acura legend service

[homer15]

how much would you guys estimate it would cost to replace a timing belt on a 91 acura legend?

[HAL9000]

$300.

[homer15]

yea, that's what i'm thinking too... my lady was given a quote for 1000 bucks, and she almost agreed to it... and all she was doing was trying to get her window fixed!

[Mr N8]

I wouldn't ever take my car there again. I got it done on my Aurora for $350 in June.

[HAL9000]

I was guessing at the average service rate here in Regina which is about $80 per hour, then the part... but didn't account for taxes. I would say they're trying to hose her over with a $1000 quote. Did they put that in writing.... if so... YOU go in and get a quote... if you get a normal one... report them to the BBB and look to see if there is an autodealers association and nail them there too.

[homer15]

it was the acura dealership (so naturally they are overpriced). they do good work. the guy said it was mostly labor, because parts need to be removed to get to the internal belt, but i saw what needs to be taken off, and it shouldn't take more than an hour.

edit:
yea, i might do that hal.

[HAL9000]

It's all flatrate tho... so an hour on, hour off, re-timing, etc.... I guessed they would go 4 hours.

[mbossman2]

As acura is using a honda engine, then there is a lot of labor that goes into that (one of the big weaknesses of the honda engine, the timing chain drives all the other belts in the engine and when it goes it takes everything else with it, it is definitely a maintenance item not to be missed, no biggie if it works but a disaster if it goes when the engine is running).

to get to the timing chain (actually a belt), you need to damn near drop the engine and remove just about everything (water pump, oil pump, etc) and that costs a boat load. But $1000 is a little excessive, more like $400-600 or so.

[homer15]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=9#reader-link

that should show a picture of the engine. the belt in question is in the front behind the dipstick. i know the picture doesn't do it justice, but it doesn't look like it's that complicated to get to.

[mbossman2]

look at what has to be moved to access that area!

the undeside ain't much better. basically the whole engine needs to be lowered to get to the area you need to access and have room to position your tools.

I just had this done on my Honda (dealer quote $800, local independant honda shop $575) and the mechanic said this is definitely not one of those do it yourself projects.

trust me this is a nightmare repair, even worse when it has to be done cause the car is dead and you are 200 miles from home.

[HAL9000]

I just called the dealership here... flat rate at 5 hours $65 per hour (CDN) and $70 for the belt... including the taxes here...$446.35... rough estimate to USD... $320

[homer15]

hmmm... i'll take the car down and see what they give me.

[mbossman2]

Originally posted by HAL9000 I just called the dealership here... flat rate at 5 hours $65 per hour (CDN) and $70 for the belt... including the taxes here...$446.35... rough estimate to USD... $320

don't forget the 20-50% uptick due to it being california

[lil Jimmie]

I'll look it up when I get back at the shop and let you know what I would charge for the labor.

[lil Jimmie]

Labor would run 4.5 hrs @ $65.00 an hour to R&R the timing belt. While there it might be a good idea to have the water pump replaced and have the belt tensioner inspected.

[teamgta]

300$ at a acura dealer near me.

[mbossman2]

pulled the invoice on the repair.

the $575 included new water pump, radiator flush, oil change etc.

[BUGNUT]

A 1000 bucks!! I'll do for half price and in canadian $$ too!

Bugnut

[homer15]

thanks guys. i'm checking a lot of other places around here. and i could always try it myself.
my lady and i are getting married this saturday, and we don't exactly have all kinds of money to throw around. haha.

[mbossman2]

Originally posted by homer15 my lady and i are getting married this saturday, and we don't exactly have all kinds of money to throw around. haha.

well alright. congrats.

When's the bachelor party?

[homer15]

it was saturday, and it was awesome. and i remember the whole thing too!

[doctorgonzo]

Originally posted by homer15 it was saturday, and it was awesome. and i remember the whole thing too!

Perhaps, but the correct way of describing it to the wife: "Bachelor party? It was a rather pedestrian, tedious affair. I daresay it was even simian at times. I scarcely remember a bit of it. Too trite for my tastes."

[homer15]

if i did that, she'd know i was lying... realisticly, the conversation went like this:
"man, what a lame party... pizza and playing pool... i can do that any night of the week!"
then she felt sorry for me... i didn't lie, though, there was plenty of pizza and pool... and taquila, and a really nice young lady who entertained us.

[lil Jimmie]

Originally posted by homer15 thanks guys. i'm checking a lot of other places around here. and i could always try it myself. my lady and i are getting married this saturday, and we don't exactly have all kinds of money to throw around. haha.

Congrats Homer, but it's not too late to back out Just kidding! Good luck and many blessings!

BTW Just because the labor guide calls for 4.5hrs it don't always mean it will be done in that time. Often I beat the labor guide but it will beat me as well. Plan a whole day if you are to do it yourself.