Attn. Honda Mechanics, step inside (timing belt service question)

[msteffe]

Hello,

My Pilot is due for timing belt service. My Honda dealer says that they do not normally replace the water pump while doing this service. They fed me some line about how water pumps are manufactured better now than they used to be yada yada yada. The skeptic in me says they don't do it during this service so that it will be more prone to failure later on and then they make another $500 fixing that.

Can anyone with experience in this area drop me a line and let me know there two cents on including the pump in this service or not? I have done 3-4 timing belt replacements on Honda/Toyotas in the past and I was taught to never replace the t-belt without replacing the water pump while you're in there. Just wondering if something has changed since then. I also learned long ago to never trust a dealership...

Thanks in advance!

[jl_ss]

Had the TB replaced on a 99 CRV at 90K. The service manager basically said the same thing. He said they would inspect the water pump - which they found to be fine and did not replace. We got rid of the CRV at 130K and had no water pump problems at that time. I woukd say that if you are planning on keeping it for a long time 150K+ then you probably should have it done. If not then don't bother.

[john802]

Do change the timing belt and water pump at the same time. You can't change the water pump on the Pilot w/out removing the timing belt.

[hondacuraplanet]

I have no idea why they'd say that, we always do the timing belt and water pump together here......

[lxblack]

question is;

How much for TB only?
How much for Water Pump only?

How much for TB & Water pump together?

Then think about it again,\

or you can always do it yourself and that's that?

Dan

[hondacuraplanet]

The reason that the water pump is done at the same time is that the water pump is one of the cogwheels driven by the timing belt, therefore if it were to fail or need replacement, you'd only have to end up doing it again, or worst case a seized water pump would cause the same disastrous result as a snapped belt.

[msteffe]

I definitely understand why you would replace the water pump at the same time (like I said I have changed 2-3 of them before). I was just wondering if other people had been told the same line of BS from their local stealership. I have never heard of NOT replacing the water pump when doing the t-belt during scheduled maintanence. Seemed very suspicious to me.

You have to understand, I am one of those people who will only go to the dealer as a last resort. I refuse to buy cars from them and hell, it even bothers me to drive by them. I was just making sure my worldview of car dealers didn't taint my mechanical knowledge

Thanks for all the replies. I love this place...

[cwa107]

I've heard about the practice of replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt, but I've never allowed a mechanic or dealer to actually do it. YMMV of course, but in the past three cars, this was never a problem. Furthermore, I've never had a water pump fail on any vehicle I've ever owned - and in one case, with my '89 Ford Probe, I had the belt (just the belt) done once at 60K and again at 120K. That car went to 175K before the autotranny failed, making it not economically viable to repair, but I never did replace that water pump.

It's not that I don't believe in preventative maintenance, but if the pump looks like it's in good shape, why replace it? I'll take the gamble and save $300 on the pump, and if I'm wrong, it'll only cost me an additional $200 to do the whole thing.