ugh!!!! .... camping days may end!

[mandy]

Yup those things are expensive to put in. Those crooks see a woman comming a mile away and suddenly the price is jacked up a couple a hundred. Sorry just jaded.

[S. Heisley]

Miriam C wrote:

Find someone who you know from personal experience knows what they are doing. There is a reason they get away with charging so much............

Miriam is right. Sometimes vehicles are built in such a way that they have to pull the whole engine out just to get at the timing belt. (That's when it really runs into money!) Most small shops don't have the equipment to do that. So, step #1 is to find out what changing the timing belt entails on your auto. Step #2 is to find out who can do that as you could be limited to certain auto maintenance places. Once you know that, you can ask for estimates, if you need to.

[Laredo]

oklahomajewel,

spend a little time on it first. You can get a repair manual through your local library and read over the procedure, and from there you can decide whether it's too much for you (really) or not.

In the bad old days I did a fair amount of work at home on my 318s. Now, with the serpentine belt (a $90 part. Just the part, mind you) and some of the changes (can't get the engine to tell you what it needs by turning your key on/acc/off/acc in the switch anymore, like you used to in the K-car days -- Dodge did that on everything they built in the 1980s) to the computers and diagnostics, I'm tempted to buy really old -- like a flathead six old -- next time around.

Is your Honda a four or a six? Do you have a serpentine belt? There are online forums (ALLPAR is one where I sometimes hang out) that can help you find good mechanics in your local area. Call your BBB, too.

[asianflava]

Do you need to get the timing belt done because it is "Time for a new one" or because it hasn't been done?

Let me preface this by saying that I don't reccomend you do this, but I always tend to push mine. My first Honda, had 145K before I got around to it. Mel's Toyota has 120K right now and we haven't done it yet. Highway driving isn't as hard on components (timing belt included) so you proly have some time to save up. $600 sounds kinda steep though, only because I have a coupon from the Toyota dealer for $300. Not sure how much Honda will charge.

[Laredo]

see if there might be useful information here:

http://repairpal.com/cars/honda/accord

describes the repair here and says it should cost:
Most Common Repair Estimates
Timing Belt Replacement
$324 - $462


http://repairpal.com/timing-belt-replacement

there's more at this site:
http://www.fixya.com/cars/p698487-honda_2001_accord

Hope that helps. I'm still driving a '97 Ram 1500 (133 K on the odometer).

[mk10108]

I would not try repairing yourself. I'm quite handy and can tackle all things mechanical.....Could I replace the belt...YES....but without the proper tools, it becomes a weekend project.

Also....although you can get a cheap belt....DON'T DO IT...getting one from the dealer will ensure its a quality belt.

As for dropping the engine....Tell them your in a hurry and need to know how long it will take. If they reply 2 hours, you know they could not drop a engine and re install that quick. If they say six hours, then ask why the shop down the street only takes two.

One more tidbit. All shops have various methods for reducing the time for a repair than what the book calls for

[Laredo]

I'm not driving that '97 now.

Hit and run driver took the front end out yesterday sometime, while I was at a doctor's appointment. Get to fight insurance estimates tomorrow. Sigh.

[bg]

Looks like a timing belt kit (belt + idlers/tensioners) is about $100. Don't know anything about this particular engine, but it looks like the water pump is normally replaced at the same time.

GATES Part # TCKWP244 {5 Components (2 Belts, 2 Tensioners, 0 Idlers, 1 Water Pump)} Interference engine application

Yeah, it seems silly to have those tensioners replaced, I tried that before and ended up redoing the whole thing the right way later on.

[aggie79]

If you can get good information from the Honda dealer, ask if your engine is an interference engine meaning if the timing belt lets go, would the pistons hit the valves.

I had an old 1986 Prelude with 260,000 miles that I was trying to stretch out the timing belt interval (by about twice the recommended mileage) but my gamble didn't pay off. The timing belt broke, pistons hit the valves, taking out the valvetrain, cracking the cam carrier, etc. In other the words, it finished off my Honda.

[ARKPAT]

Julie I wish I had the time and money to help out on the engine.



I have a $4500 engine that was destroyed by a bad mechanic replacing my timing belt. Get some one that knows what they are doing and make sure they warranty it and are bonded ( Get the number on the receipt - and bonding agent's contact information ). I still have the vehicle stored but a rare year and model and offered only two years in the USA. A stripped long block engine is still $4500.



Pat

[caseydog]

Julie:

From what I understand, it is more than being stranded by the side of the road. If the timing belt goes out, it can do a lot of nasty, expensive damage to the engine.

Yes! The Honda Accord has what is called and "interference" engine setup. If that belt breaks, the valves stop moving, and the pistons hit them. It is not pretty.

Julie, check with Enterprise Car Rental. They have weekend rates that are reasonable, and I believe they offer small pickups and SUVs with towing capability. I rent from them for long trips for business to keep the miles off my car. I get cars for the weekend for under 100 bucks.

That is one option.

[chorizon]

I'm not driving that '97 now.

Hit and run driver took the front end out yesterday sometime, while I was at a doctor's appointment. Get to fight insurance estimates tomorrow. Sigh.

Bummer, dude. Were there any witnesses?

[caseydog]

BTW, the $600 estimate is normal for a dealer on that car. You can find reputable shops that will do it for considerably less.

It is not that hard to do, but takes some time, and needs to be done right. There are other parts that need to be replaced at the same time, on must cars.

I don't think engine removal is required on an Accord, but I'm not sure.

If the car is otherwise in good shape, then do the timing belt. You do not want to leave this undone.

CD

[ARKPAT]

I'm with CD on this issue !



Pat

[oklahomajewel]

Well, thanks all ... I appreciate the comments and sympathy! haha

First ... I will NOT do this work myself... I don't know much about cars, never even changed my own oil... it's worth it to me to pay to have it done... but not pay out the wahzoo!

Second.... thanks for a car guy's input Glenn. I actually work for Hertz rent a car and could get a good cheap rental, but also have a good friend who is taking his motorcycle to work everyday and would certainly loan me his truck. he's a great guy like that.

I did happen to get a coupon from a Honda dealer in the mail yesterday and it had a $65 off coupon for timing belt. I know that I need to get the water pump changed at the same time... don't know if it was done back at 110K .... but between the dealer, a co. downtown with a good BBB rating and good word of mouth refer, and my own repair place for 20 yrs and another referral... they are all around $500 + ..

I'm gonna call a couple of others and then between a couple of paychecks , I'll get it done. I've got July festival & camping, August TUBING the river & camping, Sept MO/KS camping, and the party of the year... I gotta tow the Jewel Box !!!

Julie