artblank

Hi all,

I've been driving an '06 Acura TL since 2015; things have happened here and there, but my mechanic has told me twice now to replace the timing belt (last year and this year; he offered to replace it for $800 -- cost of parts and labor). It's at 230k miles, I've driven it for maybe 120k of those miles.

I am divided between:

• selling this car and getting another used car, around 7k-10k.
• replacing the belt and continuing to drive my TL for the foreseeable future (2-3 years? worried the engine will give out and I'll be paying whatever I was trying to save)

I saw some threads about replacing timing belts, but I'm not really able to do something like that.

Thoughts?

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Do you like the car? Do you like car payments? If yes, and then no, respectively, replace the timing belt and rock on!

truonghthe

I wouldn't bother with the 7-10k car since they will need another 3-5k in order for it to run right. Now if you buy a 3 years old car then I would say go for it.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

if you dont replace the timing, then yes, it could snap and break the engine..
but if you do replace the timing belt, the engine will never in your words "give out"

engines dont just give out, lack of maintenance (CHANGE THE TIMING BELT BEFORE IT BREAKS!) makes an engine give out.

why is maintaining the vehicle so hard????
if you buy another vehicle for $7-10, you're going to have to maintain it as well.. may even have to dump more money in it than if you just change the timing belt on your TL

zeta

iTrader: (1)

If you decide to keep the car and replace the TB, make sure to tell your mechanic you want an Aisin TKH002 timing belt & component kit.
$172.79 before shipping and discount on Rockauto.

t-rd

Some people think they shouldn't spend $1200 for a dealer timing belt job every so many years, that's why they dump the car and get another one. But in fact, $1200 is still cheaper than a new or used car payment. The best timing belt + water pump replacement job sits in this forum and the total cost of that job using all OEM components is about $350, ~ $200 using Aisin components, given that you have the tools. If you get another used car, you might have to do the same job also!!

thoiboi

i really don't understand the logic..

"wow, $1200 is so expensive for a TB job!, I should just spend $7K for a newer car instead! "

phyyr

if everything else works fine and you're okay with it just replace the timing belt. it isn't that big of a deal (unless the belt breaks while you're driving). little tune up with new spark plugs and coolant, trans fluid if you need it, should keep it running for a while.

Jackass

The logic is some people just want an excuse for a new car.

thoiboi

then by all means, please go get it, don't let us stop you!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

a $7-10k car. maintenance not included

truonghthe

that why I said unless you buy a CPO other than that just fix the thing. May be I am too cheap and that one of the reason I still stuck with my TL crap boxes.

TheSauceBoss

For what it's worth, I was intimidated by the timing belt job before I ended up in a situation that required me to do it myself. I paid a shop to do it a year or so ago, And now in hindsight, I wish I would have done it myself, it's actually pretty easy, assuming you have a day or two you can go without your car. And the right tools, of course, like any other job.

I would def keep the car. You know the history, you know what issues exist. Getting a "new" car will only put you back to square one when it comes to maintenance, and you're buying something that you really don't know the history on. Again, just my personal opinion, but I'd rather buy one of these cars with 250k on the clock than buy a "newer" car with 50k on it. Cars don't get to 250k without being taken care of. You're always rolling the dice buying another car.

Synchro

You'd be surprised. I had a Toyota Camry that I rarely did oil changes after 300k, and it flashed on the oil light a couple of times because it was very low. That thing went up to 400k by the time I scrapped it.

I was being lazy. I don't recommend it.

TheSauceBoss

I mean, if you waited until after 300k to start getting lazy about oil changes, chances are that the car was relatively taken care of for that first 300k. Oil changes aside, there are obviously many other components of a car that need to be taken care of to keep it rolling to 200k and beyond.

Synchro

Yeah, you're correct. I used to change the engine oil every 4-5k miles. TB and tune-up service done on time. Brakes and suspension were checked and replaced when needed; Autozone lifetime warranty really paid off.

Once the cats were gone after 300k miles, I knew it was time to put it to rest. It had given me 4years - 270k miles of service.