So my wife and I decided if we can't get $8500 for her 2003 Accord, We'll keep it. Has 103k miles. I handle brakes, rotors, oil, trans fluid, new starter etc. Even had to replace the EVAP canister few months ago. Question is, I know it's about time for the timing belt/water pump. 1. How much for a local mechanic @ $55/hr? How difficult is it? Any step by step's around here? I'm pretty handy w/ a wrench, but the timing stuff is new to me and for $350 or so, I'll hire it out. How much have you guys paid?

 

Anybody??

 

350-400 is going rate around here for a 4cyl timing belt w/water pump job. I'm not sure if the V6 is more.

 

heres your chance to prove yourself bro. if you have time, i suggest you do it yourself since i think you could do it.
just print the step by step direction on alldata and have fun doing it. just double check everything while your doing it since it will be your first time.
you could do it

 

The suck part of it is the crank pulley... however, I believe that on that model (because of direction of rotation) you could leave the breaker bar pressing against the pavement and use the starter to break it loose, if all else fails. That's assuming you don't have access to a powerful impact. I've never done the the starter trick (or even changed a water pump), but at least on those models it's possible.