Timing belt costs

[John C]

I have recently joined, and have been looking in the technical section for an approximate cost of replacing the timing belt, and probably water pump.
I am thinking of buying a 1996 NSX but I know the timing belt has not been done in the last three years, but the current owner thinks the previous owner had it done, but cannot prove it. So better safe than sorry. Is it necessary for the engine to removed for this work, and could a local garage do the work (My local garage did my Skyline belt recently)

My wife will be very annoyed with me if I incur any unexpected costs, so a reasonable estimate is necessary, if I want to keep both the car and the wife.

Thanks for help

[Papalazarou]

Hi John,

the cambelt part of the service is normally around the £420.00 mark. However, you need to factor in all the other parts of the service, so if previous owners have skimped on things like fuel filter replacement, plugs etc, you need to look at those too.
Whatever you do however, DO NOT buy plugs from Honda!!!! Buy them from the net at half the price.

With regard to the water pump; occassionally they come up on ebay quite cheap. If you buy one from Honda, they will cost around the £400 mark. From the states they are somewhere between £125-150.

If you're going to be ruthless about whether the water pump needs replacing, consider the following;

1. are you going to keep the car?
2. How many miles has the car done?
3. Do you have a detailed history with the car?

If the car's done 50-60K and you're not going to keep it long, don't change the water pump.
If on the other hand you're going to hold onto it, have the water pump done at the same timne as the cambelt. 1. because it's only another 30 minutes labour and 2 if you don't, that 96' model car will have done 20 years with the same water pump by the time the next cambelt service comes up.

Some of us have our NSX's serviced at a franchise in Taunton, Somerset and we normally get 15% off. It's a good idea to phone round for a quote.

and no, they dont' have to take the engine out.


Cheers,


James.

[John C]

James,

Thanks for the info; and I do intend to keep it a long time, I currently own a skyline which I have had for over ten years, and I have informed the wife that I need two cars for when one is off the road waiting for parts I will still have transport to go to work. I had read that the water pump was expensive, I assume that there are contacts mentioned somewhere on this site on how to get the parts from America.

The car has been recently serviced by a local mechanic, and although very little service history and not Honda, but lots of MOTs, the car looks good, but not perfect and appears to be genuine with 74K miles. I have thought about getting it checked by Kaz? But I live on the Notts Derby border, and thats a long way take a car which does not belong to me.

Thanks again

John

[Papalazarou]

I know quite a few owners who've bought an NSX with patchy history then thrown £3-5K at it very easily. Personally, if I were buying another one I'd get a list of all the things that should have been done through its life, then double check with the available service history.
Service history's important with these cars and one way or another you should feel confident that all the important stuff has been done. unfortunately a lot of people still ask a lot of money for cars that haven't been adequately looked looked after.


Cheers,


James.

[simonprelude]

On an 1996 also look at changing the belt tensioner, buy from the US again at less than half Honda UK prices.

[goldnsx]

Expect around £600 for parts only which means TB, WP and tensioner and ALL new gaskets if you get you parts in the US. The labor is the expensive part here.

[Papalazarou]

Expect around £600 for parts only which means TB, WP and tensioner and ALL new gaskets if you get you parts in the US. The labor is the expensive part here.

Isn't that the UK figure for parts?


Cheers,


James.

[John C]

Thanks again for the help, I am talking to the current owner about a reduction in price for this work. Any recommendations on who is suitable for this work at a reasonable price in the Notts Derby area?

[goldnsx]

Isn't that the UK figure for parts?

Not sure. I usually get those parts for a complete TB job. If you don't need the cam seals and plugs you can deduct them.

14400-PR7-A01BELT, TIMING (UNITTA)1
14510-PR7-A01ADJUSTER, TIMING BELT1
90401-634-000RUBBER, TIMING BELT ADJUSTER1
19200-PR7-305SET, WATER PUMP ASSY.1
90049-PH7-000BOLT, FLANGE (8X25)2
90052-PH7-000BOLT, FLANGE (6X22)7
91212-PR7-A01OIL SEAL (41X56X7)1
91213-PR7-A01OIL SEAL (29X43X8)4
12513-PR7-A00RUBBER, HEAD COVER SEAL4
91302-GE0-000O-RING (8.8X1.9)2
91306-PJ4-000O-RING (6.8X1.9)4
12341-PR7-A01GASKET, HEAD COVER2
12343-PR7-A00GASKET B, HEAD COVER6
90442-PR7-A00WASHER, HEAD COVER4

Please remind that these are US part no. The Europe dealer won't know them. Imported to Switzerland it's about $500 but you have higher taxes.

[JP825]

On an 1996 also look at changing the belt tensioner, buy from the US again at less than half Honda UK prices.

But will Honda UK willing to fit parts that supplied by ourselves? If not, does it not matter that the service was done in Honda rather than some private garage?

