timing belt & leaking cam shaft

[oanju123]

just took car to mech for an oil change and said the timing belt needs to be replaced and the cam shaft that was leaking....

it's a mech in the neighborhood and have always brought the car there for oil changes....never had to do anything else to this Accord in the 5yrs I own it...got a quote of about $1200 for parts and labor.... sound fair?

yes the car is old, but it has very little mileage and besides this new problem, runs perfecty....

thanks.

[deevergote]

The camshaft is a metal rod. It does not leak.

Perhaps the camshaft seals? They're fairly cheap and easy to replace. The timing belt is also not all that difficult, as long as you follow instructions carefully, and take your time.
$1200 seems a bit steep, but it's fairly labor intensive, and labor isn't cheap.

I would invest in a manual and see if it looks like something you're comfortable attempting yourself. You'd need under $200 in parts to do it yourself.

[quickangel93]

find a member near your area and see if he could help you. its a days worth of work.

seal costs like 10 bucks and belts cost around 50. a cupple beers and a day off of everything and it will be done.

[deevergote]

I'd pay a little extra for an OEM belt, though. If the timing belt goes, you're replacing your entire engine.

[90_ACCORD]

is it just a seal that is leaking or did he tell you exactly what needed to be done?

I would say that the price is probably right depending on exactly what they have to do and take apart to get to everything.

[deevergote]

I assume that the OP doesn't know what he's talking about all that much.

Chances are, it's the camshaft seal that's leaking. They do fail eventually. If the seals leak, and the timing belt gets oil on it, it's just a matter of time before that fails as well. Since the mechanic said both, he seems knowledgeable.

[JaK FRoSTWhiTE]

If you dont feel confident doing the Timing belt i suggest you take it to a professional.
You can easily bent valves/damage your engine if you put everything back together and its off timing.

You should check your local dealership and see if they are running any specials.

$700-850 should be what you should be paying for a timing belt service.
That includes all parts (timing belt, water pump, balancer belt, camshaft seal, balancer shaft seal, balancer shaft retainer) and labor.

[JaK FRoSTWhiTE]

Also forgot to add, as per Honda, under "normal" driving conditions the timing belt should be changed every 7 years or 105,000 miles, which ever comes first.

[crazymikey]

I just had my car in for an oil change on Friday. They mentioned my front and rear main seals are leaking. My car has 220 000km. Probably signs I should do my timing belt, water pump and seals pretty darn soon huh?

[JaK FRoSTWhiTE]

I just had my car in for an oil change on Friday. They mentioned my front and rear main seals are leaking. My car has 220 000km. Probably signs I should do my timing belt, water pump and seals pretty darn soon huh?

To change the rear main seal you have to remove the transmission.
I would get a second opinion before you go spending money you dont have to.

[bcjammerx]

$1200 is highly steep unless he's doing more than you've listed...that's about half the worth of the car...which...might be their next statement
"Tell you what, just trade this car in and buy this newer car from me for 2000 + your trade in"
...don't fall for that.

$400 max...and that's not cheap either to me. The toyota dealership I used to work at used to charge 400-600 for a 4cyl t-belt and seals.

My dad just got his minivan's t-belt, seals, water pump, etc, done at the dealership in town for around 600-650.

I paid $275 cash when I had mine done the first time in 2001. But that was to swap the belt only, no water pump, no seals, no idler/tensioner and I bought the belts myself...so essentially for belts only it was 275. The water pump and seals should not add that much to the labor cost and they aren't expensive parts (seals are like $1-$2, water pump what...$50?).

With your mileage and the fact they are leaking (which is highly likely) you NEED to replace all the seals (cam and crank seals, not to mention rear main but that's for another day), the water pump, the belts, and the idler pulley and tensioner pulley as well as the tensioner springs. Of course you also need to factor in that the valve cover comes off for this job so valve cover gasket will be another seal added in.

For those who do this job themselves this is a perfect time to replace the spark plugs, spark plug wires, spark plug upper seals and lower o-rings, as well as the dist. oring since they are right there. But that will certainly add a chunk of labor for those (the tube seals).

You could do those yourself later though (spark plug parts and dist. oring)

[oanju123]

thanks all for the replies.... i have the writeup in my other car so will post as soon as i get it....and yes, it is the seals leaking even though the title doesn't specifically state that...

i'm just relaying what he said, or what i thought he said, so prob not getting it all right...

tx.

[oanju123]

written up as:

- Camshaft seals leak - require replacement
- Timing belt damage - require replacement

I have to contact them tomorrow for more exact info.

[The G-Man]

written up as:

- Camshaft seals leak - require replacement
- Timing belt damage - require replacement

I have to contact them tomorrow for more exact info.

I don't know where you live, and that does play into this equation, but a simple remove and replace is no more than a $800 job.

I see this timing belt damage part though. That worries me.

[crazymikey]

To change the rear main seal you have to remove the transmission.
I would get a second opinion before you go spending money you dont have to.

Perfect time for my 5 speed swap