Just got an estimate from Acura of Las Vegas to get a valve adjustment for my 05 TL(106k miles), $700, holy crap! And $265 for spark plug change.

I have found prices running from $232-$500 in these forums for a valve adjustment. Explanation from the rep, to which he said its a 4 hour job and a strut has to be remove. I don't really need the valve adjustment done but wanted to get it done together with spark plug and oil change.

I'm gonna skip the valve adjustment for now and see if the spark plug change restores the pep to my acceleration. And in case anyone is wondering, I had the timing belt/water pump replace around 80k miles.

Still in shock over the $700 estimate, can anyone recommend any dealers in Long Beach, CA area for a valve adjustment? I'm gonna be in the area for a wedding next month. Thanks!

 

Yea I do not know if that is a must, but I have heard a lot of people say it is best to do a valve adjustment before you change the plugs.

Personally I do not know, and as a non-experienced mechanic I have performed it on my Honda; and it doesn't really change much and it is not very difficult. The motor just got a lot smoother, the idle is perfect, it warms up faster temp gauge wise and RPM drop. But those are all the things that happen with plugs being changed.

You just really need to follow directions accurately or you will will run the risk of major damage. *I had a video for my exact motor

 

It's Las Vegas. Expect to pay an arm and a leg.

You should find another quote from another dealership. Even if it means driving to Phoenix, LA, or Tuscon.

 

My local MI dealer rapes me on quotes

 

$700 for a valve adjustment is insane! Ive never seen prices that high for that service. Personally I got mine done for $380 at my local dealer. Spark plugs you can do yourself, theres a diy thread in the garage you can check out. I recently purchased plugs for about $50 after Discount Autos promo.

 

Your car is out of warranty so you don't need to really go to a dealer do you? Aren't there some good independent shops that can do this work?

I believe it's the strut bar that needs to be removed which isn't that hard to do. You could also forgo the valve adjustment and do the plugs yourself- you'll have about $60 in parts so you could pocket $200 or pay yourself about $100 an hour to do this work yourself.

 

OP, go to a Honda dealer. I wound up doing the TB change and valve adjustment myself, but my local Honda dealer quoted me only $300 for a valve adjustment when I was checking around.

I really couldn't tell a difference after the adjustment. All of my valves were out of spec by only .001". Glad I did it, but likely could have gone another 100K without hurting anything.

and yeah, strut tower bar has to come off, not a strut. that service writer must have been hitting the sauce a little early that day

 

i love how they try to make you think removing the strut bar is hard.

 

Valve adjustment job should be around $500 if get it done by Acura dealer however seem like they try to rape you on the spark plugs, check Ebay out for a set of six spark plugs go either with Denso or NGK Iridium they are same as OEM one although the price total will surprise you. Valve adjustment isn't that hard either if you have the tools to measure the valve washer gap lol.

 

I'll check out the Honda dealer for some quotes. I know the spark plugs aren't too hard to do but I'm kinda nervous messing with the engine, I had a friend drop a screw into his G35 engine while his changing his spark plugs, he got it out eventually by using chopsticks and double sided tape, lol. And I don't know of any reliable shops out here that I can trust to work on my TL besides an Acura dealer.

 

^^^you can also trying to bring it to Honda dealer where they will service with trust, spark plugs aren't hard to change, it take about 15 mins just make sure you take one out at a time and replace them with a new one. After that moving on to the next plugs.

 

I recently got my 105k timing belt service at a Honda/Acura specialized shop - NOT A DEALER, they will charge you an arm and a leg. I didn't do the valve adjustment but they did also do the plugs for me (cost of plugs + labor) for $125.

I would look somewhere else.

 

I'm a Las Vegas local and i can offer you some advice. There are 2 Acura dealers and 4 Honda dealers in that area. Call each one and get estimates. Don't forget to get the service guys name each time you call. Each dealer is VERY different on parts and services. And for service, it also depends on what time of the month you call. If the shop is busy or slow, the price will fluctuate. Now call your perfered dealership and see if they will price match the best price you find. If you do all that, you may come out ahead.

Remember, Acuras are just Hondas, and most of the part numbers are identical. Same poop, different toilet. Save some dollars.

Acura of Las Vegas (great service, had my 3rd gear syncrho, brakes, ps hose & rattly cat replaced here with loaners)
Findlay Acura Henderson (cannot comment)
Findlay Honda Las Vegas (service is decent, parts guy is cool)
Findlay Honda Henderson (cannot comment)
Desert Honda (good service techs, better parts prices)
Honda West (avoid this service dept, parts guy is lame, most expensive parts)

 

Thats a lot. I need to get a valve adjustment also since I hear a ticking sound after the car is warmed up. Have 124k miles on my car so I think I need it. Got quotes!!

One Honda&Acura indie shop quoted $190.

Ball Acura in National City, CA quoted me at $385 and they will include a loaner car free of charge from what the serviceman told me.

Ball Honda " ..." quoted me at $350

If I wait to go home and do it at Gold Coast Acura(local) quoted me at $333 no loaner car included so have to pay for rental since its an estimated 3-4hrs. worth of work.

I will call tomorrow to my new Honda/Acura indie shop and get a quote from them. He is the one who brought up my ticking sound after I got the ATF change done on it. Awesome guy/owner/mechanic. Perry's Independent Shop.

So I can see how Vegas will be much more expensive, my family and I always spend so much money not on gambling but on gas, food for suite, and dinners.