I have an 04 Honda Accord V6 @ 72900 miles. I got the car from my dad at 60K. His service history says a new serpentine belt was installed at 57K. My current mechanic is suggesting I install a new timing belt, and I'm wondering if a timing belt is something different than a serpentine belt.

I clearly know nothing about cars if I'm even asking this question, so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Jon

 

I'm also a newbie, but I got this one down now.
The serpentine belt is the belt you can see. Open up the hood when the engine is running, it's the belt that is next to the engine.
The timing belt is not visible, you'd have to take the engine cover off. It costs a lot more to replace.

The timing belt should be changed after the first 105k miles or 7 years. So I think yours is about due for that since it's an 04.

 

And not only that...
If the serpentine belt breaks, you lose power steering, alternator, etc.

If the timing belt breaks, the pistons hit the valve & then you get to shop for a new engine.

 

yes I believe the 04 4cyc has a timing chain which does not need replacing, I believe your mechanic is either ill informed or trying to take you for a ride.

 

The OP's car is a V6...

 

my bad - then he DOES have a timing belt which could use replacing

 

Any idea what I should expect to pay for a new timing belt to be installed?

I live in NYC, so my garage charges 110/hour for labor. Manager at garage estimated it could be between 1000 and 1500, which seemed ridiculously high.

 

According to Mitchel, you are looking at 5.4 hours of labor, that includes the cam and crank seals and tensioner. Now there is not an option for adding the water pump replacement to this but if you look at the preocedure, you have to do the 5.4 hours of work and then remove 5 bolts and then re-install those same five bolts.....So IMHO, that is at best .2~.3 hours of additional labor....so 5.7 in labor.

The rest is the cost of the parts.

 

That's extremely helpful poorman. I appreciate it - those labor estimates will come in handy when i have this job done. Now if only I didn't live in NYC and have to pay 110/hour for labor.

What do labor costs run in other parts of the country? just curious...

 

My local dealership offers a "timing belt package" at $800 with an online monthly coupon. It's $900 without coupon. Though the coupon is renewed pretty much every month. I've been to another dealer that wanted $1000 but that was pre-negotiation. You can always squeeze some discounts out of them by saying that you will go somewhere else to get the job done unless they cut you some slack.