Honda Car Forum

I have a 2000 Acura RL with 82,000 miles. Is it time to replace the timing belt? The dealership quoted me at $1400. Why so expensive?

dont go to the dealer, they have to pay for their expensive overhead, wait until you feel your car hesisitating at initial acceleration, then have it done by a smaller shop about 105 k mi, is a good range, shop around

Usually changing the belt would be safe at 100,000 miles,but I have seen them last 2 .the price seems a little high ,and there is definitely labor involved in changing those belts because you have to pull all the external belts,harmonic balance,fender well cover,then make sure the timing marks align etc.but yes she's probably due for a change and will leave you walking if the belt breaks.not to mention if that engine clearance is tight,it may bend some valves ,then be really costly.....should be around 5-600 bucks??

dealer cost 20 to 40 % more than regular shop....belt is a few hundred dollars...dealer and good shops will also replace warer pump and tightner and pullys and all seals...its the "as long as i have it apart" deal... you dont want to change belt and 6 months later be yelling to mechanic that it needs to come apart for pump or other reasion...find a shop to do it for 800...oh ,,,and its a Acura...add 20 % for name.lol

YES IT TIME TO CHANGE YOUR TIMING BELT AND DON'TDEAL WITH THE DEALER. JUST OUT TO AUTO ZONE AND SEE IF THEY HAVE AND TIMING BELT, AND LOOK IN THE PHONE BOOK TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. I THINK IF WILL COST LESS THAN 200.00 OR HAVE SOMEONE YOU KNOW. CALL AROUND AND SEE HOW MUCH YOU WILL SAVE.

huh?

The best bet is to first check your owner's manual...should list service interval for the belt. Typically, I've seen specs run from 75K to 105K for this item. The recommendations however are 'generalization's. Driving conditions & environment can/will factor in. This is one of the service items you don't want to let go. Honda motors are 'interference' engines. This means that if the belt breaks, you'll risk having at least one valve contact a piston head...results in damage to both, and an expensive repair job. Shops always recommend changing the water pump during this time, since it's accessable during the timing belt replacement, and since the pump itself is relatively inexpensive.$1,400 sounds awfully expensive. The belt & the water pump combined should cost well under $200.00. Add in a half day's labor and this justifies most reasonable prices I see from (Honda) dealers...around $700-$800. My '00 V6 Accord was dealer serviced for these items recently, and it ran ~ $800. Since Acuras essentially are upscale Hondas, and since the RL & the Accord's V6 engines share the same block & similar components, the service costs should also be somewhat similar...IMO.