jwats

I need to do a timing belt change on a 2003 type S. Dealership wants $1259 to do timing belt, water pump and tensioners. I am sure I can save hundreds with my local garage. They do work on a range of cars, no specialization in Imports or Japanese cars.

What are the odds they could screw it up?

Would I be smarter to pay the dealer price?

Thanks for your advice

John

Stephen00TL

Just make sure they replace everything. Waterpump, timing belt, Hydraulic tensioner, pulleys. It would also help if they has done it on these cars before.

acutee

Just get the parts yourself, then have an experience mechanic do it. My guess is to pay labor around 300 to 400 + the parts around 400 = ~800 total.

Yikes

I would suggest you let a garage you trust do it. They do just as good of a job. If it makes you feel better you could ask them how often the do timing belts for Acuras and Hondas.

The dealer will do just as good of a job, but because it is a dealer, their hourly rate is usually higher.

I have a question though, why replace the tensioners and pulleys? Sure it is "preventive maintenance" but what are the chances of these parts actually going bad?

Stephen00TL

I had a tensioner pulley seize up on me while driving at 60 mph. The car started losing power so I shut it off and had it towed. The belt melted around and luckily it did not damage the engine. However I had to pay to redo the timing belt service only 30000 miles after getting it done the first time. It is not that much more for those parts so you mine as well pay for them.

05_NBP_TL

iTrader: (1)

There is a chance they can screw something up. *ask me how I know*

Took my car in to do timing belt service. While there, they messed up my PS pump(had to replace on their dime), poked a hole in my radiator (had to replace on their dime), and it was there for 10 weeks waiting on parts.

Thats how I ended up with my 3G TL though. My 99 TL was in the shop getting this work done, and I bought my 05 TL while it was still in the shop. I still use my 99 TL as a daily driver but it has never performed right since I had the service done.


Ask them if they have performed the TB job on hondas/acuras before you leave your car there. Big jobs like this, is when I go to the dealer All other work I "DIY"

h23nutcase

My backyard....j/k. Just make a post on craigslist and I'm sure you will get plenty of bids. Ask if they own a TL. If no, move on to the next that does own one.

OverGloc

iTrader: (1)

i got my parts kit for come with everything you need, check in the black market or pm me
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-parts-sale-361/2g-tl-timming-belt-kit-856033/

acutee

Not because they are Dealer, they wont make mistakes. They all make mistakes big time. They could be getting paid by the job, so they do lousy jobs just to get it done quickly. They could break things, then call you up and said we found a problem with your car, such and such. They all have tricks to rip people off.

The only one thing with dealer, you always have a good feeling that they know acura, but that is not always the case when the mechanic doesn't know what he's doing; it could be a new hire, a new trainee, or one substituting the main tech.

I want the dealers to take care of my cars and willing to pay for they high rates if they do it right. But, the more I take it to dealers, the more problems I have.

Black TL

jeez - seeing this price makes me so happy to have taken the deal from Hamilton Honda @ 389 for timing belt and water pump replacement. I think the tensioner was another 75 bucks... members in the NY/NJ area should look into this if they need to get the service done. It's still on their website. Plus they give you a free loaner ..

3.2TLc

Wow !!!!, That's a super great price. Do they use "OEM" Acura parts ? If they are, then the labor is a bargain of a steal. How many hours labor is being charged for the T-belt replacement ? Unbelievable, when you hear of prices of between $600-$1000.

Black TL

Yeah all oem honda parts. Check out their website for more details. Its all legit.

01tl4tl

often honda dealers will do our 105 service for cheap,,when they are running a special
its the same parts BUT they wont know acura tricks--where we differ from honda cars

a private shop/private owner,, not corp place with quotas etc= is where to look
ask specifically if they have a tech currently employed there with TL timing belt experience
a honda guy will overtighten our PS belt as they are different
ASK to speak directly with that tech and see if they really know our car
do they suggest an intake manifold egr cleaning,,we all know its needed
and a valve adjust is good plan with intake already removed ...for access

at acura you wont get the shop car wash kid doing your timing belt
every job has a skill rating and techs must attend acura schools and be rated for each job before they can do it
a skilled person will do the tbelt
but a new guy may be doing the oil change

new spark plugs if not done already

why new tensioners??? because the chance of them getting messed up by removing tension of belt,,and expecting them to last another 100,000+++ miles is crazy talk
and asking for total engine failure when tensioner fails and belt breaks,,= kiss that motor goodbye!!!

it never hurt to hang at the lunch wagon at dealer,,ask who does sidework on the weekends

01tl4tl

book labor rate is 6 to 8 hours for the tbelt job
add things like spark plugs,valve adjust etc and it jumps

figure labor at 100-150 dollar per billed hour
while the tech makes 20-30,, if that

14thandeuclid

Always recommend using OEM parts for this, however any competent mechanic can replace it. Dealerships usually throw out a $200 off coupon occasionally though, so it almost becomes the same as a private mechanic. I think my entire service including parts for the TL was around 550?

WoodGrainTLS

1+ for Hamilton Honda, I took my 02 there about a little less than a month ago, they did a great job. Took me a little over a hour to get there from NY but well worth it.