Question: Time Belt Change

Hi all,

I have a few questions:

I need to change the Time-Belt for for my car
[1990 Honda Accord, Auto Trans, 4 cyl, 145K]

I have been told that it would take $510 to change it from Firestone
(timebelt + waterpump) and Rob'e Man charges around 650$ for the same
job.

Q1: Is getting the timebelt changed a very delicate job? I mean, if I
get it changed from either or these 2, would it by any chance cause
any side-effects such as leaks etc? Currently my car is in a pretty
good shape.. so I am just scared that it should be fine later too ..
after changing the time-belt!

Q2: Which one of the 2 would u suggest, Firestone or Rob'e Man ? Also
PLEASE let me know if they are any other good reliable mechanics
available (around Birmingham, Alabama)

Q3: While they change the time-belt and water-pump, is there anything
else I should ask them to change too?

Q4: Recently I also did a tune up for my car, and I did that from one
of the cheaper mechanics. He was suggested by a friend, and was
supposed to be reliable so I had gone to him.. But later I found out
that he had replaced the transmission fluid of my car with a pretty
cheap quality transmission fluid (because he got the fluid from a
one-dollar shop). My question is ... does the quality of the
transmission fluid affect the performance of the car. And if so then
how much ? Would you suggest that I change it again ?

Thanks in advance!!

 

"QGoogle" wrote

For a job like that, I'd want a Honda dealer to do it. My dealer charged a
lot less than what you're citing (I don't have the dollar amount here),
although my car is a '97 Civic. Maybe the job for an Accord cost more.

 

It's tricky enough that you want the job done by someone with good
experience of working on Hondas.

This not the kind of job to assign to a franchise chain shop - others have
had problems and if things go wrong the result could be catastrophic. I'd
suggest trying to find a good independent shop which specializes in
Hondas... either that or a Honda dealer. You do not want to cheap out on
this job.

Obviously all the other belts have to come off too so replace them and
maybe the crankshaft and camshaft end seals if they have not been changed
before. The belt tensioner should also be checked or replaced.

The correct trans fluid is very important - Honda auto-trans uses a
completely different system from any other make of vehicle and the Honda
brand fluid is recommended for a reason.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I don;t necessarily think that it needs to be a Honda dealer, but
definitely someone who has experience with Hondas. Ask...ask about the
seals, how he intends to do the job, how many he has done. It's your
car and your livelihood at stake, after all. When I get mine done that
will be the case because I do not intend to do it myself.

As far as the transmission fluid goes, I was told by one of the larger
online Honda parts dealers, whose name we all know here, that you can
also use full synthetic transmission fluid with the same advantages as
Honda fluid (smoother shifts, especially when cold, and possibly
longer trans life).

Also, whomsover you choose to do this job, please make sure that they
use a silicate-free coolant when they refill the system after the belt
and pump change. Silicate-based coolants can significantly reduce the
life of the water pump bearing.

Bob

 

PARAGON HONDA THE SCUM OF THE EARTH wants $750 for the job.

I had it done for $480 by a private mechanice who does a lot of Hondas.

NEVER go to the dealer unless you MUST to keep your warranty.

--


"We should not march into Baghdad. To occupy Iraq would
instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab
world against us and make a broken tyrant into a latter-
day Arab hero. Assigning young soldiers to a fruitless
hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning
them to fight in what would be an unwinable urban guerilla
war, it could only plunge that part of the world into ever
greater instability."
-George H. W. Bush in his 1998 book "A World Transformed"

"There should be limits to freedom."--George W. Bush

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation
building."--George W. Bush, 10/11/2000


http://minime.de/bush/
http://www.911pi.com/
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http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/
http://www.mindprod.com/bush911.html

 

Yes, so many details that you need to keep in mind. The best thing to do
it's take it to a Honda shop, I am sure you can find a few on the yellow
pages.

 

I tried Mobil-1 ATF in my 99 Accord. Shifting was smoother for while
(probably because the factory fill fluid had deteriorated after 50,000
miles. But after 10,000 miles shifting became harsh. So I changed the fluid
again, this time using genuine Honda fluid. It's expensive ($4.25/qt) but
the improvement in shift quality and smoothness was substantial.

Honda does approve of DEXRON ATF as a temporary substitute, but you'll get
better performance with genuine Honda fluid.

 

Amsoil Synthetic ATF carries the Honda Specifications.

Improves fuel efficiency, reduces transmission temperatures and
increases transmission life. Provides unsurpassed thermal stability
and up to five times the service life of conventional ATFs. Delivers
maximum protection for towing and other severe-duty applications.

For DEXRON®III, MERCON®, Ford M2C138-CJ, Ford M2C166-H and Chrysler
ATF Plus, MS-7176B Applications.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Recommended for use in applications requiring Honda Z-1 transmission
fluids.

Use where ATF is recommended in Mobile or Stationary Hydraulic and
Power Steering units.

Recommended for applications requiring the following specifications:

GM Dexron II, Dexron III
Ford Mercon, Mercon V
Chrysler ATF+, ATF+2, ATF+3, ATF+4
Mitsubishi Diamond SP II & III
Allison C-3 & C-4 and TES-295
Caterpillar Powershift Transmission TO-2 & TO-3
Voith Commercial Transmissions
GM Strasbourg (European Imports) and Opel
Applications requiring Honda Z-1 transmission fluids
Toyota Type T and T-IV
____________________________________________________________________

www.synthetic-solutions.com

 

Thankyou for all the feedback!
I did contact 2 Honda dealers around here...
Roebuck charges around $600 for the time-belt + waterpump change and
Tameron Honda charges $385 for the same job. So I have decided to go
for Tameron. Any idea why theres such a big difference in the service
charge offered by these 2 dealers?? Makes me think if I should really
go for the cheaper option :S
Both of them are authorized Honda dealers (the only 2) in Birmingham
AL.
Thanks!

 

Many dealers add huge mark-ups to parts, some only in the service dept. -
IOW if the work is done there - others just gouge on all parts even at the
parts dept. Make sure, though, that the jobs cover the same work, i.e.
same belts replaced etc. It's also possible that the high priced one
includes a valve adjustment, even if you've just had it done a few K miles
before and new gaskets whether you need them or not.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I would agree that Paragon Honda is a place to avoid for service.

 

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF8&threadm=a50fcf68.0307241025.35b07ffa%40posting.google.com&rnum=1&prev=/groups%3Fq%3Djohns_spam_address%2520timing%2520belt%2520honda%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF8%26hl%3Den

Have the dealer do it. If you're sucks or is a ripoff, find another
and go there. Even if you have to drive an hour or two, you owe the
car that much after 145k miles.