js999

So I am not familiar with car stuff much at all. 2000 CIVIC EX. Got a P1361 Top Dead Center Sensor. Talked to a few different Honda dealerships and am getting several answers. The part itself is only $60-$70 so not a big deal. However several places are telling me that its very labor intensive and that as a result I should have them replace my timing belt and water pump as well. This is a 2000 Civic with about 175,000 miles on it. The timing belt was done at about 120,000 or so I think, however I am pretty sure that the water pump was never changed. I will look back at my records but I am almost certain that it wasn't done. I have been told they should both be done at the same time but when the timing belt was changed the guy told me that my water pump was fine at that time. I have heard the the timing belt should last me 80,000 to 100,000 miles is this right? Also some people on here with many miles over 200,000 have said the have never replaced there water pump, is this typical.

I am getting estimated of 500-600 for the timing belt/water pump replacement plus another 100 for the TDC sensor part and labor.

Another Honda dealer has told me that the sensor will only require an hour of labor for about $100 plus the part of $60-$70, so a MAJOR difference in cost.
I am pretty sure this is the dealer I will be taking it too.

Can anyone here with knowledge about this replacement tell me if the other places are just trying to rip me off and get me to do more work than needed and therefore spend more $ or if the one place thats only going to charge me an hour of labor is just giving me a good deal and if indeed the replacement of the TDC sensor does require almost as much labor as a timing belt/water pump job. THANKS!


Also I am getting a P0420 code. I have read A LOT of posts on here about this and seem quite a bit of info. Heres some more detail on my situation. About a year ago my local mechanic while doing an oil change told me a code came on that I needed a new O2 sensor. I asked if I needed it right away and if I would damage the car if I didn't replace it, he said he had never replaced his when it went bad and that his Civic runs just fine, just runs rich. I am now learning that running the engine very rich may have damaged my CAT completely. However I am only getting a P0420 Bank 1 ineffiancy code and its not giving me any codes for the O2 sensor. I am confused at this. He said it gave the O2 sensor code and now its not? Anyone familiar with this?

Just want to make sure I don't need to replace the CAT if its only the sensor(s). I assume the only way to know is to have them test the sensors and examine the actual CAT itself. Just wanna have an idea of what Im looking at in cost and if I should have the dealer order the CAT for me in advance and if it likely will need to be replaced. Just don't get why the code for the O2 sensor would no longer come on. Also some people on here have posted that the O2 sensor(s) caused the P0420 code to come on. I did find a real good deal on the CAT for under $400 from a Honda dealer that sells a lot online, where as I got quotes from several dealers, $515, $830, and $910, all for the same damn part. Quite a variance between all of these that are obviously marking them up quite a bit.


THANKS in advance to anyone that can answer both of these issues about the labor on the Top Dead Center Sensor and also the CAT/O2 P0420 issue.