Need advice - Low mileage 06 MT -When to do timing belt?
 

The obvious answer is follow the owners manual schedule so before everyone sends that resposne take a minute to read.

I have a 2006 TL 6-speed I bought new in April 2006. I carpool most days and I just clicked over 60k miles. I am keeping the car for at least (and likely not a day more than) 3 years and 7 months more until the wife's Odyssey is paid off. 2 car payments and 2 kids in daycare would be a real lifestyle changer and I am not going to do it.

Since I am lucky enough to be able to keep it for awhile longer I want to keep it as trouble free as it has been for the first 60k. If I recall the manual says to perform the timing belt service at 90k or 7 years. Obviously I am past 7 years but nowhere near 90k.

My plan was to wait until spring 2014 and get the timing belt service done with the water pump, tensioner, plugs, etc. Pretty sure I am not technically living on borrowed time but I wanted to get some feedback. Should I pull the trigger yet in 2013 or give it 6-7 months more. I don't see myself putting many more miles on it between now and then so that isn't an issue. Youngest will be out of his rear facing seat in May so driving the TL more often will start in May so I think it makes sense to get it done before then.

Let me know your thoughts, just trying to keep the best car I ever owned going as long as possible. I am a pessimist and don't see another manual transmission TL coming...Thanks in advance

hehe we're twins!
my '06 six speed TL has like 65,000 miles!

this is a tricky subject because, if i recall correctly, Acura has removed the wording "105k or 7 years" from the manual.

it now reads, "105k mile maintenance interval"

anyway, I plan to change mine when I hit 105k miles in like 10 years from now.
hope this helps!


i'm speculating that weather and road conditions could contribute to an early change of the timing belt.
however, mine sits in the garage all week and comes out only during the weekends, I dont plan on changing it till I actually hit 105k.
Also, I believe the MID will alert you when you've reached the point of 105k miles.

Never thought I would see another low mileage 06..excellent.

Mine is always kept in the garage and I am in WI so it sees some pretty good swings in weather. From the 100+ summers....well not this one but usually...to the sub zero winters. Guessing that means I need to look at spring instead of 105k miles.

Just don't want that sucker to let go and end up smashing the pistons and valves to pieces on what is otherwise a car in A+ shape.

^ i mean, I bet you could swing several more years without changing it.
if it does concern you, pop off the timing belt cover and look at the condition of the belt!

if youre close to Hamilton N,J

http://www.hamiltonhonda.net/specials/service.htm

389 timing belt service special.

says Honda vehicle only...

glad that we have Honda's! :thumbsup::toocool:

$389 is a steal. Acura dealer here wants $1,200. I go to King Motorsports and they will do it with the plugs and a list of other fluid changes etc for $600.

For $389 its not even worth trying to do it myself.

i would just do it. I did mine myself in June '12 and found that the hydraulic tensioner for the timing belt was leaking all over the place.

mine's an '04 and it had iirc about 70k on the clock.

well...i have an 05 6MT with 57+k miles...original owner...i'm planning to get the TB taken care of in the next 18 mos (my dealer has been nagging me about this, but not to the point overly annoying. hey i have a good relationship with them, i nag them, they nag me...it's all good. i think of it as a friendly nudge). i figure 10 yrs would be my upper limit regardless of my mileage (so by june of 2015). my baby is in the garage sleeping most days.

I wouldnt do it yet, honestly, these belts can last north of 130k miles easily, and i live in north jersey, so i also see hot summers and cold winters with salt etc. of course, my 04 was garaged for about 7 years, but i put 20k a year on it fr the first 5 years, but have since stopped using it as my daily, it now has 123,400 on the original belt, which looks, not new, but not worn yet, a mechanic buddy of mine guessed that it had about 60k on it, it has double that. :). but again, it depends where you live.

I emailed Hamilton Honda and the service is $100 more for Acuras, so $489. The special expires at the end of Sept.

Joe