jtown

So I took my car into a dealership to check out this noise I've been having and the tech verified that it is most likely the auto tensioner. Here's my dilemma. My car is a 98 with 68k miles on it so the dealers are saying to do the whole 90k service (water pump other belts etc etc) which runs about $1k (not including all the other stuff like valves etc) because I've passed the 6 year mark. Should I just replace the auto tensioner/timing belt and do the other stuff later?

Will Honda help me out anywhere here? Who would I talk to?

TIA.

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sharkcohen

That's really hard to say. I would opt to do it all. But then again, I would get all the parts, including what's needed for the manual tensioner, and do the work myself.

The service is called for at 105k, by the way.

jtown

Hmm ... I usually do all my maintenance, but I guess this is something I don't want to F up and I don't have much spare time these days. What we need is a write up for all this with the engine in the car. *hint hint*.

105k ... sigh ... that makes me even earlier.

Can I buy all the parts and bring them in and have them use those parts? That should shave some of the cost ... although I have no idea which parts I need besides the tensioner/timing belt kit.

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Mike D

the service is call over 105. but it would be wise to do everything while you are there. water pump and all. do you ahve to no... and 1k for all that is redicouls tell them to shove it... buy all your parts from www.hondaautomotive.com you will spend a few hundred for everything including parts for manual tensioner.

the parts for the manual tensioner are from a h23 or a 94 accord bacisally same engine. they work fine if the shop tells you it won't they are full of b/s.

manual tensioner parts.

1. bolt #34257 = 6.19
2.bolt #34256 = 5.21
3.spring#93715 = 2.98
4.adjuster#34253 = 49.63
5.adjuster#34254 = 49.63
6.bracket #93710 = 5.61
7.washer#31451 = 1.55
total = $ 120.80
that should be everything. then add parts below for timing service...


as for parts you need to order off the website..

here are the parts and prices from honda automotive. which is actually a honda dealer they just sell onine to the public @ wholesale prices. just a FYI




1.water pump = 84.55
2. 2 x cams seals = 4.28 ea.
3. thermostat = 16.15
4. balancer belt = 31.11
5. timing belt. = 47.50
6. valve cover gasket kit. = 34.40
*7. auto tensioner = 66.73
total without auto tensioner = 217.99 (add 66.73 if you wanna stick with auto)

then labor @ should take 5-6 hours... that si around 350.00 bucks @ 60 an hr.
*= if you do auto tensioner again. if you do manual don't worry about it

total cost labor 350.00
120.00
218.00
no tax cause you bought parts online. and you can't tax labor ::
688.00 just say around 750.00 if labor is more expensive

if I were you I would do the manual tensioner I went through 3 auto tensioners. after a certain year they redesigned it and they are junk... every other honda but the prelude has a manual tensioner.. and now they are going back to timing chains... poo on auto tensioners poo on them all

good luck man

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sharkcohen

I wish we could convert over to timing chain.

jtown

Mike D thanks a bunch for all that information. That was just what I was about to search for. As long as I have a list of all the parts I need to buy I think I can use the forums/Helms to figure out how to do this myself. I'm going to order those parts asap and try this all myself.

Are there any special tools I'll need?

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Mike D

well I didn't do it all myself I had a shop do it... but I didn't have the time to fugde with it..so you shouldn't pay any mosre than a few hundred bucks for everything which is pretty cool. as for tools. I honestly wouldn't know man . have fun getting you crank puly of that is all I got to say.

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jtown

Do you have part numbers for the water pump and items 2-6?

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Mike D

go to this page... this has most of the timing service parts you will need. parts for timing service

page for thermostat and water pump

water pump page

there you go msot of there stuff you get within three days if you order from them.. if you don't want to order online you should be able to get there number and do everything over the phone...

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jtown

On the water pump page, how come there are two listings for the themostat assy.? I think the link you posted for the water pump is incorrect, but thanks for those.

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ludehawk

Autotensioner under warranty?

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Jay

jtown

Where can I look at this TSB? I want to show it the dealer or at least have a copy of it so I can try and get them to cover some of this.

I don't have Honda Care and my warranty is way over. I think the dealer might argue that I'm supposed to have this done after 6 years anyway so I bet the most they'd cover is the cost of a new tensioner. I guess that'd be better than nothing.

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ludehawk

I don't have a copy anymore... IIRC it's 01-10 or 01-010... the 01 and the 10 part are right though lol

shop around... call diff dealers... it's up to your regional hondacare office to see if you can get the 'welfare' service

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Jay

jtown

So a manual tensioner is more expensive than an auto tensioner?

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Mike D

yes because you convert it to manual.. but after giong through 3 auto tensioners in about a year and a half I said **** it and went with the manual... 20k later I have had no problems....

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Vapor

the manual tensioner conversion is like $20 more in parts. that's the ONLY cost difference.

jtown

How come Mike D says the auto tensioner is $66 and the manual is $120?

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Gerhard

The autotensioner in your car is probably one of the defective ones that Honda has a TSB about.

You should speak with them about the fact that it's failed prematurely and you'd like them to call Honda Care and have it replaced under a good will option.

At that point... you just pay to have the t-belt and the water pump replaced.

Done.

PS The new autotensioner seems to work just fine. This is the superceeded part that came with the 98 Prelude. I just have them repalce the damn thing everytime I do the belts.

Also there is a high strength T-Belt available. (This is what I've used.) It should never need to be replaced (made of kevlar).

jtown

Ya I may just do this if they're being *****es about installing a manual tensioner. I think I'll order parts #1-6 and have them do the install and try to cover the cost of the dead auto tensioner.

Sucks my car is 6.5 years old.

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Gerhard

Keep in mind that when I said "pay" I ment pay for the remaining parts.

They have to remove all of that crap anyway to get the job done... So they are just putting new parts on in place of the old ones.