Car Maintenance...

[SeaSalt]

Just got a call from Honda dealership. Mini van needs timing belt and water pump replaced. 800 bucks!! I won't be buying any fishing related stuff for couple months... :mad:

[CrawFish]

bring to a trusted mechanic and it should cost your around 400-500. Them car Stealers will rob you clean.

[Orest]

usually they want to replace it since they have to remove it to replace the timing belt.

[cygnus-x1]

Just got a call from Honda dealership. Mini van needs timing belt and water pump replaced. 800 bucks!! I won't be buying any fishing related stuff for couple months... :mad:
If it is not under warranty I would NOT recommend the dealership. Don't believe the hype about 'master mechanics' ... I know of one in GM Giant and after I hear him talk I will never trust a dealer again unless its under warranty.

You should post up a request for a recommendation on a car mechanic in your area.

[rhorm]

Just got a call from Honda dealership. Mini van needs timing belt and water pump replaced. 800 bucks!! I won't be buying any fishing related stuff for couple months... :mad:

The same thing for me just two weeks ago. I had to replace the water pump on my honda civic. Dam thing is driven by the timing belt. 800 bucks as well. Drove it for a couple days and noticed another leak coming from the heater hose after pressure built up. Good thing they fixed that at no cost. Gave the car to my wife and bought a XJ :D Dam Honda's are expensive to fix.

[jay b]

SS it's too bad you live all the way up there. There's a place here in the Greenbriar section called Dr. Honda that is hands down the best I've ever used. It's the only place that I've got work done that the actual price was LESS that the estimate and that's happened more than once. Anyone else here in the Tidewater area that needs some work done to a Honda needs to check these guys out. I just did the water pump/timing belt thing myself but that was because the pump seals had failed and the car was a used one that I had baught for the #2 son to drive and I wasn't sure when the last time the belt had been changed. It's good for another 100k mi. now. :D Just change the oil. Oh yeah the $750.00 estimate wound up being $492.00 ;)

[SeaSalt]

SS it's too bad you live all the way up there. There's a place here in the Greenbriar section called Dr. Honda that is hands down the best I've ever used. It's the only place that I've got work done that the actual price was LESS that the estimate and that's happened more than once. Anyone else here in the Tidewater area that needs some work done to a Honda needs to check these guys out. I just did the water pump/timing belt thing myself but that was because the pump seals had failed and the car was a used one that I had baught for the #2 son to drive and I wasn't sure when the last time the belt had been changed. It's good for another 100k mi. now. :D Just change the oil. Oh yeah the $750.00 estimate wound up being $492.00 ;)


man... 492 dollar sounds good. extra 300 dollar could be used for HDX/Penn 525 combo... :D

Thanks everyone for your advice. Good trusted mechanic can be hard to find. I wish I had a family member who is a mechanic.

Interesting question I have, how can you tell if they put synthetic oil in there? I just want to make sure they are not scamming me. I always ask for synthetic oil change for all my cars but wanted to verify that they did use the right oil.

Any mechanics on this board?

[CrawFish]

I used to bring my car to a exxon shop at the corner of Nutley and Lee Hwy. There was a guy that I trust, I think his name is Suk or Sup, been awhile. Yeah a honest mechanics is like an oxy moron. :D I still haven't found one yet. There's another guy that I know that works at a shop on Lee Hwy, his name is Robert, I'll ask my roomate where he works at. He was my roommate drinking buddy when he used to live down this way.

[Samurai]

Any mechanics on this board?[/QUOTE]


Sent PM.

[Hurricane44]

SS,

Most of the Honda folks on here are correct, $800 is way too expensive and it should really be around $450-500 (but even less if you can find a mechanic who's been around for a while and wont take 6 hours to complete the work - the timing belt/water pump should take about 3-4 hours for an experienced mechanic). I own a 97 accord and it was less than $350 to get mine done in Wilmington NC. I wouldn't take a chance on only replacing the timing belt and not the water pump, go ahead and get both replaced. As far as the regular vs. synthetic oil, I think you pretty much have to trust what they say since I don't know of any way you can tell what type was put in your van. I actually run a synthetic blend in my car, my mechanic said its better for the engine since it has over 125k miles on it (he said the blend helps remove some of the crap that builds up over time). Anyways, thats just my two cents. Good luck and I hope you don't get reamed by anyone :eek: .

Cane44

[HuskyMD]

Sea Salt, is this just for the 60 or 90K mile maintenance? Or were you having problems?

[SeaSalt]

this is for maintenance... car is 99' model and the mechanic says the belt is dry rotting. I should of asked him to show me the belt. I'm a dope! Maybe I should take some classes at Lincoln Tech or my community college.

[Jigmaster]

Absolutely avoid the Dealership if it is out of warranty. I used to sell Cars and can tell you Svc. end of a Dealership far exceeds the income of new car and used Car Depatments in $$$$
Never! Never! Never! unless you are related to someone there will you get an honest deal.

They have what you call a ringer ya kinda like the Circus guy that will tripple the Cost and sell you what you do not need. (Svc. writer) this guy will determine if you are an easy mark.

If you dont have a well known local Mechanic.

Use Pep Boys, Sears w-caution then Firestone Maybe.

Avoid Tuffy all together Never! Never! Never !

However a good way to find decent work done at a fair price would be to go to your local Junk yard a clean one usually refered to as auto recicling. There you may inquire where they have do thier work. i.e. When they sell you an Engine or Tranny it will come with a warranty so they will use someone that will not have to recharge them for faulty work or overly high prices. When you find them say sonso recicling refered you that way you will put them in the
economical Mindset of recicle. Others sometimes have set prices for certain jobs it almost always pays if you bring your own parts some you may want to get from the Dealership Parts Dept.
Especially Belts and Hoses aftermarkets on these suck.







If it is not under warranty I would NOT recommend the dealership. Don't believe the hype about 'master mechanics' ... I know of one in GM Giant and after I hear him talk I will never trust a dealer again unless its under warranty.

You should post up a request for a recommendation on a car mechanic in your area.

[HuskyMD]

How many miles are on it Sea Salt?

[SeaSalt]

83k but its a '99, 7 years old. I was going to wait until 90k but he told me its dry rotting.

off topic but how come you got a '+' sign after your name in the list of who's online? Something special for Husky from Flea man?

[CrawFish]

off topic but how come you got a '+' sign after your name in the list of who's online? Something special for Husky from Flea man?

That just means a person is on your buddy list. ;)

[SeaSalt]

That just means a person is on your buddy list. ;)

:eek:

dang... I didn't know that. I better take him off the list.

[SeaSalt]

you are off buddy!!! :D

[HuskyMD]

nice...as far as maintenance goes, 90 is the right time...you don't have change the water pump but they usually do recommend it when changing the belt--primarily because changing the pump later if it has problems costs a lot in labor, but most of the labor is already being done to change the belt. Do a google search on your van and water pumps. You may not need to change it.

I have a good mechanic. Too bad you are so far away. The problem with high costs around here is most mechanics are charging like $80 an hour labor.