Pay to fix now or wait for warranty repair?

[tylert]

I currently have a 2 year/24K mile warranty on my '91 NSX with a $200 deductible. Current mileage is 52K.

Should I pay the $1800 to repair the timing belt/water pump now or wait for failure under warranty in which case the cost is $200. I'm definitely no expert, but I am concerned that the car just won't be the same if I wait to save $1600.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

- Newbie Tyler

 

[Jimbo]

Are you serious or are you joking?

Your car is already beyond the recommended replacement interval for the timing belt by 5 or so years.

I don't know of any warranty that would cover damage from the neglect to perform the recommended maintenance.

If the timing belt should let loose tomorrow you would probably not be covered by your extended warranty.

Furthermore, if the timing belt fails you will most likely damage the engine when the valves hit the pistons. Then you're looking at a repair bill of many thousands of $$$.

Do the timing belt/water pump ASAP.

-Jim

PS: If you're serious, I can't imagine anyone treating a special car like a NSX in such a manner. Please let us know the VIN, so if you ever sell this car, we'll be forewarned.

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1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html



[This message has been edited by Jimbo (edited 16 November 2002).]

 

[BadCarma]

you consider waiting for failure an option? that scares me.replace it now and have peace of mind.the damage caused by a failure could be Catastrophic to your motor and fatal to yourself depending on when the failure occurs and the driving conditions.just my 02 worth.dont risk your car or yourself for 1500 dollars or less.I have read several posts recently were folks have laid out alot to buy this fantastic car and then want to skimp on maintenance.start out on the right foot

David

 

[Vytas]

I certainly wouldn't wait for a failure. A repair bill for an NSX with a broken timing belt could be as high as $8,000. I doubt ANY insurance company will cover damage to any part of the car that is caused by lack of required service at the stated time/mileage interval. They'll surely check and investigate everything before paying out a huge repair bill.

 

[mikec]

If your joking.. I got a good laugh out of it. If your not.. then follow my advice.

Don't do anything more to the car except put gas in it.. Don't bother with the air in the tires or change oil. you don't need that. Just keep your warranty "insurance" paid up. Just wait for stuff to break and they will gladly fix it for free. I guarantee it! And it makes perfect sense.. Why repair your old motor by installing a timing belt.. or other worn out stuff.. You will have spent allot of money.. and for what? You’ll still have your old motor. On the other hand if you wait till it breaks, they will buy you a brand new motor.. much better than the one you have.. in fact i'd insist they put a new 3.2 liter engine in.. and while your at it make them also throw in a 6 spd trans.

Oh one more thing.. don't waste energy waxing either. When the paint goes bad, they will paint it any color you want.. free of course.. Hey..I just got an idea... If something happens and the car explodes, I bet they will buy you a brand new one... Yeah... that’s the ticket.. that makes sense to me.

and if they give you any hassle.. tell them you know that they have to pay up.. you read it on the internet.


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keep the shiny side up
MikeC 01 #46

[This message has been edited by mikec (edited 16 November 2002).]

 

[BadCarma]

Damn Mike! dont hold back...tell us how you really feel

 

[huckster]

uhh, i'll play good cop.

better do the maintenance. im sure your warranty doesnt cover that. even if it *might* cover it, youve got a really nice car that deserves the regularly scheduled attention it so richly deserves. if you have a problem affording this sort of thing, you really should consider selling it, and get something less expensive. this is a really inexpensive to maintain exotic, but an exotic none the less. if your not willing to spend the money, PLEASE go buy a beater accord, or better yet an rx7. most of us here are ok with abusive rx7 owners, cause they tend to have problems anyway. you could probably make an easy case with your warranty company when your rx7 blows up. that is, if you can get an rx7 warranty.

good luck. and please dont tell us if you dont take our advice.

 

[TigerNSX]

Under the definition and condition of warranty, they will NOT cover a failure of timing belt/water pump or any other parts that occur due to the negligence of the owner.

So if you leave it until it breaks, it's your loss. They will not cover it.

 

[Jimbo]

good luck. and please dont tell us if you dont take our advice.

No, please do tell us and be sure to include the VIN.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by tylert:
Should I pay the $1800 to repair the timing belt/water pump now or wait for failure under warranty in which case the cost is $200. I'm definitely no expert, but I am concerned that the car just won't be the same if I wait to save $1600.

