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It's not only "Honda's current gen engines" that are interference engines... they've been like that at least since the late 80s... I can't ever think of them having a non interference engine.
no one mentioned that the current gen Honda's are interference engines....which means pistons will kiss valves in heads if belt snaps!
Over on the Honda Accord forum I frequent, there have been numerous reports over the last few years where timing belts skipped a few notches without breaking; when this happens, pretty much every valve comes in contact with the piston underneath it. Tends to be a bit expensive when that happens.
The covers are cumbersome but not really that much work...you can get them off pretty easily if you're patient and have tiny hands.
This. I only removed the front cover. Took about 10 minutes with a ratchet and 12mm socket. 5 bolts. Both covers would have been ideal but I simply made a pencil mark on the belt then rotated it via the crank, looking at the top for cracks, middle for nylon separation and underside for any compromised teeth.
Again, I know a visual check isn't ideal but it's not useless either. Seeing oil or coolant on the belt or seeing any cracks or broken teeth regardless of mileage would be a sign that you need to get the belt changed pretty quick. Plenty of belts have broken before the change interval. I do a timing belt visual inspection every 20k miles or so just for good measure. It doesn't take long and it gives some peace of mind.
This. I only removed the front cover. Took about 10 minutes with a ratchet and 12mm socket. 5 bolts. Both covers would have been ideal but I simply made a pencil mark on the belt then rotated it via the crank, looking at the top for cracks, middle for nylon separation and underside for any compromised teeth.
Again, I know a visual check isn't ideal but it's not useless either. Seeing oil or coolant on the belt or seeing any cracks or broken teeth regardless of mileage would be a sign that you need to get the belt changed pretty quick. Plenty of belts have broken before the change interval. I do a timing belt visual inspection every 20k miles or so just for good measure. It doesn't take long and it gives some peace of mind.
It may give you peace of mind, it would give me none what-so-ever. Why? I've taken belts off engines where the belt looked perfect in every way, even so much as being able to read the manufacturer's coding on the back side, and yet the belt skipped a couple of teeth and caused significant interfacing between the valves and the pistons.
That would seem like more of a tensioner issue wouldn't it? I don't see how it would skip unless a wide swath of the belt was missing teeth or there was oil between the belt and cam gears.
That would seem like more of a tensioner issue wouldn't it? I don't see how it would skip unless a wide swath of the belt was missing teeth or there was oil between the belt and cam gears.
In each case there were no lugs on the belt missing, no oil or coolant present, and the tensioner appeared to be providing correct tension on the belt. As I understand it, over time the belt can stretch ever so slightly which, under certain circumstances, can cause the belt to jump a tooth or two on the sprockets.
Long story short, a visual inspection of a timing belt and tensioner is insufficient for "peace of mind".
I am going to tackle this job soon and am trying to compile a lits of parts that i can replace while everything is apart as i do not want something to go bad after i change the belt.
The parts needed so far:
Timing belt
tensioner
water pump
bearings
main seal
thermostat
do i need anything else for this job? thanks for the input!!
I am going to tackle this job soon and am trying to compile a lits of parts that i can replace while everything is apart as i do not want something to go bad after i change the belt.
The parts needed so far:
Timing belt
tensioner
water pump
bearings
main seal
thermostat
do i need anything else for this job? thanks for the input!!
I acted all "thug-life" about my timing belt but ended up doing it anyways. Guess I'm not a badass after all.
That looks like about it. Is "bearings" referring to the tensioner pulley and idler pulley? I replaced both pulleys plus the auto-tensioner which controls the tensioner pulley. And of course the belt and water pump. I never changed my thermostat. It's on the opposite side of the engine.
timing belt is rubber and rubber deteriorates over time. In addition, usually the timing belt tensioner leaks/fails over time as well and that's what causes failures. Buy all the parts and take it to an independent mechanic to do it for half that
I wouldn't do it with such low mileage and given the age. My 2011 was just done last year. But I did it because of the mileage, 113K and the AWD engine rebuild. Is your's burning oil? are they going to take the engine apart anyway? If so, maybe do it then or just have them replace the belt, but don't pay $1500 for that service at such low mileage. My car is 2 years older than yours so at a minimum, you can wait a year or 2 before you have to worry about it. This is the first car I have every owned that I have paid to replace a timing belt. I usually don't keep a car much past 100K miles, but did have a couple that I kept to 120-140K miles.Based on how much you drive it, sounds like your not going on long trips or sitting in stop and go traffic daily. Just wait until you get closer to the recommended mileage.
Right now my car has 82k miles and is 7 years old. I have a 2013 Acura TL FWD Technology Package. Car runs very smooth, transmission fluid and oil always changed on time. Do you think I should do the timing belt now or wait till 100k? Here is the quote for the job my local Acura has given me. Local Honda dealers want even more than that. My mileage is all highway driving by the way.
My 2011 waited until 113K or so and only did it because they were already tearing the engine apart. It really depends on piece of mind. But, I would stick to the 105K to 110K if you want to be on the safe side. If you want to gamble, go to 120 or so. I really can't say about the 7 year thing, but I did my 2011 in 2019, just so you know. Highway driving, assuming not stop and go, is better for your car. You get lots of miles but they are all smooth, minimal starts, and good on fluids, etc. My newest vehicle is a 2016 with 100K miles, not even thinking about a timing belt for a while, due to freeway driving.
Also, for that price they better replace the tensioner not inspect it!!
