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I need a timing belt, dealer or aftermarket?

HappyFace

HappyFace

Diamond Member
I took my 93 Acura Integra to the dealer for a check-up yesterday, and at 120,000 miles the timing belt has not been changed. This of course is 30k more miles then recommended, and the LAST thing i want is a broken timing belt and over 2500 in damages (on a car I only paid $3k for). They're quoting $83 an hour for labor (over $600 for the entire job, with parts, labor and taxes), which seems REALLY expensive ... but of course they warned against having the timing belt put in by your typical "Joeys Auto Repair" place, cause one little slip-up and the car will run like total crap.

It's obvious that he wants the sale, and is trying to sell his mechanics time ... is it risky to go with someone cheaper or should I shop around? The Acura dealership does a fantastic job on repairs, and the people are very friendly and courtious. He said he would throw in a radiator hose replacement as well, for the cost of parts ... $8. Hrm, but if I could have the job for ~$400, should I do that? *sigh* maintaining a car can be so expensive!
rolleye.gif
 
I got mine done around 105k miles on my Civic, had someone I knew who works specifically on Hondas and Acuras to do it. He charged me around $300. He's been a head mechanic at an Acura dealership and wanted to expand into his own business.. being in San Francisco and an Honda/Acura mechanic is a plus for his line of work anyways..
 
Just the timing belt, no water pump, other belts? You could go to most any ASE cert mechanic or Honda certified mechanic... labor should run around $300 but stick to OE parts...
 
$600 sounds quite excessive to me. Then again, I changed my own. You should be able to find an independant shop that will do it cheaper... just make sure they're registered with the BBB, offer a warranty, and possibly have references. Cheers!
 
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Just the timing belt, no water pump, other belts? You could go to most any ASE cert mechanic or Honda certified mechanic... labor should run around $300 but stick to OE parts...
Click to expand...
No, that includes the water pump and other belts!

 
Originally posted by: HappyFace
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Just the timing belt, no water pump, other belts? You could go to most any ASE cert mechanic or Honda certified mechanic... labor should run around $300 but stick to OE parts...
Click to expand...
No, that includes the water pump and other belts!
Click to expand...

That's actually pretty reasonable then... parts will run about $300 + $300 in labor costs seems about right. You might find a tad cheaper elsewhere but if you feel confident about a dealer (I trust dealers about as far as I can throw my car)
 
Well thing is, there really is no way for them to know FOR SURE that the timing belt hasn't been replaced, unless they pull everything apart. They looked at the water pump, and since it's leaking and needs to be replaced, they're guessing that the timing belt has not been replaced either (timing belt + water pump are almost always changed at the same time)
 
Just yesterday I had the timing belt and water pump replaced in my V6 Passat. It was $600. Pretty typical price depending on difficulty of the job. The timing belt in my Passat is a PITA to get to.
 
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Originally posted by: HappyFace
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Just the timing belt, no water pump, other belts? You could go to most any ASE cert mechanic or Honda certified mechanic... labor should run around $300 but stick to OE parts...
Click to expand...
No, that includes the water pump and other belts!
Click to expand...

That's actually pretty reasonable then... parts will run about $300 + $300 in labor costs seems about right. You might find a tad cheaper elsewhere but if you feel confident about a dealer (I trust dealers about as far as I can throw my car)
Click to expand...
Well, I'm really not sure who to trust. It's hard to trust mechanics these days ... how can you be sure that "Joey" the mechanic did the job properly? I mean, for all I know he was up all night shooting up heroine.
rolleye.gif
 
Originally posted by: vi_edit
Just yesterday I had the timing belt and water pump replaced in my V6 Passat. It was $600. Pretty typical price depending on difficulty of the job. The timing belt in my Passat is a PITA to get to.
Click to expand...

no kidding...just changing the oil on my friend's '02 passat is a pita too.
 
no kidding...just changing the oil on my friend's '02 passat is a pita too.
Click to expand...

