I bought my 99 Accord LC, 4 cyl, 5-speed in October of 1998. After 8
1/2 years the car has approx 158k miles on it (85% hwy miles). Other than tires,
brakes, regular oil changes and a tune-up at 95k miles the car has
never had any major work done to it. The ignition switch was
replaced as part of the recall about 3 years ago. All of a sudden it
seems like my car needs a lot of work;

New Clutch (the clutch is slipping), Dealer quote - $995.90 USD
Timing Belt, includes seals and H2O pump (I really should of done this
60k miles ago) - $650 USD
Catalytic Converter (check engine light is on) - $675 USD
Addl belts and hoses - $230.00 USD

Plus the car is due for an oil change which is about $40 - $50 since I
use Mobile 1 Extended Protection 15k mile and a Purilator filter.

Other things that would be nice to have done would be a paint job
since the roof and trunk lid are oxidizing and some door ding removal
(the car spent 7 years in crowded So Cal).

Sooooooooooo.. here is the three part question.


1) Are these really fair prices for the work? (All prices were quoted
by the dealer, they were actually cheaper than the local mechanic)


2) I'm torn about just buying a new car... If I sell it it only
becomes someone elses problems to deal with and I can't sell a car
that I know has problems. But somehow it doesn't make sense to put 3K
+ into an a car that is over 8 years old. Would you keep the car or sell it?

3) What other things may potentially go wrong at this point? If i put
several thousand into the car now am I going to have to turn around
and put more $ into something else soon?


Thanks in advance!
Lara

 

You should DEFINITELY get the timing belt replaced RIGHT NOW. Im surprised you have made it as long as you have without it breaking. If it breaks, you will be paying a lot more than $650 to get it fixed (which actually seems like a really good price to me, they can be as high as $800 or so).

The clutch price seems about right as well. The local dealer quoted me $1050 for mine.

I would have thought that the cat would be less expensive than that. What did the local muffler shop quote you on that? I would have figured more like $400 or something.

If I were you, I would put the work into the car and keep it. But Im kind of sentimental, and dont ever want to get rid of my Accord lol. Its really up to you, if you want to keep it or not.

Best of luck either way...

 

thanks for the reply pilot..

i have't had the cat quoted by a muffler shop but i have had two dealers and one outside mechanic scan the check engine code and give me an estimate.. they have all reported the same problem with the cat and recomended replacement all quoting about the same price..

i am going to hold onto my car for awhile.. i'm busy raising kids, working and going to grad school... a new car would mean a car payment which is something i want to avoid for at least a few more years...

but part of me keeps drooling over the accord hybrid