inordiNate

First I call in and they say $600 then when I show up its $759 timing belt service, Mr. Brown - at least they're polite. I ask what happened to the $600 and they said, "Oh, we must have quoted you on a 92 tsx." That's weird, I didn't think they made the tsx in 92, but I'm like whatever. I just want to get it done and move on, don't really have time to be focusing on this. About an hour later I get a call from the service department and the timing belt tensioner is shot, my engine motor mounts are blown and my breaks barely stopped the car when they pulled it into the service bay. They make it sound like total pandemonium has broken out in the service department and a couple of the technicians are in the corner crying from what they just saw. But in a calm voice the service lady says. The good news is that we can fix one of the motor mounts for only parts $95. The front motor mount is going to be $410 and we'll throw in the tensioner for just part too at $150. And we can get the brakes all back together for you for just $500, this way when we pull the car back around from the service department it wont careen out of control into the show room floor.

What's the deal? Am I getting hosed or what?

I told them to replace the tensioner as i had a bad timing belt experiance with a toyota camry I tried to replace in 00.

Am I biting off more than I can chew with the motor mounts?

shadowkahn

Was there anything wrong with the brakes when you drove it there? If not, they're ripping you off, and you shouldn't let them do any work at all. Go get the car, and take it to another place to have the timing belt replaced. I'm leaning toward they're ripping you off anyway, since you're right, the TSX was not made in 1992, and in fact was not made until 11 years later. Sounds to me like they quoted you $600 to get you in the door, then decided to have fun jacking the price up on you.

BTW, doing the timing belt without replacing the tensioner and the water pump is just foolish IMO. That they want to charge you extra for this, without having planned to do it from the beginning, or at least suggested it to you from the beginning, really does sound like they're a pretty shady service department. I wouldn't want them working on my car.

nj2pa2nc

do you have a tsx-if so they do not have timing belts they have timing chains

BradE

Go somewhere else. At best, they are trying to rip you off, at worst, they have no idea what they are doing. In either case, I wouldn't want them touching my car.

YeuEmMaiMai

Run! FORREST! Run!

no way I would let them near my car

paki_munda

They are ripping you off...all the way. Some shops do this. I recently took my Odyssey into a local Honda dealer for an oil change. I get a call from them 1/2 hr later that my battery is completely dead. They had to jump start it, and will have to jump start it again when I come to pick it up, but can have it replaced for $130. I told them the battery is still under warranty (Walmart) and I will take it back to them.

When I came to pick it up...it started fine. The battery was running out of juice but was definately not dead.

It may be too late, but if still possible, have them do what they are already working on and drive away and have it checked out by another shop.

Bender

I would have left after they said 600 then didn't know what car they were talking about.

BLACKURA_NY

iTrader: (6)

details on car? model/year/mileage?

sounds like a complete rip off...

01tl4tl

first problem- if they found tensioner leaking- which is common- the engine is already apart down to the water pump, they and you are committed to this repair
Have them replace the idler pulley as well,
and decline the other work- get 2nd opinion on brakes
private shop or another ziner can do the front mount
Let them do the side mount at real cost of part- not the double cost she gave you
look online or call another dealer and ask prices

Service writers job is to get you to buy repairs today-not next visit--today -we need money today
they are nice salespeople arent they!
at all times they are salepeople... looking for an edge over you

its very common is this industry to LOWBALL- quote a low price to get you in the door and the car apart- where they have you at their mercy

For prices- they are totally hosing you- tensioner 75 and no extra labor as its part of the job to remove inspect and replace with old or new as needed
Some places say if its not leaking now dont replace it- sure, and in 40-50kmiles when it does fail and breaks the timing belt- thats a 4000 dollar mistake over 75 bucks now

the front motor mount is always breaking on gen2 so Im guessing same for you
part is 125-150 bucks as its fluid filled and vac boosted- car will run better with that fixed but $400!!! its doable by home DIYrs in an hour+ but acura charges 3 hours

the side mount- actually at front of engine- is 50$ or so, and is removed for the timing belt job, should not be extra charge for that
It fails after front does and is not replaced
side takes more torque load than made for--breaks the rubber

without actual numbers on pad thickness and rotors- its not an inspection and diagnosis

Did you go in looking like you have money and no car knowledge? your age?

