i have a 91 civic hatchback i just got. 200k miles. very good shop just did an oil change and looked it over. they're saying i need a timing belt (no suprise), and potentially sometime down the road a "major service". they quoted me $380 for the timing belt and $436 for the major service, knocking off $75 or so if i did it all together. this shop is hoshi motors in boulder, co and is extremely highly reccommended and honest. however, those prices seem a tad steep to me. i'm also wondering if i could manage to do some of this myself, perhaps the timing belt? i have no auto repair experience, but i'd be willing to learn to save myself some cash. or perhaps i could scout around for better prices.

so i'm wondering:
1. how are these prices? standard? high? i will stick with them unless i could get a significantly better price elsewhere. they are a very reputable shop
2. how difficult would it be for me to learn and do some repairs myself? would i need to buy a lot of tools? i'd certainly consider it as having car knowledge would help me the rest of my life. i am a total greenhorn with cars, but i am able to learn relatively quickly. thoughts?

thanks for your help

 

if you would suggest me doing some things myself would you please tell me exactly what i can/cannot do and perhaps where to start? manuals? websites? what tools?

thanks

 

As most shops go, $380 for a TB isn't too bad. That said, I can't say we would ever charge that much, but it's all relative to your area and what you have available. There's some guy on here who got quoted $695, so it can always get worse.

As for doing your own repairs, pick up a Helms (good), Haynes (better), or Chiltons (best) manual and start reading up. That will give you a pretty good picture of what kinds of tools and skills are required for just about any job.

 

thanks. i have the haynes book. i looked over the timing belt page. hard for me to tell whether i'm up to it. i live in an apt so i'd have to do everything in a rather crowded parking lot. still i may do it.

here's another thing: i just read over the records from previous owner (friend of mine; car was a gift). and it seems they've done pretty well to keep it in shape. at any cost, i see the timing belt was replaced at 150k miles along with lots of other stuff, fuel filter, spark plugs etc. etc. this would make me think that it could go to 250k without a replacement? or am i asking for trouble? one way or another, i would like this to be the last timing belt replacement done on the vehicle.

i don't drive too much and i simply want to spend as little as possible to keep the car going another 5years, 100k miles, or thereabouts. i'm thinking the major service is probably not necessary (i'll go scope out the fluids etc. again), and perhaps the timing belt could wait, maybe till 220k or so? this car was free and where i live i've actually got around pretty well without a car, and could if i had to again. i suppose this isn't necessary to tell, but i guess i'm saying i know what i want out of the car, don't plan to drive it forever, and simply want the sucker to run me for another 3-5years, that's all.

it might not be worth the trouble at all except for the fact that it has had a ton of stuff replaced over the last 5 years. i'm reading reciepts for electrical, axles, new exahaust, etc. and it has a new windshield and tires. in fact, our friends really gave us quite a blessing for a vehicle that has basically had whatever the mechanic reccommended to be done done on it when it was reccommended. thus i imagine with a little bit of maintenance and preventative repair it could run me well for awhile. i'll have to decide on whether to do repairs myself or not, and will see if i can do a better deal on the timing belt.

appreciate all the help. other suggestions?

 

If the TB was done at 150k, you'll be fine for at least 100k, unless it's been abused or your live in a really harsh climate. You can always take off the timing cover and just have a look at the belt to see if you can spot any cracks or anything like that.

 

thank you. i'll do that. and i think i'll start reading up and learning and buying tools so when the time comes i can do it myself. i think i'll start learning about basic maintenance. the last 100k of the car's life it's lived in mild boulder, co (right now it's 60F in the day for example), no salt on the roads; and before that southern california. the car hasn't been abused at all. i'll have a look at that belt.