[amo]

cant see why not most dealer do and as for the private garage most are as good as the dealers

thx amo

[Ewan]

But will Honda UK willing to fit parts that supplied by ourselves? If not, does it not matter that the service was done in Honda rather than some private garage?

well, "Honda UK" might not apply since most (all?) dealers are franchisees. Anyway; Reading Honda wouldn't fit my O2 sensor that I bought outside - they said htey could only do it if they supplied an OEM part. Now, if the part is OEM but bought from elsewhere, that could be different... just like supplying your own oil at service time.

cheers
Ewan

[WhyOne?]

I had the 'big' service carried out by Geo Collins Honda in Herstmonceaux, W. Sussex (who I hold in very high regard) at about this time last year.

I supplied the plugs & belt tensioner (from Dali in the States), Geo Collins supplied everything else & of course carried out they work. They charged me £680 for the service which I consider to be fair and reasonable.

There was absolutely no quibble about me supplying some of the parts.

[JQD84983]

Thanks again for the help, I am talking to the current owner about a reduction in price for this work. Any recommendations on who is suitable for this work at a reasonable price in the Notts Derby area?

I used Lincoln Honda for my service two weeks ago and they were very good. Other than that 2 Mills in Chester I think is the nearest official dealer for you.

Cheers

John

[donnac]

We got the full service kit (everything you need from spark plus to cambelts I think it was a 36 piece kit) from America obtaining Honda OEM parts and a water pump (£99) for a total of £425 plus shipping costs and the local NSX Honda garage charged 7 hours time which was about £670 plus VAT, required back brake pads and a £400 electric motor and handed over around £2K which was a sore one but knowing that I would not need this for another 4 to 5 years was worthwhile as well as keeping the Honda FSH :)

I got the advice from this site which was greatly appreciated :)

[Hagasan]

We got the full service kit (everything you need from spark plus to cambelts I think it was a 36 piece kit) from America obtaining Honda OEM parts and a water pump (£99) for a total of £425 plus shipping costs and the local NSX Honda garage charged 7 hours time which was about £670 plus VAT, required back brake pads and a £400 electric motor and handed over around £2K which was a sore one but knowing that I would not need this for another 4 to 5 years was worthwhile as well as keeping the Honda FSH :)

I got the advice from this site which was greatly appreciated :)

Hi there, who did you buy your parts from? I'm off to the states in a couple of weeks...

Thanks,

Gary (fae Kirkcaldy!)

[NSXGB]

Gary, your best bet is Ray Laks. . . Superb prices - in my experience slightly cheaper than D**i and free delivery within the USA. It's a shame they can't get their act together shipping to the UK. . .

[Senninha]

Gary, your best bet is Ray Laks. . . Superb prices and free delivery within the USA. It's a shame they can't get their act together shipping to the UK. . .

Do we know what the issue is? If they want B2B then we have a few options across the south and midlands if this helps?

regards, Paul

[NSXGB]

Do we know what the issue is? If they want B2B then we have a few options across the south and midlands if this helps?

regards, Paul

Not sure what the issue is. I was just quoted $145 shipping for 4xdrop links which are probably about 4lbs all packaged up. SOS quoted $35!?

[goldnsx]

...Ray Laks...Superb prices and free delivery within the USA. It's a shame they can't get their act together shipping to the UK. . .

?

They DO deliver but you have to pay for shipping. I can live with that. I've another dealer in the States who supplied me with tons of parts in the last two years.

[ian dc5]

well, "Honda UK" might not apply since most (all?) dealers are franchisees. Anyway; Reading Honda wouldn't fit my O2 sensor that I bought outside - they said htey could only do it if they supplied an OEM part. Now, if the part is OEM but bought from elsewhere, that could be different... just like supplying your own oil at service time.

cheers
Ewan


Ewan, you must live quite close to me if you use Reading Honda. Personnal i find Honda serving very dissapointing. They just follow check lists etc.......i doubt their expertise on many issues.

I live near Newbury, i have owned a DC5 for 3 years and always get it looked after by TGM Motorsports in Fleet. Tom is an expert on Honda's and especially on Integra DC5 he races them and prepares them for other racers. He is too honest for his own good sometimes. His prices are about 1/2 of Honda and he and his team are all Honda specialists. He will go to great pains to explain all about issues and provide advice without ever trying to sell anything, he has often spent 30 mins on the phone talking to me about my suspension setting.

He also has a bodywork shop run by his brother, unreal care and attention to detail, you should see my wheel refurbishment.

I'm looking at an NSX and would be geeting TGM to do the work on it. His reptution is second to none.

Anyway just a thought if your looking for someone honest, you can bring your own parts as well no problem just a labour charge.

Ian

[Sudesh]

If I lived in the UK the only person I would take my NSX too is Kaz! Wouldnt matter what distance he was away.

[NSXGB]

?

They DO deliver but you have to pay for shipping. I can live with that. I've another dealer in the States who supplied me with tons of parts in the last two years.

Read post #19.