outrage over cost of replacing timing belt

I was just informed by my dealer that the timing belt on my 2002
Odyssey will need replacement. The car has 109,000 miles on it. They
quoted me a price of $7,800!!!! This is a dealer in Dedham, MA. This is
absolutely outrageous in my opinion and a total ripoff. I have two
Honda's and don't think I'd ever purchase another one. Every time we
bring one in they tell us they need major repairs that end up costing
anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Now they want $7,800. Is there a way
around this timing belt issue? Can this repair be done safely
elsewhere? And by that I mean by a trained mechanic, but not by a Honda
dealership?

And on the transmission issue, they did replace the transmissions on
both of our Honda's, but we paid for labor on the installation of the
Odyssey transmission, and it wasn't a small bill either. Does the
lawsuit require them to pay for labor as well as parts?

 

It looks like someone misplaced a decimal ($780 instead of $7800, would still
be a stretch this job should be no more than $350 - 450)?

What did they quote on other than the t-belt work?

t

 

Like t suggests, someone at the dealer made a mistake, or
there was a miscommunication.

$780 is not bad for a dealer TB change. An independent
import shop will probably give a better price, but sometimes
not with the same quality. Kind of a roll of the dice either
way.

I'd google on the tranny lawsuit etc. question.

 

I would imagine that would include a new water pump too. As others have
mentioned, this is probably $780 instead of $7,800, but that is still a lot.
Get out your Yellow Pages and start looking for the independent repair shops
in your area. The counter people at your local auto parts stores can often
point you in the right direction.

Your owner's manual has the maintenance schedule for the vehicle. Don't
depend on your dealer to tell you when things need to be done.

Earle

 

Yeah, there has to be a error, there is no way it would cost $7,800 for
a timing belt, im not sure who is fixing your honda's, but who ever is,
is ripping you off. These are great cars, and It is rare that I have
ever had any problems with my hondas.

I have a 1993 and 2003 Honda Civic and Accord. The timing belts are
normally less than $200


Johnny

 

They really told me $7,800, seven thousand eight hundred dollars. This
is Clair Honda, on Route 1 in Dedham, MA. The dealers set the
"Maintenance Required" light to go off on the dashboard everytime they
decide the oil needs changing, and then when they do the intermittent
checkups at every so many miles, they always find major repairs that
need to be done. We have spent almost one third the cost of the cars at
two separate dealerships in this area on maintenance and repairs for
these cars. And we were charged labor for replacing their faulty
transmission on one of the cars.

Thank you for the feedback. I will find an independent dealer and will
never again bring my car to the dealer for repair. They tell you the
warranty on some parts will be voided if you don't use genuine Honda
parts for repairs, which is how they get you to keep coming back.

 

Your assertion is unsupportable if the quote was truly for a simple
timing belt change. There is something you're not telling us here.

If the old belt had broken and there was significant valve damage, then
I can see a repair bill that would be extraordinarily high. But even
then there would have had to be additional work included to reach that
figure. A complete engine rebuild wouldn't cost $7,800.

Honda did that, not the dealers.

How much do you actually look after your vehicles? I've found as a
general rule the people with the highest repair bills are the ones with
the laxest attention to maintenance.

 

There's nothing I'm not telling you and we're very diligent about
bringing out cars in for routine maintenance. Could it just be the
dealerships are absolute crooks??

 

I'm going to call them back and talk to someone else because that
figure makes no sense.

 

I should have done this yesterday - I called them back and someone else
said it was $700 to $800, not $7,800. My mistake on that one.

 

They said $700 - $800, which resolves that issue, but doesn't resolve
the rest.

 

Get a second opinion. There must be a zillion independent Honda mechanic
shops in Eastern Massachusetts by now. (I left there in 1978, and never
regretted it.)

Earle

They said $700 - $800, which resolves that issue, but doesn't resolve
the rest.

 

I'm glad that you found the $7800 to be more like $780. As for the rest
about how the dealership has been treating you, does this old adage
apply?: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Ken

 

Come on, goddarnit, do you really think a comment like yours
helps?

Some folks are not specialized in car repairs and have to
put their time elsewhere to make a living. They are trusting
that the businesses with whom they work are reputable. The
guy is getting experience. Help him learn from his mistake.

 

Heh, lots of people don't "get it". As you get older, you will find that
you have less and less time for these types.

Earle

 

Excuse me, but I am older, and I always have time for
someone trying to learn.

 

When my local Honda dealer quoted $850 for timing belt change for my 4
cylinder 96 Accord, I decided to do it myself and I did it.

 

There are different methods, some more effective than others.

Earle

 

Heh, heh, for $7,800 you might have gotten a new engine wrapped
around your timing belt.


- Steve Yates
- Confucius say: Can not change wife of 40 for two twenties

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