Replacing timing belt
 

I have a 2000 Acura TL with 58,000 miles. The service department is telling me it should be replaced now at a cost of $800.00. The manual states to replace at 105,000 miles or at 7 years. The car is only 6 years with low milage. Can anyone offer experienced advice?
Thanks, Lion

best to replace it earlier than later if it breaks it can cause major damage im in australia and all our vehicles recomend replacing at 100 000 km =60 000 miles hope this helps as im in the auto trade cheers

Like any other source of information...the answer you get depends on who you ask. :rolleyes:


Here's what I came up with.


click here

My first question is how is the car running? If this is something being suggested as routine maintenance, I’d pick the time and way I wanted to do it. Someone mentioned to me that if the belt lets go, you could end up with the pistons hitting the open valves and bending them. I can’t say I understand that completely, but I would check that out before anything else. If it’s a fact, get it done ASAP. If the valve issues proves to be untrue, (which I expect) then run it. The worst you’ll get is a $40 tow charge. How much available time, tools and a place to do it, do you have? It’s not a complicated job but very labor intense with a $35 part.

Regardless of who or when it’s done, have the water pump changed at the same time.

Just some thoughts of somebody that hates screwing with cars.

I'd have to agree with PF.Get it done when you can if its running alright.I never pay attention to the "years" on scheduled maintenance.It's a crock!Go by miles...be it 7 or 14 years 50,000 miles is still 50,000 miles.Unles there's a warranty involved,then the # of years doesn't matter(IMO).I'd also agrree with PF on the waterpump,two items replaced with one labor cost,will save you a separate labor charge for the waterpump at a later date.

WildIrish’s link was great and showed there are a number of thoughts and experiences on the matter. I do still feel $800 is on the high side and 58K miles is on the low side for the job. The link from that other site didn’t work, but a number of references WERE about the pistons hitting the valves. I would have liked to see the diagram referred to, but if the clearance at TDC to an open valve is that close, don’t screw around with it.

I know for a fact that there are some vehicles that can end up with a ruined motor if the belt breaks. From reading on the site that WI linked to, it sounds like your car could be one of them. (The cars I have known this to happen on were 4 cyl. Fords) Bent valves and holes in the pistons... it was ugly AND expensive. I'd err to the side of caution. I'd also add that your driving habits could influence your decision as well. Do you drive your car hard, launching at stop lights and such that could put more stress on the engine/belt or do you drive fairly benign, casually bringing your car up to the speed limit and not exceeding it? If it's the former, don't wait to long before changing the belt. If it's the latter you can likely wait until the 100k mile mark.

Has the service dept given any reason for changing the belt now, rather than when the manual states to do it?

Thanks for all the replys. The car runs great and the manual states to change the belt at 105,000 or 7 years. So there is no rush at this time and thanks again for your help. :)

Lion, just one word of caution.

A timing belt is rubber, just like a tyre, and given a number of warm up and cool down cycles, will

eventually perish and break.

A lot of short trips can age these things prematurely.

Ask the service staff member why the early replacement.

If he can come up with a compelling reason, listen, otherwise just tell him very gently

to keep his cotton picking gouging avaricious paws out of your wallet.

I just had to replace mine in a 98 Ford Contour. It cost $497.87. But I lucked out and got the towing for free ( wont say how on that) :rolleyes: . So my advice is if you need it done do it. It isn't nice when the damn thing just up and breaks on ya. :mad:

TIMING BELT for a car - shoot thought you had found a new sex aid!

I agree that you should have it thoroughly checked along with everything else if you even suspect there is an issue. Although the price seems high - it is still cheaper than having to put in a new engine or buying a new car.

Thanks again to all that have responded to help me with this issue. Since there is no indication that there is are will be a problem in the near future, I think I will follow the advice stated in the manual and have it replaced at the 7 year mark since I will only have about 70,000 miles.

Well as someone who know what happens when one breaks...get it replaced if the say it should be!

We were advised to replace it and though nahhhhh its fine (it looked ok to us) we can do a bit more....yes well after permanant damage to the engine and a fire later we thought from then on we should listen to those that know best....a costly costly error on our part

We were thinking of our out of pocket costs to get the belt replaced....yeah we it would've been a shitload cheaper than the cost we ended up with when the damn thing broke

Just a warning from someone whos been there done that...but your choice

Don't misunderstand what I'm saying. The service man at my dealership only mentioned that it's getting clse to the time that it should be replaced, there is no problen or issue at this time. Upon further reasearch, a belt manufacturing company recommends following the owners manual and not replace it until it hits 105,000 miles. So I think I will replace it at 70,000.

they are called interference fit motors if the timing belt goes it can and probly will put a valve through a piston ,so change it when the manual says to!!! At $800 must be a new car dealership? Ask around about an independant shop your friends and co-workers it should run about $450 at least it does around here. your biggest problem will be with the belt streching and jumping time so maybe a little ahead of schedule change the belt