Honda Car Forum

It's time for me to have some maintenance done on my '97 Accord. It's got
45,000 miles (yeah, forty-five) and at least one thing needs to be fixed -- a
loud noise occurs whenever I press on the gas pedal.

So I called up my dealer today, and they told me I could do the "7-Year
Maintenance". They said it would include a change of the timing belt (my car
is still using the original). They said the entire maintenance would cost
$800. Is this a typical price for a "7-Year Maintenance" or am I being ripped
off? Thanks.

The MOST I have paid for ANY maintenance on ANY vehicle is $250.Mind
you,this is for maintenance where major vehicle systems are in general
good working order.I would say yes,that is an outrageous price for a
maintenance service.

>So I called up my dealer today, and they told me I could do the "7-Year
>Maintenance". They said it would include a change of the timing belt (my car
>is still using the original). They said the entire maintenance would cost
>$800. Is this a typical price for a "7-Year Maintenance" or am I being
>ripped
>off? Thanks.
>
>

Don't be a moron. No such thing as "7 year maintenance." But there is "sucker
born every min."




____________________________________

The maintenance schedule lists both time and mileage. What they quoted
would be the 105k miles / 7 years (whichever comes first) service.
Timing belt change is not included in the service, and they charge extra
for it.

I don't know how easy access there is to the timing belt on that car,
but I paid more than $800 for 90k service + timing belt change on my
Civic last year. This was after getting more than half a dozen bids on
that service from dealers and independents. Northern California

He Hate Retard and Moron wrote:
>
> >So I called up my dealer today, and they told me I could do the "7-Year
> >Maintenance". They said it would include a change of the timing belt (my car
> >is still using the original). They said the entire maintenance would cost
> >$800. Is this a typical price for a "7-Year Maintenance" or am I being
> >ripped
> >off? Thanks.
> >
> >
>
> Don't be a moron. No such thing as "7 year maintenance." But there is "sucker
> born every min."
>
> ____________________________________

> So I called up my dealer today, and they told me I could do the "7-Year
> Maintenance". They said it would include a change of the timing belt (my
car
> is still using the original). They said the entire maintenance would cost
> $800. Is this a typical price for a "7-Year Maintenance" or am I being
ripped
> off? Thanks.
>


Most dealerships have their own "Maintenance" schedules which are much more
extensive than what the vehicle mfg. call for. One might conclude that
they are looking to line their pockets .

I would either do it myself or find a well regarded local independent Honda
and/or Japanese vehicle specialist and ask for a quote on the exact services
recommended for your time & mileage based on your owners manual.

John

If you list exactly what the dealer is going to do for this $800, and whether
the cost of living in your area is low, medium, or high, people here might be
able to better estimate the fairness of this price.

Off the top of my head, I'd say it's not a total ripoff for a dealer. The dealer
price for a timing belt alone probably runs over $400 these days for Hondas. Of
course, who knows what they'll find with the loud noise you mention.

I agree with John about independent import car repair shops: Their expertise
seems about as good as dealers', and their prices are usually notably less. But
one advantage of going to the dealer is they usually check on recalls on your
vehicle (covered under warranty).

After you get your list of what the dealer is going to do, shop around.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/mechx/find.html might have some suggestions for
reputable mechanics in your area.

<accord_owner@no.spam.com> wrote
> It's time for me to have some maintenance done on my '97 Accord. It's got
> 45,000 miles (yeah, forty-five) and at least one thing needs to be fixed -- a
> loud noise occurs whenever I press on the gas pedal.
>
> So I called up my dealer today, and they told me I could do the "7-Year
> Maintenance". They said it would include a change of the timing belt (my car
> is still using the original). They said the entire maintenance would cost
> $800. Is this a typical price for a "7-Year Maintenance" or am I being ripped
> off? Thanks.
>

>Off the top of my head, I'd say it's not a total ripoff for a dealer. The
>dealer
>price for a timing belt alone probably runs over $400 these days for Hondas

Um no, $159.




____________________________________

He Hate Retard and Moron wrote:

>> The >dealer price for a timing belt alone probably runs over
>> $400 these days for Hondas

> Um no, $159.

Is that parts *and* labor specifically for the 97 Accord (the original
poster didn't say if he has the I-4 or the V-6).

In January 2003 I got 12 quotes for replacing timing belt and water pump
un a '94 Civic. Prices ranged from $372 to $596. SF Bay area, Highest
price was Stevens Creek Honda. Lowest dealer price was Los Gatos Honda.

"He Hate Retard and Moron" <drpimpdaddi@aol.combosux> wrote
> >Off the top of my head, I'd say it's not a total ripoff for a dealer. The
> >dealer
> >price for a timing belt alone probably runs over $400 these days for Hondas
>
> Um no, $159.

Cite the dealer and town where this is the charge for a timing belt and water
pump change.

My 91 Civic's first timing belt and water pump change in 1997 ran $160 at an
independent shop, medium cost-of-living town.

The second in 2001 ran around $250 at another independent shop, still medium
cost-of-living town.

The original poster can call around and get the latest prices at dealerships and
independent shops alike.

"Caroline" <caroline10027remove@earthlink.net> wrote
> "He Hate Retard and Moron" <drpimpdaddi@aol.combosux> wrote
> > >Off the top of my head, I'd say it's not a total ripoff for a dealer. The
> > >dealer
> > >price for a timing belt alone probably runs over $400 these days for Hondas
> >
> > Um no, $159.
>
> Cite the dealer and town where this is the charge for a timing belt and water
> pump change.
>
> My 91 Civic's first timing belt and water pump change in 1997 ran $160 at an
> independent shop, medium cost-of-living town.
>
> The second in 2001 ran around $250 at another independent shop, still medium
> cost-of-living town.
>
> The original poster can call around and get the latest prices at dealerships
and
> independent shops alike.

Forgot to add one more recent price I obtained from a local independent shop in
March of this year, in a low cost-of-living town: $411 for timing belt, water
pump, tensioner, cam seal, and crank seal.