My water pump needs to be replaced and now I am faced with the option of getting a mechanic to do it or do it myself, I've never done a job this big myself but I'm sure I could do it, one problem is the cold and I don't have a great place to do it, my garage is pretty full at the moment and this could potentially be more than a day job if I don't have parts, break bolts ect.

The timing belt part kit including the water pump is about $200, and I would need to buy a breaker bar and some sockets and a few other tools.

The Honda dealer wants $781 P/L

PepBoys amazingly wants more for P/L $855

A friend of mine knows a mechanic (Ed) that works at a Honda dealership and works on Honda's on the side, they have used him before several times and vouch for his quality workmanship, he will do it for $450 P/L.

Comparing Ed's price to the dealership seems like a great price for P/L so I am seriously thinking about doing it.

For those that have done this, if you live in a cold area and are so busy your about to go crazy would it be worth an extra $200 to have someone do this job. If the dealer was the only option I would do it myself hands down.

The funny thing is I just loaned a relative $300 to fix their car, LOL.

 

Either do it yourself or get that Honda mechanic to do it. $450 isn't bad.

 

$450 P/L sounds pretty good. If you are doing it the first time, it goes slower as you are learning how to do it, and you really want a reasonable place to work.

 

$450 parts and labor is a great price for an actual Honda tech to do it with actual Honda parts. I would go for it.

 

make sure the mechanic use honda parts. $450 is a good deal and you can watch how he change it closely

 

how do you know for sure?

 

If it is me. I can ask the tech is he going to buy the parts from the dealership, I suspect he can get better discount from the dealer. If he says he will use non honda parts, then I would check OEM parts price online then talk to him. For example, if the total cost of OEM parts is $200, I would say I provide all the parts and pay him $300 or $350 for the labor. I would not want to cut his profit but I want to use quality parts especially for labor intensive job like this. The $550 you need to spend still better than dealer's. You may need to add sale tax for dealer's depend where you live. You pay less money, the same quality job gets done and you have chance to watch and learn how professional change timing belt, why not?

 

Years ago, a Honda tech use to do the timing belt and accessory belts (which included water pump, oil seals, etc.) on my Hondas. He charged me $400 (P/L) and used actual Honda parts. I went to him for the major service too (for around $200). He use to even let me drive one of his old Hondas while I left it over night with him. Sometimes, he even steam cleaned my engine. How I miss that.