Honda 97 civic timing belt replacement dilemma

Hey all,

I have a 97 Hionda civic currently @112000 mileage. However, i have
not yet replaced the timing belt for it. My dealer mentions a cost of
around $665.00 whereas there's a nearby mechanic shop (i live in
Redmond, WA BTW) who is quoting $185 including parts and labor. I am
in a dilemma as to whom to go with?
Could you please advise whether its worth shelling out that much with
the dealer or worth taking a chance with the mechanic.

I am not a very car-tech guy, so any friendly tips are very much
appreciated.

Thanks a lot.
Savita.

 

You're WAY overdue!

Dealers usually want too much. On the other hand, that mechanic's bid
sounds too low.

Are there any independent shops specializing in Hondas in your area?
Or at least specializing in Japanese cars? Check with a local car
club, they usually know who can be trusted.

Always use Honda parts.

 

I quoted out the timing belt job on my '94 Civic back in 2003. Dealers
wanted between $450 and $600 at that time. This is in Northern
California. Your dealer sure is in the high end of that, so you might
want to check other dealers. Ask the Acura dealerships too, they know
Honda engines.

On some cars (like my brother's '87 VW) a timing belt change is easy, no
special tools or skills needed, and easy access. For that car $185 at an
independent shop would be reasonable. The Civic is a little harder,
access is very limited and it takes some skill. I am concerned that your
independent shop is not aware of the amount of work involved with a
timing belt change on your car, and that they perhaps are not very
familiar with Hondas. Around here there are a large number of
independent shops specializing in Hondas and Acuras. Quotes from the
independents ranged from $372 to $584 in 2003

All the above prices include water pump replacement. Most people suggest
changing the water pump together with the timing belt. At least on my
engine (D16Z6) replacing the water pump involves all the steps needed to
replace the timing belt. Replacing the water pump by itself will cost
more than a timing belt change, the incremental cost of doing the water
pump now is small. If you don't replace it now, your are making the
gamble that it will last until the next timing belt change.

 

The $185 quote sounds like a scam. Changing the timing belt correctly
on a 97 Cvic is labor intensive. Access is tight, special tools are
needed, motor mounts are in the way, and the belt must be installed very
carefully to get the tension and alignment right. It takes a mechanic
several hours or a DIYer all day. A Honda dealership with a good
mechanic will charge about $600 USD for the belt and pump. I've heard
of independent mechanics charging $450 - $550 USD.

 

ehhhh... thats kinda on the low side. personally id offer em the whole
$185 in labor IF i could give them the parts as well. then id go online
to majestic or slhonda and order a timing belt and a water pump. id also
buy a couple gallons of the honda premix coolant, and give it all to
them. dont expect a warranty, though.

if i was a mechanic, id be thrilled. all the money for labor, OEM parts
supplied for free, and coolant too.

as to whether theyd use the stuff? who knows. hopefully. maybe theyd be
offended you dont trust their parts source.

or ask em how much it would be if they used original honda parts, and
coolant. the parts alone would likely be a bit over $100.

another option would be shopping it around to more honda dealerships.
that $665 should include a water pump, as well.

$665 isnt *terribly* outrageous, but its no deal, either.

 

You have already received some solid advice; here are a few more thoughts
to consider. If you get a water pump failure on a Civic it might break
your new timing belt and cause your pistons and valves to collide......Big
Expense. So, change the water pump along with the belt. While your
getting the timing belt done, you might want to consider getting all your
belts replaced. There should be no labor charge for that because the
belts have to come off anyway. As a certified Honda Motorcycle guy, I
know dealers sometimes charge full book time for replacing the water pump
even though they are already charging you for replacing the timing belt.
You might be paying for taking off the timing belt twice? Have the dealer
break out the labor for each portion of the job and act savey. You will
pay a lot less. Good luck.

 

The Dealer wants to rape you...without any lube.

The belt and pump can be bought for $75. Its the labor (and the tools)
that cost you. Buy OEM parts and have the wrench do the work.

Let the Dealer suck the blood from a different victim.

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

Priced a belt/pump job this year on my 96 Civic...the Dealer wanted $675.

My Mechanic wanted $375 including OEM parts.

Guess who got the job?

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

would you use OEM parts at a grease monkey garage? is that grease monkey
"Honda Trained"? "you get what you pay for" is my favorite saying. i would
go to the dealership to do it. is that grease monkey going change the front
crank and cam seal? ive seen aftermarket water pump crap out in a matter of
months.

 

Said the man who works at a Honda dealership.

 

sometimes the grease monkeys are honda trained. the smart mechanics move
on and open up their own shops. id imagine if they dont use OEM, they
still use a good source. mechanics dont like having to do jobs over for
free. id still insist on OEM for almost everything.

 

LOL. he will change his tune when he opens up his own "honda/acura only"
shop. and i bet he will undercut the dealer as well.

 

using oem for honda is /so/ true - quality is very high. but if i were
doing domestics, i wouldn't be so bothered as initial quality can be
real low.

 

There is a HUGE difference between a "grease-monkey" joint and a
good, independent mechanic.

You want to go to the dealer?
Be my guest.
I will support your right to do so.
I will also say you are nuts to bring the car back to the dealer
for oil changes and for ANYTHING after your warranty runs out.

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

He also said, "Look, pal...I HAVE to charge you for four hours labor,
even though I did the job in half the time! Honda MAKES ME do it!"

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

Thats not hard to do! LOL!!!!!!

--

"This notion that the United States is getting ready
to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. Having said that,
all options are on the table,"
George Bush, Feb 22 2005

http://www.quantumphilosophy.net/files/clips/TimRyan_Medium.mov

http://www.bushflash.com/thanks.html
http://www.worldmessenger.20m.com/weapons.html#wms
WHY IRAQ?: http://www.angelfire.com/creep/gwbush/remindus.html
http://www.toostupidtobepresident.com/shockwave/chickenhawks.htm

"Bubba got a BJ, BU$H screwed us all!" - Slim

 

Thanks everyone for the responses.
I checked up with another mechanic who specialises in Japaneses cars,
and he mentioned two options.
a) For $395, if my car has only one belt.
b) For $585, if my car has a balancer belt. This he would know only
after looking inside. He also mentioned that i could verify whether my
car has a single belt or dual belts using my VIN number.

Do you guys know about this dual belt concept?

Please respond.

Thanks again

Regards
Savita

 

Savita, your Japanese mechanic does not know if a civic has 1 or 2
belts....he did you a favor with that response. Avoid him and go to the
dealer. They have real experience on your car and have a reputation to
stand by their work. You really do get what you pay for. Is there
another Honda dealer within 50 miles that you could get a price quote
from? Again have the dealer break out the parts and labour costs. Were
not sure what parts your dealer is going to change? Help us to help you.

 

That $185 quote sounds like belt only. Honda dealers here were doing it
for $169+tax (coupon price). OEM belts only cost $20, so charging $205
for the work isn't a scam. But
I'd make sure they warranty their work and request the old belt back.

 

Yes, some Honda 4-cylinder engines have a harmonic balance shaft. Just
like a cam-shaft, the balance shaft needs to be in the right relation to
the crank shaft, and thus a timing belt is used for the balance shaft as
well as one for the cam shaft. As far as I know, no engine with a
balance shaft ever made it into a Civic (not from the factory, anyway)
but I could be wrong.