My 2011 waited until 113K or so and only did it because they were already tearing the engine apart. It really depends on piece of mind. But, I would stick to the 105K to 110K if you want to be on the safe side. If you want to gamble, go to 120 or so. I really can't say about the 7 year thing, but I did my 2011 in 2019, just so you know. Highway driving, assuming not stop and go, is better for your car. You get lots of miles but they are all smooth, minimal starts, and good on fluids, etc. My newest vehicle is a 2016 with 100K miles, not even thinking about a timing belt for a while, due to freeway driving.
Also, for that price they better replace the tensioner not inspect it!!
Wow you really got the use out of your first timing belt. That's exactly how my miles racked up. I'll wait till 100k then get it done. Yes the quote does seem like awfully a lot for what is listed. I would've thought the tensioner and sparkplugs would be replaced also for that price.
The older I got, the newer/nicer my cars were but still all used, value vehicles that I pushed to the limit with the reasoning of 'why spend nearly $1,000 on a vehicle that is only worth 2-3K. The trend continued right up to the point where I was making more money than I had ever imagined.
I used to have similar reasoning but then I realized....why spend $10,000/15,000/30,000/50,000+ on a newer car when you ONLY have to spend $1,000-$2,000 and basically that kind of service will last for usually 10yr/100k miles?
Of course it depends on rest of the car, and if its decent, it's the most value.
I just spent about $2000 this past year on my 06 TL for some more major stuff (timing belt, spark plugs, water pump, etc.) and it just hit 230k miles...so it's basically good for another 100k/10yrs.
If I were to get a newer car I would have to spend many many many thousands more.
I used to have similar reasoning but then I realized....why spend $10,000/15,000/30,000/50,000+ on a newer car when you ONLY have to spend $1,000-$2,000 and basically that kind of service will last for usually 10yr/100k miles?
Of course it depends on rest of the car, and if its decent, it's the most value.
I just spent about $2000 this past year on my 06 TL for some more major stuff (timing belt, spark plugs, water pump, etc.) and it just hit 230k miles...so it's basically good for another 100k/10yrs.
If I were to get a newer car I would have to spend many many many thousands more.
To each his own. You are driving an old piece of crap to many people. But if you are happy then good on you.
To each his own. You are driving an old piece of crap to many people. But if you are happy then good on you.
Sorry, I have to give this post the "Moronic Post of the Day" award; a well maintained 3G TL is every bit a match for pretty much any late model sedan, and yet costs a fraction of the cost.
Sorry, I have to give this post the "Moronic Post of the Day" award; a well maintained 3G TL is every bit a match for pretty much any late model sedan, and yet costs a fraction of the cost.
I totally agree with you. Heck I wouldn't mind having a well maintained 3G as my second car if I had the money.
Sorry, I have to give this post the "Moronic Post of the Day" award; a well maintained 3G TL is every bit a match for pretty much any late model sedan, and yet costs a fraction of the cost.
To be fair, my 06 TL is pretty much a beater at this point....my frugality is still getting the better of me and haven't had the motivation to spend more money for cosmetic touch-ups (beat up paint, ripped back seat)...but the engine and trans (after a rebuild recently) is running great though. Still gets close to 32-33mpg on the highway (probably even higher if I try some hyper-miling techniques but then again I don't want to get rear ended on the freeway,....).
Only downside is no built-in bluetooth and the aftermarket options I'm not huge fan of. Otherwise yeah it is a great great sedan IMO.
I totally agree with you. Heck I wouldn't mind having a well maintained 3G as my second car if I had the money.
Originally Posted by nist7
To be fair, my 06 TL is pretty much a beater at this point....my frugality is still getting the better of me and haven't had the motivation to spend more money for cosmetic touch-ups (beat up paint, ripped back seat)...but the engine and trans (after a rebuild recently) is running great though. Still gets close to 32-33mpg on the highway (probably even higher if I try some hyper-miling techniques but then again I don't want to get rear ended on the freeway,....).
Only downside is no built-in bluetooth and the aftermarket options I'm not huge fan of. Otherwise yeah it is a great great sedan IMO.
From my perspective, there are exactly zero sedans on the market as new cars which I would rather have over my 2006 TL. That said, if my car was to get totaled or stolen tomorrow and I was unable to find another clean and relatively low mileage 3G TL 6MT, I might consider a new GTI or Golf R, or maybe roll the calendar back a few years and buy a 2018 340i (the last year for the 6MT in a 3-Series).
Sorry, I have to give this post the "Moronic Post of the Day" award; a well maintained 3G TL is every bit a match for pretty much any late model sedan, and yet costs a fraction of the cost.
Old cars are good in the sense that you don't have to feel bad if something happens. Besides the 2010 TL, we also have a 2018 XC90 and a 2019 Q7, both are pretty much just sitting in the garage because of WFH. I bought the Q7 in a hope to get rid of the TL as it was approaching the time to replace the timing belt, but my wife only wants to drive the TL.
Old cars are good in the sense that you don't have to feel bad if something happens. Besides the 2010 TL, we also have a 2018 XC90 and a 2019 Q7, both are pretty much just sitting in the garage because of WFH. I bought the Q7 in a hope to get rid of the TL as it was approaching the time to replace the timing belt, but my wife only wants to drive the TL.
kinda funny because I'm the exact opposite and the older the car gets, the more I start to worry about it. Kinda like keeping the last few surviving WWII vets alive.
06-29-2017, 10:38 AM
