You can try http://cartalk.cars.com/About/Garage...nd.htmlt's .
It's a search engine at Car Talk's site, where people write in what
mechanics in their area they've had luck with. You go in with your zip code
and how many miles max. the shop can be from this zip code, and it lists
shops.

I threw a random Sacramento zip code in and several shops came up.
Unfortunately, at most only half-a-dozen or people or so comment on each
shop. Still, it might be useful.

I don't know what SRS is. Otherwise, the head work the dealer said your car
needs is what would scare me most, assuming they are being honest. (And I
have no reason to think any shop would lie about a blown head gasket.) OTOH,
a second opinion couldn't hurt, especially since you're torn about buying
another car. I'd just keep in mind that if you make these couple thousand
dollars of repairs (worst case), you'll probably get at least another 117k
miles out of your car.

I personally would do whatever repairs a second, non-dealer shop recommended
and keep the car. But I also have the philosophy that cars were made to be
driven into the ground (or at least until you get sick of the rust).

Just about everything else seems pretty minor. You can probably get a better
price at an independent shop. That distributor O-ring job stinks of dealer
inflation. And fuel service? I personally am very iffy about doing this, but
this opinion is based only on a 1991 Civic having 144k miles on it and
running wonderfully, with all maintenance done by yours truly. And no fuel
service ever; knock on wood. :-)

"CowPunk©" <cowpunknospam@comcast.com> wrote
> Cross posted to alt.autos.honda
>
> I love our dealership, I really do.. they're good at what they do.
> They are however damn expensive.
>
> We rolled the old '97 Accord Wagon LX (117,000 mi.) in there Monday
> 'cuz the dang SRS light has been on for a few months and it's been
> heating up on hot days when the air is on. Thank God I was sitting
> down when they called with this news:
>
> 120k service $329.95
> Fuel Service $ 89.95
> Exhaust Manifold $393.69 leaking- rec. replace
> due to too much rust and new
> gasket will not seal)
> Reseal Power Steering Pump $169.00
> T/Stat sensors (??) $234.21
> Head Work $911.11 (found blown head gasket
> leaking between 3&4 cylinder)
> SRS Unit $716.22 (failing code 08-5)
> Distributor O-ring $ 96.00
> 2 rims (replacing bent ones) $156.25
> Total $3092.00
>
>
> Holy Crow! I immediately started thinking "new car". Then I get to
> researching and talking to salespeople and I just get sick of the
> whole thing.
>
> So I thought I would ask here if anyone knows of a good Honda Wrench
> in Sacramento.
>
> Thanks
>
> Cow
> P.S. I am definitely open to any repair suggestions or similar
> experiences you may have had...we really don't want to buy a car at
> this time