Honda Dealership and TL Timing Belt Replacement
 

Hi,

I've owned my 2005 TL since 2007 and have babied it. It just now hit 90,000 miles and besides Tires and a Full Brake replacement, the car has performed flawlessly.

I want to do some "preventive maintenance" and get the Timing Belt and Water Pump replaced in the next week since I have some upcoming time off work.

The local Acura dealer quoted me $1350 out the door, and the local Honda dealer quoted me $629 out the door for the same job. Of course I would like to save $$$ here, but will the Honda dealer use the correct/sufficient parts for this job in your guys opinion?

Thanks for answers/advice in advance it is appreciated

Compare the quotes. If you got written quotes look them over to confirm inclusion of same parts, part numbers etc.

I can't imagine a Honda dealer not using OEM parts but you should ask. Many of the members on here have had there timing belt service done at Honda dealers. I use my local Honda dealer for the work on my TL but there hasn't been much except oil changes etc.

The Acura dealership wants to rape you while the Honda dealership is at least in the ballpark price wise and not to worry about the parts.

+1 about the Honda dealerships.

If your TL is out of warranty (like mine is, an 04 TL), there is zero advantage to using an Acura dealer. They will charge more because of the name, which is ironic because Acuras are just Hondas anyway.

When I did my 105k service, I bought the OEM parts myself and had the dealer do the service. That way I knew the service was being done right, for cheaper than an Acura dealer, and I knew I wasn't getting charged extra for parts since I shopped around and bought them myself.

I'm sure a lot of shops and mechanics can do these kinds of service items, but for me there's a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing it was done by people certified to work on my brand of car specifically. It's one of the few maintenance items that I will actually take my TL to the stealership for instead of finding someone else (or myself) to do it.

Compare the part list to be safe and just have Honda do it. No need to go to Acura. They should use all OEM parts and they have all the same Acura manuals just in case.

I'm having my timing belt done on 1/14 at a Honda dealer (Hamilton Honda in NJ), and I've been quoted $587 for the service including the TB tensioner (as well as TB, drive belt, and water pump). I bought a new TB idler and adjuster as well as a drive belt tensioner (also will have a thermostat done). I get a loaner as well, so not a bad deal at all, and since the other parts as above (other than the thermostat) have to be removed to get to the belt, there's no additional charge to install them. They want $105 to install the thermostat (which is a little high in my opinion which is probably 1 hr. labor charge) but whatever, the car will be drained of coolant at that time, so I might as well get it done.

When I had mine done last year Acura quoted $1300. Got it done at a Honda dealer right around the corner from my house for $700. Also got a brand spankin new accord for a loaner. If you want to go the dealer route for the TB service Honda is the way to go.

I wouldn't go to the dealer for anything. Find a good independent shop that can do the job. For some reason people think only dealerships know how to work on an Acura. This isn't a Jaguar or a Saab. It's going to be pretty much the same as every other V6 Honda that comes into a shop.

I don't think an indy shop would be a whole lot cheaper and you run the risk of non OEM parts being used (unless you brought your own parts). Also, experience wise, I'd rather go to a shop that has done MANY timing belts on an Accord or TL V6 (since the engines are very similar) vs. just a handful. Again, just my opinion.

the timing belt kit for the TL is the same as an Odyssey, just sayin.

Thanks for the responses, I owned 2 Accord EX's before I bought my TL and never had a problem with this particular Honda Dealership for service in that time, so I just wanted to be 100% on taking my TL in for the TB job.

Good point, and just to add so the butterflies settle down, the following use the same timing belt/waterpump kit, so at Honda, same parts as Acura:

Acura MDX 2003-2012
Acura RDX 2013
Acura RL 2005-2012
Acura TL 2004-2013
Acura TSX 2010-2012
Acura ZDX 2010-2012
Honda Accord 2003-2013
Honda Accord Crosstour 2010-2011
Honda Crosstour 2012-2013
Honda Odyssey 2005-2012
Honda Pilot 2005-2012
Honda Ridgeline 2006-2012
Saturn Vue 2004-2007

Exactly. When I had my 105k service done, independent shops where the quoting the same price as the Honda dealership was and they weren't going to use OE parts.