V6 or 1.8t? The worse part is getting that damn plastic cladding off the bottom. Other than that the oil filter is a piece of cake to get to. Right down low and doesn't make a mess when you twist it off. In fact, probably one of the easiest to change filters (in terms of messiness and ability to reach) that I've worked with.
 
kind of expensive ....
my cousin got his replaced, 93 honda accord for 300 with the water pump changed as well.
 
Last year I rebuilt my 92 Accord engine (170K miles) for about $1,600. That included all Honda parts, complete head rebuild, gaskets, head bolts, belts, water pump, belt tensioner, injectors, rings, main bearings, seals, front engine brace. Plus an engine stand, a 2 1/2 ton hoist, some assorted Snap-On tools and various other odds and ends.

It took me about 3 weeks to do everything but it was well worth it. I have over 8K miles on it now and get better gas mileage (28 city/hwy) than ever.

BTW, the Honda chrome molly rings took almost 800 miles to break in.

Oh, and I never worked on this car before I attempted the rebuild. I just bought about 3 shop manuals (Helm is the best) and talked to a lot of people.

Good luck
 
Originally posted by: HappyFace
Originally posted by: KokomoGST
Just the timing belt, no water pump, other belts? You could go to most any ASE cert mechanic or Honda certified mechanic... labor should run around $300 but stick to OE parts...
Click to expand...
No, that includes the water pump and other belts!
Click to expand...
We charged less than $400 out of door including air filter, fuel filter, sparks plugs, distributor cap and rotor, water pump, drive belts and timing belt and all parts are genuine dealer parts. Water pump is the most expensive part among these parts, i believe. I'd highly recommend you to use dealer timing belt. I'd take it to a reputable independent shop to save a few bucks if i were you.
 
darn front wheel drive cars are a pain in the shins,and butt to work on, i hate em

too much labor, not enough room to work on stuff,
parts are too often a lot,
rear wheel drive needs a u-joint, like $15 for the parts,and i can change it with sockets,and a ball pien hammer.
front wheel drive needs a c/v joint, get a rebuilt half/shaft
$79.99 core: $60.00 for your car...

water pump for 93 Acura,$34.99 core: $3.60 at advance auto parts, a new one is $54.69 not too bad,

good luck,,
 
Originally posted by: Imported
I got mine done around 105k miles on my Civic, had someone I knew who works specifically on Hondas and Acuras to do it. He charged me around $300. He's been a head mechanic at an Acura dealership and wanted to expand into his own business.. being in San Francisco and an Honda/Acura mechanic is a plus for his line of work anyways..
Click to expand...

Same but $300 Cdn 😀 that was 5 years ago though.

Cheers,
Aquaman
 
Originally posted by: Roger
I charge $350 including parts and labor for that job.
Click to expand...


Go with a GOOD independent shop, and GOOD mechanic, like roger, and save yourself the $$$.

The timing belts I use at my place are from autozone as they carry goodyear belts. Goodyear is known to make a lot of OEM belts out there. Never had a problem with them. Also I always use NEW water pumps, not remaned ones, ESP if they are run by the timing belt. That and price Diff. between a NEW and reman one is not that great, at least to me. And also check, if not replace, the front engine seal.

If in doubt ask if there is a warrenty for the belt and will that cover any damage it does if it does break while under warrenty.
 
Originally posted by: Roger
I charge $350 including parts and labor for that job.
Click to expand...

very good price, are you near me Roger?

i need help setting up a rear end for my'67 Camaro.. 🙂
i have no clue how to shim it. 🙁
i am ok doing caveman stuff like putting in a cam, headers,disc brakes,
but don't want to mess up the rear gears, 🙁
 
i had my honda's belts done at a dealer and they did a crappy job. the work done by decent import specialists i've tried has been much better than the dealer.
 
methinks roger needs a web site for his garage so we can all just go there and have him and his guys fix our stuff 🙂
 
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