Reasonable Estimate

[EXV62005]

Hello,
I own a 2005 Accord EX, V6 with 94,000 miles on it. In October I plan to purchase a 2012 Honda CR-V and give the Accord to my 23-year old son. I will have work done before I give it to him (since it's getting close to the 100,000 mark). I don't remember where I found this list, but this is what I'm planning on doing. If you can think of anything else I should do, would you please respond.

Also, I cannot do any of the work (as I am do not know how), so I will have a mechanic do this. I would like to know what a reasonable estimate would be. So far, I have an estimate of $1600 (from a local Precision Auto Tune where I have been taking the car for the past year) for the following:

1) replace timing belt and serpentinewith genuine Honda belts

2) Replace water pump with genuine Honda pump

3) Complete flush and refill of genuine Honda coolant

4) Replace spark plugs with NGKs

5) Adjust valves

Is $1600 reasonable? Anything else to consider?

[CarlR33]

I would shop around. The radiator flush and plugs you can do. The water pump is debatable as it only adds $30-60 to the timing belt service. You could run the belt service mileage out a little as there is debate how long the belt lasts. I just had a celica with same issue. I ran first belt to 107K with recommended service of 90K. The second one went to 107K (had not broke yet but was getting noisy) and since a non interference motor it would not harm the motor if it breaks. Toyota told me they have backed away from the first water pump replacment at 100k and suggest letting it go till the second service at 200K. Just my two cents.

[SatinSilver]

Be careful with the toyota water pumps. The pump on the 05 Matrix lasted 50k miles before it started leaking. I mentioned during an oil change at the toyo dealer the coolant was on the low mark. Next oil change 6mos later it was on the low mark again. They noticed the pump leaking and replaced it. The car was just over the 5yr mark on the powertrain warranty but since I mentioned it during the last oil change they honored it.

When looking at used toyotas and viewing the carfax maintenance historys many of them have the water pumps changed under warranty. Keep an eye on that coolant level.

[yi3o8]

Buy a torque wrench and have your son do the spark plugs. He could also replace the serpentine belt easily. Tell him to read over the DIY for this site, and that will help with some of the cost. A dealership close to me charges 6-700 for the timing belt and water pump service. Replacing the water pump will take care of the radiator flush, kinda hard to keep coolant in there with no water pump on

Adjusting the valves isn't a bad idea, but up to you if it's worth it. I'm still debating at the 100k mark.

[EXV62005]

Originally Posted by yi3o8

Buy a torque wrench and have your son do the spark plugs. He could also replace the serpentine belt easily. Tell him to read over the DIY for this site, and that will help with some of the cost. A dealership close to me charges 6-700 for the timing belt and water pump service. Replacing the water pump will take care of the radiator flush, kinda hard to keep coolant in there with no water pump on

Adjusting the valves isn't a bad idea, but up to you if it's worth it. I'm still debating at the 100k mark.

So, if I replace the water pump, then will they automatically add new coolant?

[RTexasF]

Don't forget transmission service.

[CarlR33]

Originally Posted by EXV62005

So, if I replace the water pump, then will they automatically add new coolant?

yes and no. When the water pump comes out so does most of the coolant. Most shops recommend just drain and fill it at that time since its out. You could tell them to just put the old back in and immediately drain and fill yourself once you get home.

[BLCKFLSH]

IMO I would not do a flush. Any pure water that is left in the system, will dilute the 50/50 mix of the Honda coolant, which is premixed. The best time to change the coolant is when you do the water pump, because that's when you will have the most coolant out. The problem with having a non-dealership do the timing belt is, if the mechanic opens all the timing covers and finds that the tensioner, pulleys, or seals are bad and need to be changed, would they have the parts in stock? Unless the engine is noisy, or you just want piece of mind, the valve adjustment can wait a while. The spark plugs could probably wait another 20k miles too, but I would check them for looseness. Transmission fluid (DW-1) is a great idea, and I would do as many drain-and-fills as necessary to get the fluid clean. Everyone has their own opinions on what needs to be done, and that's mine.