outrage over cost of replacing timing belt

You could buy 5 new engines for that price!

Take it to an import car specialist!


"MJ" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I was just informed by my dealer that the timing belt on my 2002
> Odyssey will need replacement. The car has 109,000 miles on it. They
> quoted me a price of $7,800!!!! This is a dealer in Dedham, MA. This is
> absolutely outrageous in my opinion and a total ripoff. I have two
> Honda's and don't think I'd ever purchase another one. Every time we
> bring one in they tell us they need major repairs that end up costing
> anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Now they want $7,800. Is there a way
> around this timing belt issue? Can this repair be done safely
> elsewhere? And by that I mean by a trained mechanic, but not by a Honda
> dealership?
>
> And on the transmission issue, they did replace the transmissions on
> both of our Honda's, but we paid for labor on the installation of the
> Odyssey transmission, and it wasn't a small bill either. Does the
> lawsuit require them to pay for labor as well as parts?
>

MJ Wrote:
> I was just informed by my dealer that the timing belt on my 2002
> Odyssey will need replacement. The car has 109,000 miles on it. They
> quoted me a price of $7,800!!!! This is a dealer in Dedham, MA. This is
> absolutely outrageous in my opinion and a total ripoff. I have two
> Honda's and don't think I'd ever purchase another one. Every time we
> bring one in they tell us they need major repairs that end up costing
> anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Now they want $7,800. Is there a way
> around this timing belt issue? Can this repair be done safely
> elsewhere? And by that I mean by a trained mechanic, but not by a Honda
> dealership?
>
> And on the transmission issue, they did replace the transmissions on
> both of our Honda's, but we paid for labor on the installation of the
> Odyssey transmission, and it wasn't a small bill either. Does the
> lawsuit require them to pay for labor as well as parts?

On the transmission I am not sure but if it was under the recall or
warranty it is strange that they charged you labor.
You might want to check around with another dealer.

Dealer will sometime work you on maintenance work.:grinyes: :grinno:
:lol:
Unless it is warranty work you have a right to get your car worked on
anyplace and use other parts as long as they meet OEM specs.
It is called the magna moss law.
http://tinyurl.com/yb7xlx

Here is a tip on finding a good repair shop.
Check around Ask around
Word of mouth.
Family friends coworkers neighbors business people and delivery people.
Mailmen and parcel delivery people get around and notice a lot of
stuff.
Even a good parts house knows what shops are good and not good.
Chamber of commerce and better business bureau and city hall.
If you find a good referral to a repair shop go look them over and talk
to them.
Look for a clean looking busy place with nice people running it.
Ask a few questions and ask about their qualifications and training.
Not all places have trained tech/mechanics.
Find a place that does.

Even all dealers do not have all trained techs/mechanics.

Good Luck MT


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MT-2500
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In article . com>,
"MJ" > wrote:

> I was just informed by my dealer that the timing belt on my 2002
> Odyssey will need replacement. The car has 109,000 miles on it. They
> quoted me a price of $7,800!!!! This is a dealer in Dedham, MA. This is
> absolutely outrageous in my opinion and a total ripoff. I have two
> Honda's and don't think I'd ever purchase another one. Every time we
> bring one in they tell us they need major repairs that end up costing
> anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. Now they want $7,800. Is there a way
> around this timing belt issue? Can this repair be done safely
> elsewhere? And by that I mean by a trained mechanic, but not by a Honda
> dealership?
>
> And on the transmission issue, they did replace the transmissions on
> both of our Honda's, but we paid for labor on the installation of the
> Odyssey transmission, and it wasn't a small bill either. Does the
> lawsuit require them to pay for labor as well as parts?

They're ripping you off. Being a dealership doesn't mean they can't be
criminals. On the contrary. Dealerships take advantage of the extra
trust given tot hem.

Timing belt replacement costs $450 to $700 depending on optional
preventative maintenance and local labor rates. The belt is about $60
and other wear items behind it (coolant pump, oil seals, etc.) are
optionally about $120. The rest is labor to wrestle the large bolts in
the way, which might demand a surge of over 300ft.lbs. into a very
confined space.

100% of warranty repair is free unless there are special circumstances.
Call the Honda number in your manual.

On 2006-11-15 02:00:50 -0500, "MJ" > said:

> They really told me $7,800, seven thousand eight hundred dollars. This
> is Clair Honda, on Route 1 in Dedham, MA. The dealers set the
> "Maintenance Required" light to go off on the dashboard everytime they
> decide the oil needs changing, and then when they do the intermittent
> checkups at every so many miles, they always find major repairs that
> need to be done. We have spent almost one third the cost of the cars at
> two separate dealerships in this area on maintenance and repairs for
> these cars. And we were charged labor for replacing their faulty
> transmission on one of the cars.
>
> Thank you for the feedback. I will find an independent dealer and will
> never again bring my car to the dealer for repair. They tell you the
> warranty on some parts will be voided if you don't use genuine Honda
> parts for repairs, which is how they get you to keep coming back.

