Honda Car Forum

I was qouted at $725 for timing belt water pump (all belts the guy
said, not just timing belt, steering ect) & $425 for the other regular
90,000 mile maintenence work for a 1990 Honda Prelude 2.0 S.

Does this sound right? It's a Honda delearship service center in
Matteson, IL. All work is warrantied 12 months. Should I check out
independent certified mechs or just roll with this? I want the job
done right.

Out of curiousity do most import cars use this timing belt thing? THe
Prelude was a bargain for what I paid for it even weith these
maintenence costs added but if I decide to buy new or cert used later
on it would be nice to buy something that will run for a long time
without having to open the engine up.

Thanks!

On 9/11/04 2:34 PM, in article
2480a1fd.0409111134.5542bfd5@posting.google.com, "ghostdog69"
<ghostdog69@lycos.com> wrote:

> I was qouted at $725 for timing belt water pump (all belts the guy
> said, not just timing belt, steering ect) & $425 for the other regular
> 90,000 mile maintenence work for a 1990 Honda Prelude 2.0 S.
>
> Does this sound right? It's a Honda delearship service center in
> Matteson, IL. All work is warrantied 12 months. Should I check out
> independent certified mechs or just roll with this? I want the job
> done right.
>


This is definitely top dollar pricing for the 90,000 miles service. You
should be able to get the belt done by an independent for about half that
quote, or do it all yourself for about $200 in parts.

What are the specific "regular 90,000 mile maintenance" items that they are
offering to do for the extra $425? Look in your owner's manual and price
out only those thing that are supposed to be done at 90,000. I'll bet you
will be hard pressed to find $425 in legitimate things (not counting the
belt) that actually need to be done. The packaged service price at dealers
is almost always a major rip-off.


> Out of curiousity do most import cars use this timing belt thing?

In '90 most of the imports did use timing belts (except Nilsson 4 cylinder
engines of that generation used chains). Most of the Japanese car makers
are now moving to timing chains on the new cars.

> THe
> Prelude was a bargain for what I paid for it even weith these
> maintenence costs added but if I decide to buy new or cert used later
> on it would be nice to buy something that will run for a long time
> without having to open the engine up.

A quick look at KBB.com shows a '90 'lude with 90,000 miles in good
condition has a trade-in value of $1245. I certainly would not dump $1150
into one for just a timing belt and a "service".

In article <2480a1fd.0409111134.5542bfd5@posting.google.com >,
ghostdog69@lycos.com (ghostdog69) wrote:

> I was qouted at $725 for timing belt water pump (all belts the guy
> said, not just timing belt, steering ect) & $425 for the other regular
> 90,000 mile maintenence work for a 1990 Honda Prelude 2.0 S.
>
> Does this sound right?

Yes.

In article <BD68C833.9B411%e52.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org>,
"E. Meyer" <e52.meyer0SPAM@ieee.org> wrote:

> In '90 most of the imports did use timing belts (except Nilsson 4 cylinder
> engines of that generation used chains).

And even chains aren't perfect. My brother had a 91 Infiniti Q45
(Nissan), which used chains; at some point, he had to have the chains
replaced. Apparently it's not at all unusual.

Of course, this was $2700...

It might sound 'correct' but as with most dealer services, it's mostly huge
profit! Check around with independants, they are usually less of a rip off
(still rediculous) but make sure you have at least a good recomendation from
someone. The timing belt is mandatory in a honda, don't ignore it but the
90k service is mostly fluid changes that any home mechanic or shade tree
mechanic can do allot cheaper.

good luck,
Chris

"Elmo P. Shagnasty" <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote in message
news:elmop-7B1667.19002711092004@text.usenetserver.com...
> In article <2480a1fd.0409111134.5542bfd5@posting.google.com >,
> ghostdog69@lycos.com (ghostdog69) wrote:
>
> > I was qouted at $725 for timing belt water pump (all belts the guy
> > said, not just timing belt, steering ect) & $425 for the other regular
> > 90,000 mile maintenence work for a 1990 Honda Prelude 2.0 S.
> >
> > Does this sound right?
>
> Yes.
>

On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 19:01:42 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
<elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:

>> In '90 most of the imports did use timing belts (except Nilsson 4 cylinder
>> engines of that generation used chains).
>
>And even chains aren't perfect. My brother had a 91 Infiniti Q45
>(Nissan), which used chains; at some point, he had to have the chains
>replaced. Apparently it's not at all unusual.
>
>Of course, this was $2700...

Because when you change the chains, you're supposed to change the
sprockets too...

On 9/11/04 7:04 PM, in article ch47k0ps8aae7vt6o3eku02pf6q2sn2kp5@4ax.com,
"John Ings" <nodamned@spam.org> wrote:

> On Sat, 11 Sep 2004 19:01:42 -0400, "Elmo P. Shagnasty"
> <elmop@nastydesigns.com> wrote:
>
>>> In '90 most of the imports did use timing belts (except Nilsson 4 cylinder
>>> engines of that generation used chains).
>>
>> And even chains aren't perfect. My brother had a 91 Infiniti Q45
>> (Nissan), which used chains; at some point, he had to have the chains
>> replaced. Apparently it's not at all unusual.
>>
>> Of course, this was $2700...
>
> Because when you change the chains, you're supposed to change the
> sprockets too...
>
>

The issue on the '91 Q45 had to do with Nissan using plastic chain guides
which prematurely disintegrated. The chain is buried in the engine, not
stuck out in front of it like a belt. Changing a chain is pretty close to a
major overhaul labor wise, hence the $2700.