TLFTW

Hey guys I read on here 7 years\105k is when these should be changed. Now, my car being a 2004 TL with 86k right now, should I just have it done? or wait till 105k?

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Don't know where the 7 years originated for the 3G, but do it when the service light (4) comes on @ 105,000 miles unlees driven constantly in very high temps (over 100 F) or very low temps (-20 F), then it's 60,000 miles.

TLFTW

I forgot exactly what post I saw it on but ok. I live in Massachusetts and the car originated from Connecticut. So I should be safe until 105k. Thanks

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

That's what I'm waiting for, 105k, '04 with 71,000 miles.

ez12a

same. 58k here on an 04.

rkan121

Just wait it out the belts can actually go much further in terms of mileage.

SouthernBoy

If you drive your car hard with hard shifts, especially in the higher RPM ranges, your timing belt will generally have a shorter life. Keep this fact in mind when you weigh everything else.

TLFTW

Well I bought the car with 84k and I am the second owner. I usually shift around 3k. Once on a blue moon I will drive the car hard for fun

sunny201

Im waiting on 7 years 190K atm

Italiano

105k

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

im only at 43k on my 06 garage queen.
it'll take me YEARS to reach 105k.

using last year's data, I drove a little less than 10k a year.
it will take me 10.5 years to reach 105k miles.

TLFTW

Damn lol. I drive alot. I go to NY every other weekend and also drive 15 miles to work back and forth every day. I would like the peace of mind knowing that my car is running and it will never stop me from going where I got to go

Majofo

That and commuting in traffic and frequent stop & go.

1995hoo

That's about where I am, 2004 TL that will hit 72,000 within the next couple of weeks. The "service due soon" message just came on recently and it called for "B" without a number; if I recall the manual correctly, "4" is the code for timing belt and water pump. I'll wait.

A lot of Acura dealers invent their own service schedules. Radley here in Northern Virginia contends in their mail-out advertising that Acura recommends timing belt replacement at 7 years or 90,000 miles, whichever comes first. Notably, they do not specify what model Acura this is for, which says to me they contend it's a universal recommendation. But that's impossible because my wife has a 2003 RSX Type-S and that car does not have a timing belt—it has a timing chain. That sort of thing makes me very skeptical when the dealer says "Acura recommends XYZ."

jda123

Belts do wear out with age. Be careful. Fortunately, the TB is well covered in the TL. If you have the ability to pull off the front timing cover, then I would at least inspect the belt. You might have to take the accessory belt off to do this (cannot remember off the top of my head), but might be nice to know what you have under there in terms of cracking or fraying.

nfnsquared

I don't think I've ever seen just an "A" or "B" without a number....

1995hoo

See below. Photo taken around noon today.

Majofo

nfnsquared

Oh, I believe you, just never seen it on my car (currently at 112K with an "A1" message, "<15% oil life")....

aahuja82

I am in the same boat. I have 04 TL with only 50K miles on it and am not sure what to do about timing belt since it is 7 years old now. My work place is only a mile from my home and usually my car is just sitting in a shade and sometimes driven hard for fun.

csmeance

The biggest issue is that rubber tends to dry out with time and I believe that's where the 7 years originated from. With 7 years on my belt (and 105K) and the belt looked pretty good. I think it should be fine for a bit longer than 105 but then again I do mostly highway driving on my TL.

1995hoo

So....following on my post above, I took the car in this morning for the "B" service and to find out why the check engine light came on yesterday. One of the items they found in the service is that the water pump is leaking. The extended warranty is covering that, as well as several other repairs, and so because the car is seven years old I'm getting the timing belt done as well because it's substantially cheaper in the end to do it when the water pump is already being replaced and being paid for by the warranty.

So my question is....presumably the MID will ding me for the timing belt replacement at 105,000 miles, and obviously I'll ignore that, but am I being reasonable in assuming I should just figure in terms of getting it done again 105,000 miles from now or in another seven years? I assume the MID will now be of no use in determining when it's time to get it done the next time.

(Incidentally, I have to say the 2010 TSX V-6 loaner car I have at the moment is a pretty nice vehicle except for the automatic transmission. I feel lost with no clutch. My father has a 2004 TSX and the 2010 is substantially larger....it feels pretty damn close to my TL size-wise. If I had to replace the TL and I could afford one, I'd consider the current-generation TSX.)

Slpr04UA6

^Glad to hear that you had some stuff covered under the ext. warranty. Did they say what the check engine light code was/meant, I realize you said a they found a leaking water pump, but am curious as to how they/you noticed this leaking?

I have an '04 with about 47K on it, and am concerned with this "7yr" theory of replacing the T-Belt/Water pump/etc.... I have heard/read that one should replace it regardless of miles, due to rubber cracking, etc....I do some spirited driving here and there. I also am wondering like others if it would be wise to just change it out now? I agree with 1995hoo, on the subject of how to use the information provided by the MID regarding the 105K.? I have heard after the first T-Belt replacement it is every 60K aftr, but I do not know if this is true.

ez12a

60k pertained to the older engines, specifically the B series. The J series it seems can go to approx 100k give or take 10k

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Damn so little miles.

104k 06 TL - 70k miles from me in 2 1/2 years.

Is $795 good for a 105k service?

Majofo

If I remember correctly.. didn't your dealer install a new motor in your TL when you bought it?

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Yeah but does that mean they install new belt and pump?

Majofo

If it was a crate engine then you only have 70k miles on it.. if not, add 70k to the original miles on the engine.. if you don't know the original miles, I'd go ahead and do the service, play it safe.

1995hoo

The check engine light was something to do with the intake manifold and it's being covered by the extended warranty, as is the water pump. I didn't make an exact mental note of it once he said the warranty was covering it. I'll pick up the car today and I can follow up with what it was once I have the service ticket. I did grab the service writeup by the technician while the service advisor was setting another customer up with a loaner car and I saw that the extended warranty is covering over $2,000 of work. That's something, at least. Makes it worth what I paid for it back in 2008 when I had more money than I do now.

As for the water pump, they said it was starting to leak coolant. I hadn't seen any sign of a leak in the garage, but since the extended warranty covered it I decided not to dispute the point. It has crossed my mind as to whether they might be telling me (and the extended warranty provider) that it has a leak in order to get me to do the timing belt, but my gut tells me otherwise. The service advisor I use is an honest guy in my experience.

1995hoo

Following up on my post above: The check engine light was traced to a "faulty intake manifold runner control valve." The service advisor explained it in layman's terms as a valve that controls airflow that failed. They replaced it under the extended warranty. The contracted rate with the warranty provider was $205 parts and labor for that. A regular customer would pay more—it sounds sort of like the way doctors and medical insurance providers have contractual rates that show up on those confusing "explanation of benefits" forms.

Majofo

faulty intake runner control valve??.. does he mean the throttle control valve.. what a doofus.

I'm sure if you asked some of these service writers how to wipe your ass they'd get that wrong as well.

1995hoo

I'm reading what it says on the ticket. Since I didn't pay for that repair, I'm not bent out of shape. However, a Google search reveals discussions on this very forum of the IMRC valve, so I'm inclined to go with what he said over your comment. No offense, of course.