99 Civic EX Automatic 105k miles (no major changes done, runs fine, no leaks that i know of)

Deal A: Dealer wants $553 for
Timing Belt, Drive Belts, Water Pump, Coolant Change

Deal B: Mechanic wants $874 for
Timing Belt, Water Pump, Coolant Change, Replace Two Oil Seals, Tensioner, Valve Cover Gasket

My mechanic said this is a worst case scenario and if the oil seals are bone dry or tensioner is fine, then they'll reduce the price and not do the seals and/or tensioner.

What is your opinion and which is the better deal? A or B?

 

Add replacing the belt tensioner to the dealer work and then get that estimate. I think the price of the valve cover gasket (cheap) is already in the dealer estimate, but verify.

You are unlikely to need any seals replaced based on the fact that you haven't noticed any leaks. Therefore, ask the independent mechanic to give you an estimate for what the dealer wants to do (+tensioner).

If the two prices are similar, go with the dealer. If the mechanic's price is substantially lower, then go with him if he has a good reputation.

 

The dealer quoted price seems high. I think I had the dealer replaced the timing and drive belts, oil seals, tensioner, and water pump around 400 bucks. The valve cover gasket can be replace pretty easily and the coolant change is simple too.

 

It would be a whoooooooooole lot cheaper if you did it yourself.

 

the oil seals are pretty cheap. and replacing the tensioner and oil seals would only take like 5mins more very easy... id have it dont at the stealership IMO alo tbetter warrente!

if you had the tools you could do it yourself.... then it would only cost ruffly 130-200bucks depending if ya do the seals...
cheapest OEM parts supplier is this guy on ebay...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=360087576651
ive bought from them repeatedly!!!!! all oem sealed parts. a hell of alot cheaper than if you just go to the dealership and buy the parts from them!
think i spent like another 50bucks for just the timing belt and water pump over his whole kit when i bought it for my old eg civic.
i got that timing belt kit still siting on my dresser right now. i swear im gonna change it this winter sometime.LOL

hardest part about changing the timing belt is removing the crank bolt.... everything else is easy just time consuming...

 

Your third party guy seems kind of high. Has he actually done a Civic before? The Civic timing belt is a lot easier than most other cars. Maybe he's just pulling numbers out of the air based on what he charges for more complicated work.

I wouldn't mess with the seals unless they're leaking. Especially the cam seal, usually lasts the life of the car. New tensioner for sure though.

 

Go with option 2, but again depends how much u willing to put into your car.

 

true the oil seals might not be needed BUT IMO.... the motors all pulled open already so go ahead and swap them out if ya got that much milage on them.... definatly swap them out if you ever might switch to synthetic motor oil....
its just cheap insurance cause if the seal leaks alittle oil and you want it fixed you gotta pay to have it completely torn apart again.....

 

Thanks for the replies. I ended going with the Honda dealer because they weren't as busy and they got it done quickly.

The said the valve cover gasket is re-usable and said there were no problems so they didn't replace it. They said the oil seals weren't leaking so they didn't replace those either. As for the tensioner, the dealer said that is more of a 200k thing done at the second timing belt job.

I just feel better that I don't have to worry about any of the belts breaking for another 90k or so.

 

I just got this stuff done on my 93 and it ran me about 700 bucks with tax and stuff from a mechanic.

All the things mentioned in your B option..