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A 2011 car is approaching the 105K timing belt recommended service. A local honda dealer quoted $1160 plus tax to replace the timing belt, water pump, and driving belt. The driving belt was just fine, but they said it was a service pack you must have it replaced. Does this quote sound a little too high? Another car's timing belt/water pump only cost $450. It is possible to replace them yourself, but the timing belt has to be perfectly aligned and tensioned, or it might risk damaging the engine.
Serpentine belt is $35. In NC it's roughly $700 for the same service. It's a well known repair by any decent service shop. There are lots of videos on how to do this. You have to take off a lot of bolts/pieces to get to the timing belt covers and then there is the dreaded crankshaft pulley bolt. You may be able to remove this with a 3/4" breaker bar or use the starter method. That is the money bolt and you can see if you can remove it before actually starting the repair.
If you go to an independent to save some $, please specify Honda OEM parts. YMMV with aftermarket parts.
That prices seems in line with most dealer prices. The labor is what drives up the price. It takes forever to get to the timing belt and while everything is opened up, they recommend seals, other belts, tensioner, etc. It will likely save you money in the long run by doing all these things all at once. It can be done DIY, but you have to buy the specialty tool and probably spend your entire weekend, maybe two, to get it done. For something as critical as a timing belt, I would not go anywhere else personally.
The labor rate here is averaging about $115 per hour. From what I heard it's less than 3 hours of work(for a competent mechanic). So that is about $345 in labor. The rest is parts? wow those parts are expensive. Some OEM quality timing belt kits(with water pump etc.) are $175. Seems like a rip off at the (s)tealer. If it's that complicated I'd rather to have some professional to do it for me. Will call up a few shops nearby and see what they are offering.
The flat rate manual("book time") for this job is around 5hrs so they are billing roughly $550 for labor plus there are charges for antifreeze, various shop charges /junk fees. A good mechanic in shop with all of the right tools who does a lot of these can do it in around 3 hrs. As far as parts OEM is the best. There is only one OEM quality kit (Aisin) that comes close to OEM . (Don't use the Gates kit, the WP is NOT OEM quality). If you decide to use a shop, it is preferable to go an independent that mainly works on Honda vehicles.
That's what I paid. I priced two independent shops and they were only $100 or so less with no free loaner car. I stayed with the Honda dealer figuring the tech has done a bundle of these and I'll have no issues afterwards.
Yes that price is typical and is outrageous. An independent quality shop should save hundreds and maybe 1/3 off that price. I go mine done on my last odyssey for $550 with all the parts. I knew the shop owners but didn't ask for a special deal except that I told him I'd bring $100 bills. Said it took him a few hours and he does these regularly.... No reason why $700 or so can't get it done. Also, I would worry about hitting the 105k miles exactly. Nothing special happens there but the longer you wait the higher the risk of the belt breaking and causing damage. So if you go an extra Let's say 5k miles while you find a shop to do it for a fair price, I wouldn't worry....
105K is just a conservative estimate by honda. Maybe they did an internal test and found at this mileage the chance for a belt break is less than 0.01% but the chance increases to 1% by 110k, and maybe 10% by 120K, 40% by 130k etc. It's always a gamble if you keep the car running without changing the belt. I have a friend who drove a civic for over 10 years, nearly 200k and was on his original belt. He said if the belt breaks he'll just donate the car.
Personally I would do it at the dealer, but if you know a good shop, you can probably save money. Any shop that has been around five years and does this kind of work has done many timing belts. There are really two main concerns - quality of the replacement parts and getting the timing right. I prefer OEM parts, mechanics who work on this exact vehicle every day and a reliable warranty.
I've called around and found a shop that would do it for $600. The only problem is they insist that they will have to get the parts. I prefer to bring my own parts because as one mentioned above, only Aisin makes quality parts. I suspect they use one of those dayco kits which I have no idea how long they last. I have not checked manual so I don't know what's the next recommended timing belt replacement. I suspect it's 210k miles. If it's another 105k miles then I should be getting the best quality belt the money can buy, or just stick to the stealer's $1160 quote.
Just ask that they get the better kit and show you the receipt. They get a discount if they order parts and then charge you retail=more money for them, but this is standard.... If it's $600 incl parts. That more than fair - and like I said, this is a common procedure so it's likely they do a lot of these and are very competent if they do a lot of business...
I had an independent shop install a $9.95 water pump once....lasted just past the 1 yr warranty. The bearings went out. After that it was OEM pumps only. How did I know it was $9.95.... He had the computer screen tilted enough for me to see the cost column. Of course I was charged OEM list price as most shops do.
Our vans have honda's j series engine. 3.0, 3.2, 3.5....they're all the same. I've changed a few. Like someone else said, the crank bolt is the worst, and the rear cam will try to spin on you. Other than that, it's not difficult if you've got tools and the space to work on it. Any competent mechanic can do it. Not a dealer-only service at all, in my opinion.
I just did a timing belt service on a friend's 06 accord yesterday. Replaced timing belt, tensioner, tensioner pulley, idler pulley, water pump, and serpentine belt. Also replaced spark plugs, air filter, cabin air filter, tranny fluid. I bought all the parts, genuine honda timing kit, ngk iridium plugs, wix filters, maxlife atf. Parts were $400, I charged $320 for my labor. It took me 6 hrs (for everything), including a lunch break.
And you sir are a good friend.
My Honda dealership charges a flat rate for timing belt/water pump. I had mine done around 95k for good measure. It was around $550 for my 2011 EX-L.
The local stealer here (almost all dealerships all owned by Hendrick) has a $599 timing belt special for V6 engines. They do the two belts and water pump.
I've got 113K miles and plan to replace the timing belt and pump this weekend. I did it on my last Ody a few years ago. No real trick other than get OEM parts. I never had trouble with the crank bolt. Just had to use my foot on breaker bar from front of van. Plan to do the same Saturday. Still have the special crank socket so will be second use of the tool. If your not up for this repair it should not be more than $750 if they use good parts.
It's moderate difficulty to DIY at worst. Bad stuff if you screw up though.
You are in NY; google Hamilton Honda NJ; these guys have an assembly line where they do timing belt in three hours flat. Usually there used to be coupon floating around bringing the price down under $500; not sure what is their current deal.
In Plano, Texas, a reputable repair shop quoted $1100 with non-OEM parts, while the same service at the "#1 Honda dealer in Texas" is $875.
$1100 for non-oem parts is WAY too much. Either OEM or Aisin parts is the only way to go. Those parts are just way too vital for using aftermarket stuff.
I just spoke to a local dealer today to get some pricing on the timing job and they charge $899 for just the belts and tensioner, no water pump or idler. Seems Hamilton is offering a great price still, as long as those are in fact OEM parts...
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