01tl4tl

I am impressed that in an hour they did a look over of the car and got the covers off and down to the timing belt to see the tensioner leaking
Thats fast- especially if the car was hot when it arrived

maybe they decided you needed a tensioner before it was even seen-
boss saw the initial price quote was too low- they usually get 1000 or 1200 for the 105 service.........
and thats without valve adjust or spark plugs!!!

inordiNate

Its a 2005 TL with 105k.

Majofo

It's an upsell, they lure you in with decent pricing and then upsell you. Replace the auto-tensioner, adjuster and idler pulley regardless. The motor mounts are probably blown, take a look at them.

Basically you drove in no problem so you can drive away no problem no matter how much they try to convince you it's a death trap.. They might even make you sign some retarded waiver to trump up the story.

If you're not inclined to do the work yourself on the mounts or brakes.. (fairly easy DIY). Tell them to only do the timing belt service, nothing else.. guaranteed within a week or so they'll throw in a discount coupon on declined service of 10-20% off their quote.

AMUA6

iTrader: (7)

+1

inordiNate

Thanks got the car back.

Majofo do you have a DIY for motor mounts like you did for the timing belt? https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/122-diy-105k-service-timing-belt-water-pump-spark-plugs-thermostat-%2Apics%2A-784622/

DMZ

Long gone are the days when dealer service depts try to pull this shit wid me.
Dey know da head a da New Jersey 'Family' is sitting across from dem and deah shcared shitlessh ta try ta fuck me ova!

In some cases, deyve done a few extra tings gratish. Why? OUT OF RESHPECT!

.
.

Majofo

I don't have one but I'm sure there's one on Azine. If you can't find one, I can guide you through it. I just noticed you're in Austin, what dealer did you go to? Which service writer did you talk to?

bruiselee

Although this is an old thread, I too am in the Austin area and would like to know which dealership you took your car into.

DMZ

Name of this dealer so everyone in your area on AZine will know who to avoid?

Service writers are trained sales people who can pick out the meek and customers who know almost nothing.

I've saying for years here we need a thread or better still, a section entitled DEALER RATINGS.
.
.

nj2pa2nc

there is one on acurazine
Also go to the dealerrater website

WRXtranceformed

We have a thread somewhere on here about dealer experiences. I tried to get it stickied but for some reason got vetoed and it was merged with another thread.

dinks07

iTrader: (4)

wow whaat a rip off

djflex167

man a third party mechanic would do it for way less!!

Ben's 2004 TL

Can someone please list the required parts for a 105k service? I understand the main parts include timing belt, tensioners and water pump. I am about to get this service from a third party shop and I want to make sure they exclude items that I can do myself (ie: spark plugs). So far, I am being quoted $850-$950 or so... Thanks!

flyromeo3

djflex: I had my friend by shea stadium do my timing belt job on my 02 accord for 250 bucks. I supplied parts and was done within 4 hours.

To bad Bloomberg is planning on getting rid of those shops by Shea...I mean Citi field.......= (

Ben's 2004 TL

BTW, they local Acura dealer (Roanoke, VA) is estimating $1,250 and they provide the same 12month/12k mile warranty on parts and service as the third party...

Bearcat94

Look up posts by mmade22 on this topic. Pretty sure he itemized all the parts when he had is done by an indie mechanic.


Edit

Here: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-2004-2008-93/my-110-000-mile-journey-cost-issues-beyond-704808/

Aman

I know this is kinda late, but if someone got the model year of a car off by twelve years, and it's not even the car you own, I'd never let them under the hood

Ben's 2004 TL

Thanks Bearcat...

Majofo

You're under the impression that the service writer works on the car when in reality most couldn't tell you what color your car is or what the engine even looks like for the series. Many service writers have no mechanical or technical knowledge at all and have to ask the tech or at least the service manager how to word info when they relay it to the customer. I've only been to one service shop where one of the guys was very knowledgeable. If you take your car into service, tell the service writer you want to talk to the tech working on your car.. if they give you some bs like it's not allowed or too dangerous for you to go on the shop floor.. leave.

You also need the timing belt idler pulley and adjuster which is not in mmade22's post. Check the DIY so you're familiar with everything that needs to be replaced.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784622

In regards to the Acura dealership here in Austin, there are two. Both have great techs. If you feel like the service writer is taking you for a fool.. they probably are. Ask to talk to the tech and get their opinion. The tech is more likely to tell you the real deal.. and if it still feels like you're getting hosed. Post it up here and we'll let you know for sure.

Italiano

Bearcat94

That is a heck of a write-up. Don't think I've seen that before.

Nice job.