Honda Car Forum

I have a 98 Civic HX.

It is time to replace the timing belt.

Can an independent shop do a good enough job, or should
I go to a dealer shop?

If I go to an independent shop, should I go to Honda and get
the parts and give them to the shop or let them get whatever
they get?

Al Smith wrote:
> I have a 98 Civic HX.
>
> It is time to replace the timing belt.
>
> Can an independent shop do a good enough job, or should
> I go to a dealer shop?
>
> If I go to an independent shop, should I go to Honda and get
> the parts and give them to the shop or let them get whatever
> they get?

=======================

Let the independant get the parts from Honda. That way they get to earn
a few bucks markup, since they probably get a better price from Honda
than you can. In turn, they won't feel thay have to charge you more labour.

Anybody think this is correct?

'Curly'

Absolutely! Let the guy make a living, just demand that he use Honda OEM
belts. There is a difference, you get what you pay for! And don't forget to
replace your water pump at the same time.
If he's familiar with Hondas and you trust him to do a good job, go for it.
But, beware of the shop that "knows" every car. Not impossible, but rare.
And all he probably cares about is the money and not your car. There are
certain things a technician who is thoroughly experienced with Honda will
know to look for while he's working on your car. He could save you money
later.
Good luck!
Howard
"motsco_ _" <"motsco_ _"@interbaun.com> wrote in message
news:417D3D39.5090408@interbaun.com...
> Al Smith wrote:
> > I have a 98 Civic HX.
> >
> > It is time to replace the timing belt.
> >
> > Can an independent shop do a good enough job, or should
> > I go to a dealer shop?
> >
> > If I go to an independent shop, should I go to Honda and get
> > the parts and give them to the shop or let them get whatever
> > they get?
>
> =======================
>
> Let the independant get the parts from Honda. That way they get to earn
> a few bucks markup, since they probably get a better price from Honda
> than you can. In turn, they won't feel thay have to charge you more
labour.
>
> Anybody think this is correct?
>
> 'Curly'
>

Howard wrote:

> Absolutely! Let the guy make a living,

Yes, if you are some sort of "support everybody" agency.
My advice: Go where they do a good job and charge you less.

> just demand that he use Honda OEM belts.

Why? I do use cheaper replacements and see no difference.


> There is a difference, you get what you pay for!

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.


> And don't forget to replace your water pump at the same time.

Urban legend.
A total BS.
A waste of money.
My car is on its 3 (third timing belt-including the one my car come with from
factory) and no water pump was ever touched by a mechanic or anybody else.

> If he's familiar with Hondas and you trust him to do a good job, go for it.
> But, beware of the shop that "knows" every car. Not impossible, but rare.
> And all he probably cares about is the money and not your car.

Blah blah blah. A timing belt can be replaced by any qualified mechanic. No
specific brand knowledge needed.

> There are
> certain things a technician who is thoroughly experienced with Honda will
> know to look for while he's working on your car.

True if you go for a checkup. But if only timing belt is needed, any qualified
mechanic will do as good job as factory trained.

"Don" <dons@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4181717E.6E11E234@hotmail.com...
>
>
> Howard wrote:
>
> > Absolutely! Let the guy make a living,
>
> Yes, if you are some sort of "support everybody" agency.
> My advice: Go where they do a good job and charge you less.
>
> > just demand that he use Honda OEM belts.
>
> Why? I do use cheaper replacements and see no difference.
>
>
> > There is a difference, you get what you pay for!
>
> Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
>
>
> > And don't forget to replace your water pump at the same time.
>
> Urban legend.
> A total BS.
> A waste of money.
> My car is on its 3 (third timing belt-including the one my car come with
from
> factory) and no water pump was ever touched by a mechanic or anybody else.
>
> > If he's familiar with Hondas and you trust him to do a good job, go for
it.
> > But, beware of the shop that "knows" every car. Not impossible, but
rare.
> > And all he probably cares about is the money and not your car.
>
> Blah blah blah. A timing belt can be replaced by any qualified mechanic.
No
> specific brand knowledge needed.
>
> > There are
> > certain things a technician who is thoroughly experienced with Honda
will
> > know to look for while he's working on your car.
>
> True if you go for a checkup. But if only timing belt is needed, any
qualified
> mechanic will do as good job as factory trained.
>
>

Well there is the problem that about 1.5 years after purchase the
SRS light came on. After you reset it, eventually it comes back
on. Then, about 2.0 years after purchase the check engine light
came on, too. After you reset it, eventually it comes back on. A dealer
didn't have a clue after three visits, but, as I recall, $0 dollars spent.
I suspicion that it is a voltage regulator.

In article <4181717E.6E11E234@hotmail.com>, Don <dons@hotmail.com>
wrote:

> > And don't forget to replace your water pump at the same time.
>
> Urban legend.
> A total BS.
> A waste of money.

How much does a water pump cost?

About $40.

Call it $40 worth of insurance so you won't have to spend the $300 to
get in there all over again within the next 90K miles.

Don wrote:
>
>
> Urban legend.
> A total BS.
> A waste of money.
> My car is on its 3 (third timing belt-including the one my car come with
> from factory) and no water pump was ever touched by a mechanic or anybody
> else.

You'll have to be more specific here. Exactly what type of car is this?
Early Hondas did not have the water pump driven by the timing belt. Thus,
these units did not need to have the pump replaced with the belt as a failed
pump bearing would not take down the whole engine. Moreover, the pump could
usually be replaced without removing the timing covers. However, on later
Hondas where the water pump is driven by the timing belt, a pump bearing
with excessive free play can cause the belt to slip leading to bent valves.

Eric

"Eric" <say.no@spam.now> wrote in message news:4181D738.FAB78B4C@spam.now...
> Don wrote:
>>
>>
>> Urban legend.
>> A total BS.
>> A waste of money.
>> My car is on its 3 (third timing belt-including the one my car come with
>> from factory) and no water pump was ever touched by a mechanic or anybody
>> else.
>
> You'll have to be more specific here. Exactly what type of car is this?
> Early Hondas did not have the water pump driven by the timing belt. Thus,
> these units did not need to have the pump replaced with the belt as a
> failed
> pump bearing would not take down the whole engine. Moreover, the pump
> could
> usually be replaced without removing the timing covers. However, on later
> Hondas where the water pump is driven by the timing belt, a pump bearing
> with excessive free play can cause the belt to slip leading to bent
> valves.
>
> Eric

In addition, even if the engine is not damaged the labor cost to replace the
water pump is several times the cost of the pump. The nearly 10:1 cost
differential (laborart) makes it a smart choice.

Mike