The only perk of having the Acura dealership do your maintenance is for future goodwill at the dealer, or you just like being pampered. My wife and I actually are a bit disgusted at the Acura dealer on how "fancy" it has gotten. It has gotten just flat out stupid what they have done and how much money is wasted on pampering people waiting on their cars.

Job Well Done Hamilton Honda!
 

I had the TB, tensioner, adjuster, idler, and drive belt and drive belt tensioner installed, as well as the thermostat. Runs great, as it should (the engine is nice and quiet as well).
TB/tensioner/drive belt/ water pump + labor: $587
Installing my extra parts: $52 (they apparently don't change out the adjuster or idler when they do the belt, so they charge for this)
Thermostat: $105 (I figured I had the new part, so what the hell)- that's 1 hr. labor. I guess they have to make a profit somehow.
I wound up not doing the hoses as the existing hoses look very good.
Detail was worth the $80 to me- they cleaned up the inside very well, and the polishing/buffing was very good- mirror like. It's called a 'mini detail'

Out the door cost with tax was something like $880- I don't feel like I got taken- the car is ready for the next 100K miles and Acura would have charged $850 just for the service I got for $587. The dealership recommended the valve adjustment and new spark plugs, but I can do the plugs myself. My car has 95,530 miles on it (so 90,750 miles with the odometer discrepancy known to the TL), so I'm going to wait until a true 105,000 miles (so when the car has 112,000 indicated) to do the plugs and valve adjustment (that'll likely be another 2 years down the road). I checked the torque on the plugs < 1 year ago and they were fine at that time.

I was given a loaner Honda CR-V. It was fine but not my favorite (drove nice but I would never want one full time). It had a backup camera and Bluetooth audio which shows what song is playing (mine doesn't do that but I do have BT audio streaming in the TL). As a 2.4L 4 cyl., the power was pretty decent- it got to 60 reasonably quick.

Here it is detailed at the dealership:
Attachment 90866


I would use the dealership again and recommend them highly.

OP, why do this at only 90K? At the rate you drive, you have at least 18 months before you'll reach a true 105K (110.5K on the odometer due to the known 5% error on '04-06' Acuras/Hondas).

I'd say save your money for now. Start putting away $50/month for 18 months and then you'll be fully funded when it comes due.

my local honda dealership wouldnt even touch my TL when I asked them for a quote. I was like "arent acuras made by honda?" then he said "yeah but we dont work on them here"

Normally yes I would have waited however I am moving from Baltimore, MD to Tampa, FL next week and I am not taking the Auto Train, so driving from MD to Florida in the TL. Once I get there I have a million things to do so I am getting the TL taken care of now as much as I can.

About this post, I picked my '05 TL up from Anderson Honda in Lutherville, MD yesterday. Timing Belt/WP/Tensioner was all done for $593, I needed new motor mounts(was told this awhile ago) and finally got those replaced, got an alignment, new wipers, oil and filter and out the door at $875.00 not too bad imo.

Also (noob question inc...) can you get Brembo Calipers/brake kit for a Base '05 TL? If not what are the most affordable brakes that have decent stopping power and look good? And no since Im moving I cant afford StopTechs atm:(

Thanks in advance for advice

Also I currently have stock 235/45 R17 's on my car, if I order 18's rims like XXR 530's or an OZ style is this a simple switch ? Like can I take them to the shop and they put them on with no +1?

good luck fitting your stock 17" tires on 18" rims....

thank you that was very helpful

This may be something that is a dealer policy. The Auto Group I work for owns both a Lexus and a Toyota dealer... I work at the Toyota dealer and we have a policy for all Lexus work to be sent to our Lexus store. It sucks cuz it means I have to turn away work :annoyed:

That has got to be one of the most asinine things I've ever heard coming from a dealer. Every part in that car says "HONDA" on it.

I guess they don't like money? :scratch:

I heard if you take it to the Acura dealer you get a warranty, as if you go to a honda dealer ship you don't.

Yea good thing I'm looking at Tire AND Wheel 18' Packages huh:toocool:

^^ Good thought- I called the dealership service desk- the repairs are covered by warranty for 12 months/12,000 miles.