Hi guys,

(2000 prelude manual)

My car has 50k. I have a slight grr... sound when I slow. And what also sounds like light knocking sound or ticking sound at low rpm.

I'm going to take it into HONDA and get a 60K tune-up and the timing belt/tensioner changed.

The quoted on the timing belt/tensioner is $650. And the tuneup is probably around $300. So I'll end up spending $1000.

Does this sound right to you? Any suggestions or comments?

thanks in advance

hk29

 

or should I let them diagnose the problem without mentioning the timing belt issue (I called them up and they didn't know about the TSB).

 

If you're taking it to the dealership, that sounds about the right price, but you don't have to get your timing belt changed until about 90K miles.

 

I just changed my belts, along with the help from my uncle who has all the manuals and tools. The auto tentioner is actually a spring loaded piston that maintains constant pressure on the tensioner pully. When you change the belt, this pistion pops out all the way. You need to fill it with oil, turn the screw to pull the piston back in, and put it back in to the engine with a special tool to hold the piston in untill it's latched to the tensioner pulley. Other wise it pops back out. Now, I looked at every part which could cause this grrrr problem, and couldn't find it. Mabe it's one of the tension pulleys (there's two of them).

(Helps to have someone in the know..... I changed my belts, spark plugs, brake pads, turned rotors, and valve adjustment all for 500.00 with genuine Honda parts except Wagner brake pads. And I learned alot about this engine)

 

that's awesome! I wish I had someone to help me. I'd be willing to do it. I'm going to take it into the shop and let them diagnose it.

 

It's one thing to know how to do it, but you need to have a person with all the tools. The engine mounts need to be removed and the engine jacked up and held safely. You need a torque driver that can put over 400 lbs for the crankshaft pulley bolt (420 lbs to be exact), set of feeler gauges for the valve adjustment, and special tool from Honda to hold the auto tensioner piston down while you reinstall it and hook the pulley springs to it. Plus, the driver's side wheel and part of the suspension need to be dissasembled to get to it all. Now you know why dealers will charge 650.00 for this job.

 

Just for the timing belt? I've got 74,000 on my Prelude and I sure as hell hope it wont be 650 to change it at around 85-90k miles. Guess I need to find an ok mechanic that isn't at the dealer.

 

My Honda guy quoted me 650 with new auto tensioner. so if it was just the timing belt it was $550.

Does the auto tensioner have to be replaced as well? Anyone know? Given that I have the same issue most people have on their 5th gen car of the grrrrrr sound?

 

After having done this myself and seeing everything inside the belt housing, I'm beginning to wonder what all this talk about replacing the auto tensioner is. Like I said, the auto tensioner is just a spring loaded piston that keeps constant pressure on the tension pulleys. Now, my car had this grrrring noise before I had this done, and now it doesn't...... he filled the tensioner with plenty of oil, and the factory belts themselves looked worn, but other than that, there was no changes. No grrrring now. I'm beginning to question the validity of the auto tensioner replacement. Seems like a waste of money. Again, what I have learned by doing it myself is priceless.

 

I've heard from multiple sources that it's $550-750

Because it's not just a take off a belt and put a new one on like a vaccuum. They actually have to take the engine out partway and disassemble a lot and then readjust everything back to stock specs and hope it works.