Timing Belt - Acura/Honda Dealer or Firestone Complete Auto Care?
 

Hello,
I need to replace my timing belt and wanted to get opinions about whether I should have it done by the dealer or a retail auto care shop?
Thanks,
RH

Do you have a budget?

I've had bad experiences with auto care chains. A Mavis tire shop changed my shocks for me on the one occasion when I didn't feel like doing the work myself. The technician didn't properly torque the nuts for the through-bolts on both front damper forks. Had I not noticed the loose nuts when I was working on something else, I might have ended up killing someone in a collision.

They can change my tires from now on; nothing more complicated than that gets done by them.

Dealer is safer in my opinion, but the prices will be higher.

The Acura dealer nearest my home charges $1600 for the job.
Meanwhile a Honda dealer 23 miles away from me has a timing belt special every year and charges $889.

I would check a Honda dealer to see if they are cheaper. My Honda and Acura dealers both often have timing belt specials running. I am not sure that I would do the Firestone unless I was familiar with their work on other jobs that I have personal experience with.

Probably wouldn't do Firestone myself. Are there any Honda/Acura specialist shops in your area? Typically they'll be a lot cheaper than the dealer while also using OEM parts.

Plenty of discussions about this over the past 10 years.

1.) Get quotes from both to compare prices
2.) Get a detailed breakdown of the work to confirm exactly what each will be replacing
3.) Review what brand of parts will be used
4.) Look at the local reviews of each to understand the general level of anger towards each
5.) Determine if a loaner car is important to you
6.) Determine if a clean and comfy waiting area is important to you

When I did mine several years ago, all local shops were charging roughly the same as my local Honda dealer but weren't going to use OE parts.

Keep in mind all Firestones are independently owned and operated. A good or bad experience for one does not always translate to similar experiences at other locations. For the most part, they are just another local shop that pays fees to a corporate parent for branding, marketing, and buying power. My local Firestone I have been quite pleased with over the years. Even before I lived in this part of the city I drove past 2-3 other Firestones to this one due to their reputation.