Anyone can but OEM Honda parts.

Finding a good independent mechanic is a Godsend.

Ask around, as you drive by repair shops, see what is the predominant
make waiting for service, look for Hondas.



--
- Slim

On 2006-11-15 07:37:42 -0500, "MJ" > said:

> There's nothing I'm not telling you and we're very diligent about
> bringing out cars in for routine maintenance. Could it just be the
> dealerships are absolute crooks?

Hona Stealerships are noted for being scumbags.

Its the major reason Honda has a very low customer satisfaction rating.

Great cars sold by scumbags.

--
- Slim

On 2006-11-16 16:39:32 -0500, "Elle" > said:

> Yours is a euphemistic justification for being an ass.
>
> Without having a lot more experience with cars, the first suspicion of
> foul play by a dealer may indeed be wrong. You should note that the guy
> was all upset about the alleged $7,800 charge for a new TB. He was
> wrong, and was man enough to admit it in public. $780 for a new TB via
> the dealer is not a ridiculous price. We do not have enough other
> information to judge the other situations, period.

IMHO, one should NEVER go to the Stealer for service unless its mandated.

Here in NYC the "timing belt water pump" is over $800 at the Stealer.

I had it done with OEM parts for $470.

Honda Stealers are the biggest reason why Honda's have such a low
customer satisfaction rating.

Great cars, sold by scumbags.

--
- Slim

Im close to the 90k mile range and need all that work done. Anyone know
of good honda shop near Mesa, Arizona?
Nick


slim wrote:
> On 2006-11-16 16:39:32 -0500, "Elle"
> > said:
>
>> Yours is a euphemistic justification for being an ass.
>>
>> Without having a lot more experience with cars, the first suspicion of
>> foul play by a dealer may indeed be wrong. You should note that the
>> guy was all upset about the alleged $7,800 charge for a new TB. He was
>> wrong, and was man enough to admit it in public. $780 for a new TB via
>> the dealer is not a ridiculous price. We do not have enough other
>> information to judge the other situations, period.
>
> IMHO, one should NEVER go to the Stealer for service unless its mandated.
>
> Here in NYC the "timing belt water pump" is over $800 at the Stealer.
>
> I had it done with OEM parts for $470.
>
> Honda Stealers are the biggest reason why Honda's have such a low
> customer satisfaction rating.
>
> Great cars, sold by scumbags.
>

MT-2500 wrote:

> Not all places have trained tech/mechanics.
> Find a place that does.
>
> Even all dealers do not have all trained techs/mechanics.

I've seen some fairly horrible dealer machanics. The problem
is not that they aren't trained. Most are to some extent.
Myself, I think the problem is many are real young and don't
have enough experience. I see the same thing in the A/C
refrigeration biz. You'll get guys fresh out of training school
who will know the basic theory, but can't handle a lot of
things in the real world cuz they have never done it yet.
IE: taking apart equipment and putting it back together
in one piece, etc..
I dealt with a pack of dealer techs at a toyota dealer about
3 years ago that couldn't diagnose their way out of a wet
paper bag. I ended up having to do their job myself.
I will say 2 private shops also failed to fix it before the
dealer had it, but the dealer got two whole weeks to
find the problem. They couldn't do it. They told me it had a
bad wiring harness. :/ I asked him how he came to this
conclusion. He said it couldn't be tested??, but it had to be
the harness cuz they couldn't come up with anything else.
I had to take the thing home and test the harness myself,
which took all of about an hour. :/ Checked every single wire.
All were good. A dealer mechanic should be able to use an
ohm meter. I can, and I'm not even an auto mechanic for
anyone, much less a dealer. To add insult to injury, the
dealer charged $433 for this misdiagnosis. At least the
private shops didn't charge a cent when they couldn't find
the problem. So I have no gripes with them.
This is not to say all dealer wrenches are bad. Some are
probably the best of the trade. Some do suck though.
I think they must have worked at taco bell to pay for the
trade school before they went to the dealer.. :/
I am happy to say I was able to diagnose and fix the problem
that had three shops worths of mechanics twisting in the wind.
I've never had any training per say, but I've worked on cars
since I was 16.. Maybe the dealer should hire me. LOL..
I couldn't do any worse than some I've seen..
MK