Acura MDX - Timing Belt Replacement

[txeconomist]

I THINK I need to replace my timing belt. I have about 88K miles on my Acura MDX. I didn’t my 60K maintenance done (was told it wasn’t imortatn by some guy changing my oil) and told me that my timing belt didn’t need to be changed until like 110K… Anyways, I find out is done standard at the 60K mark…

Long story short, I want to get this done. How much should it cost?

Do I need to replace my water pump & drive belt too when I get this done? I am in Houston, and a referral to a good honest mechanic would be appreciated.

So far, water pump and timing belts seem to run about $550-815 from the couple of places I’ve called. Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[HornGrad'01]

Pretty sure its a chain, not a belt (like older Hondas/Acuras), but not certain.

Where'd you see that? I own two and pretty sure both recommend a change at around 100-105k miles (and that too depends on driving style and conditions).

Never heard of one needing to be replaced that soon - on any model car.

 

[CanaTigers]

Should be done between 60 and 80k. Always do belt, tensioner, drive belt and water pump at same time. Cost will be in the 800 range depending on anything else that might need to be done.

 

[HornGrad'01]

Whereas 105K is based on optimal driving conditions (let's see, my 1989 Mazda 626 lasted 95K - my 1994 Accord lasted about the same sold my 1997 I30 with 89k miles on it and the same chain - and my Acura mechanic told me to "not even think about it until close to 75k, and we'll do a spot inspection on it and the tensioner before we remove it just to remove it"), I'd laugh out loud at anyone that owned a Honda post-1997 build that changed that stuff at 60K. Complete waste of money IMO, but hey, some people have so much fear (and some mechanics do well to foster that fear) that they will stop at nothing to make it go away.

 

[The Bandit]

If GM goes bankrupt, Acura should by their timing chains. I've never heard of anyone ever replacing a GM chain regardless of the mileage.

I'd get a second opinion on this.

 

[aUTfan]

My Honda accord recommends being changed at 105k, your owners manual should tell you. and i just got it done today at 113k cost me 377. Some folks recommend changing the water pump but i talked to the service guy at the local honda shop and he said for the V6 (like mine) it wasn't recommended and that he didn't do his. I thought that it was good of him to say that because he just lost a costlier job.

Honda's are most likely all timing belts and they have to be changed, timing chains last a lot longer typically longer than the motor. I would assume that Acura has timing belts too and I would also assume that your MDX wouldn't need a replacement until 105k either, this is a standard mileage requirement for this part. I just googled it and saw where a Honda shop recommended 105k.

 

[HornBud]

Last I heard, no Honda on the planet has a timing chain, all belts. Things might be different in the Acura world though.

Not replacing the water pump at the time of belt change is a silly thing to do. If the pump goes out (and it's unlikely it will last until your next t-belt job), it's 4 hours worth of labor to get back in there, while it's only an hour during the belt change. You'll also get fresh coolant out of the deal as well.

Replace your drive belts. They have to be taken off to do the timing belt, and you may as well throw down the extra 40-80 to get new ones put back on there. There should be zero additional labor cost for this portion of the job.

You also want to replace your seals at this time. Again, it's unlikely they will last 200k mi, it's 4 hours worth of labor to get back in there, but only a half to an hour (depending on 1 or 2 seals) tacked on to the t-belt job.

This is the primary reason why my next car will be a Toyota. Every engine they build today, with the exception of the 4.7 V8 uses a chain.

It would be advisable to not go with the lowest bidder for this. Make sure they are using quality belts all the way around, and don't be afraid that your local Acura dealer is going to be too expensive, get a quote, ask for a discount of 20%, and don't be afraid to ask for a rental car for the day either. Chances are, the adviser is padding the quote.

 

[aUTfan]

I can't remember if Toyota's have chains or not however, Toyota runs non interference engines so if the belt/chain does break it won't ruin the engine. I love Honda/Acura but would really like to know why they choose to run interference engines.

 

[HornBud]

aUT: The only Toyota engine produced today with a belt is the 4.7 V8.

 

[accuratehorn]

Some Honda/Acura models now come with timing chains, but this is a recent development. All Toyota and Honda models had timing belts until the last few years, so you should check to see which your car has.
Timing belts used to be called for replacement at 60k by Honda, then the belt was widened, and it went to 90k, then to 105k in the factory recommendations. But it also will say to replace it as early as 60k under "severe driving conditions." This includes high heat, dirt roads, stop and go traffic, and driving hard, like teenagers (stoplight bandits, etc.).
On interference engines, the belt should be replaced somewhat early in Texas, because high heat is hard on parts like that, but not as early as 60k, which the dealers try and sell everyone.
All Honda, Acura, and V-8 Toyota engine are interference engines-if the belt breaks, the valves will hit the pistons, often ruining the engine. So the belt should be replaced in a timely manner.
Timing chains stretch over time, and eventually stretch so much they start slapping the timing cover, or break. However, there is no recommended interval to change a timing chain. This does have to be done on older cars, and many, many GM timing chain jobs have been done.
If you change your oil religiously, the timing chain will last 200k or so, so the car may go to its grave with the original, but this is not a certainty. And it cost more to change a chain than a timing belt-bigger job, more parts.
On most Toyotas with timing belts (non-V8's), you can go 100k or so, because if it breaks there won't be any damage to the engine (non-interference engine) but you will be stuck somewhere with a car that won't start.

 

[Bernard]

If you want a quality job at a low price, call Robert Ramlal at Upland Honda Pros. He owns a shop near I-10 and Wilcrest.

Tell him you were referred by Pat, the guy with the Accord that you serviced forever but now doesn't come around anymore because he's on his second Lexus, but his mom is still a customer even though she switched from Honda to Lexus also.

Bernard