I have a 2004 TL, but it only has just under 71,000 miles on it because I work out of the home office. The TL owner's manual notes that the MID Maintenance Minder will show code "4" when it's time to replace the timing belt. On the other hand, we all know that most Acura mechanics tend to have minds of their own as to when these things are due, and we also all know that some things are recommended to be done based on time regardless of whether the car calls for it. My question is, is the timing belt one of those things? I'm not due for a service right now, but I'm wondering if I should be anticipating being told that the timing belt needs to be replaced next time I take it in.

Part of what prompted this question was that my wife and I each just received some service coupons in the mail from the Acura dealer (she drives an RSX, I drive the TL) and one of them was for $200 off a timing belt service and the coupon says "Recommended at 90,000 miles or 7 years." I seem to recall reading somewhere that the 90,000-mile figure isn't accurate, but does anyone know anything about the "7 years" part of that statement?

(Main reason for asking is to get a sense of whether I need to set aside some money. I had the state inspection done on the RX-7 last Monday and while it passed, it needs new rear brake pads and rotors. So I have to plan ahead for the car maintenance budget..... The timing belt is one of those things where if it genuinely needs to be done, I'll do it—just like brakes, you don't mess around. But if it doesn't really have to be done yet, I'd be reluctant to spend that much money prematurely.)

Thanks in advance.

 

Never heard 90K before, I believe its 105K. And while your getting the belt changed, go ahead and replace the water pump too while they've got the belt off. I believe I paid somewhere around $550-$600 for the timing belt and water pump change, parts and labor, at an Acura dealership. Check around, because some dealers will be a lot higher than the others. One Acura dealership quoted me $900 parts and labor.

 

We have several people on here that seem to get satisfaction correcting others but here goes.
I pay little to no attention to the length of time (6/7 years) only the miles, 105,000 for the TL. I changed a relative's a few months ago at 169,000 & 7 yrs with no other problems, I don't recomend anyone waiting that long tho. Since you're paying a shop to do the work, change the water pump & any rough feeling pulleys, if tensioner shows any leakage repl. it too.

 

Yeah, I know it makes sense to do the water pump at the same time (this is not the first Acura/Honda vehicle I've owned....it's the fifth if I count my wife's car). What I'm wondering is whether it would be sensible to tell them "no, it's premature" if they recommend replacing the timing belt when I next have it serviced sometime this spring. That is, if I were in the 100,000-mile range I wouldn't question the recommendation, but I'm not there, so they'd be recommending it solely on a time basis. I've never heard any time-based recommendations for replacing the timing belt (unlike for things like the brake fluid, for example), so that was the reason for my question. I wouldn't wait until 169,000 miles, that's for sure!

So in other words, we have one response saying "only the miles matter." Anyone else have a sense?

 

The old Honda/Acura specs were 105K/7 years. They no longer say that. It's only based on the MID indication now. So far, it appears the MID only calculates mileage (and not time), as most of the indications have shown up at 105K +/- 5K. (My TL was at 7.5 years and 106K when I got the MID indication).

Personally, for a garaged car driven in moderate weather, I'd just go with the MID.

 

Both miles as well as time are important factors. I know a guy that has just about 40k on his 04 TL and he plans to change his belt in the summer. Do you have to do it now? NO but peace of mind is always good. My belt looked fairly new when I did it a few weeks ago @ 102k.

 

Does anyone have any info on a place in the Chicago area where I can get this service done at a reasonable price? I was just quoted over $2k from my local Acura dealership for the belt, water pump, and valve adjustment.

 

maybe someone will help you DIY

 

Before you go any further, check around for Honda dealerships in your area. When you find a reputable one, get a quote from them. Yes they can and will be very happy to do the T-belt service for you, and for a whole lot cheaper than an Acura dealer. $2K is ridiculous for that service. You only need to adjust the valves if they are noisy.

 

Fair enough. Put it this way, then—if money were tight and your other car urgently needed rear brakes (like REALLY urgently), would you do the brakes or the timing belt if the basis cited for the timing belt were solely the 7 years and it were a question of doing one or the other?

 

IF it was soley time (i.e. 7 years), then I'd do the TB. But it's not....

 

Do the brakes first.

 

I am in very similar situation to OP: 2004 TL but with only 54K.

I sent an email to the closest Acura dealer with the Timing Belt question and got the following:

"You are correct the maintenance minder will not come on until you reach 105k, however Acura recommends 105k or 7 years whichever comes first. You reached that on 3/11/11. The estimate for the package 4 which includes replacing the timing belt, water pump, drive belts, spark plugs and timing belt tensioner is $1092.63. Please call if you have any further questions or would like to set up an appointment."

Then, I contacted Acura Client relations and posed the same question. They simply said go by the MID and the owners manual, i.e. no specific time recommendation was now being made for the timing belt. According to him, there has been no additional guidance/TSB stating a time interval for the timing belt change. I asked about why one of their dealerships would push an expensive service so much earlier, he hemmed and hawed about the dealerships being independent and they might have different experience...

I am still on the fence as what to do. I think the Acura dealer quote was very high and was pushing for extra service (spark plugs at 53K?). I may check to see how much cheaper the local Honda dealer might be or a good independent. Probably will not wait for the MID to say #4 but will consider having it done within the next 2 yrs.