First of all, the replacement of the timing belt and water pump shouldn't cost $1800. $1200 is a more typical price.

It appears that you live in Texas. If I might make a suggestion, spend $40 to join the NSX Club of America, and then take your car to Goodson Acura in DFW, home of the NSX Service Girl, where you will save a lot more than that in the discount they give to club members on parts.

Others have given you a lot of very good reasons to change the timing belt and water pump now. One of the reasons is that, if you experience an engine failure because of scheduled maintenance that you didn't perform, then the warranty likely won't cover the repair. So, bottom line, you could spend $1200 or so to do the scheduled maintenance, or instead save that amount and risk an engine repair that could you $5K or $10K or $15K. It's your choice.

I have a '91 and I don't want to risk an expensive engine repair. I had my timing belt and water pump replaced three years ago. Yours is now almost twelve years old.

Here's what my mechanic likes to say about scheduled maintenance: "You can pay me now, or pay me a lot more later."

 

[Roadrunner]

Realing playing the devil's advocate here.
Isn't it great to see how well these cars are made! 12 yr. old water pump and timing belt hitting 8k rpm.
Just does the heart good as long as it isn't in my car!
The sad thing is that someone doesn't appreciate that this engine was crafted by a master mechanic and would let it all go bye-bye in an instant.
The world exist do to all types of people seeing things differently. WOW this one opened my eyes again!

LOL

 

[Midnight_Raven]

Hey i have a question since i don't realy know much about the motor. What would happen to the car if the timeing belt/water pump hasn't been replaced.

Please cause if i get a nsx i would like to know what to fix first. I don't want to drive around a car that might malfunction in a second and then I have to spend +5K or sell the thing. I sure need to learn more about the cars problems.

If anyone wants to can you tell me the main problems that have to do with the early model NSX. So when i do get a NSX i can repair if quickly unless the previous owner has already repaired it.

 

[nsxtasy]

Originally posted by Midnight_Raven:
If anyone wants to can you tell me the main problems that have to do with the early model NSX.

They're well documented in the FAQ here.

[This message has been edited by nsxtasy (edited 17 November 2002).]

 

[mikec]

First let me say that I wrote a somewhat comical response to Tylert's original post because I don't think he is serious. Cars like the NSX are usually bought by people with some degree of automobile savvy. I can't imagine someone asking a question like that, but if you were serious and wish to be educated, this web site is the place to be and I apologize for making light of the issue.

But now on to the timing belt issue. In cars with non-interference engines you don't have to be as vigilant with the timing belt because if it breaks, the car just stops running and you can get it towed to a repair shop and have the belt replaced, although I would never recommend it because it's a great inconvenience to have a car let you sit, and depending on where you are it could be dangerous and/or cause an accident.

However, as with most high performance engines, the NSX is an interference design meaning if the cams stop turning while the crankshaft still turns (which happens when the belt breaks), the pistons will collide with the valves causing many thousands of dollars of damage.

Most overhead cam engines that use a belt require that belt to be replaced periodically as part of normal maintenance. The NSX is a car that has one of the longest intervals of replacement. My Porsche 928 required the belt to be replaced every 30K miles!

The water pump usually gets replaced at the same time not because its bad, but because its easy to get at during the timing belt replacement. Since the labor is the majority of the expense, it makes sense to do the pump at the same time.

I don't consider this type of work to be a 'repair'. This is normal maintenance just like changing oil. In summary, after owning a 928 for 8 years I consider the NSX a low maintenance car.


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keep the shiny side up
MikeC 01 #46

[This message has been edited by mikec (edited 17 November 2002).]

 

[cpmoran]

tylert, Do you have anything to say? You should take the advise, and make everyone happy by changing the belt and water pump.

 

[Jimbo]

In retrospect, I don't think Tyler was serious.

There are many people out there who just like to "stir up the crab pot" and sit back and watch what happens. Perhaps this was one such case.

-Jim

------------------
1992 NSX Red/Blk 5 spd #0330
1991 NSX Blk/Blk Auto #3070 (Sold)
1974 Vette 454 4 spd Wht/Blk
1976 Honda Accord 5 spd, 3 door Blue/Blue
1977 Honda Accord - Custom - Under Construction
1986 Chevy Suburban
http://homepage.mac.com/jimanders/PhotoAlbum1.html