There is a huge price difference between Honda OEM parts and the whole kit from Rock Auto.

I know with some Honda items, OEM is by far superior.

Rock Auto has a Gates kit, including a new water pump for $83.79 while Honda OEM parts are about $280

Gates is a good reputable brand - would this be a mistake?

 

What parts? We need more info. What brand water pump? Gates makes great belts.

Are you looking at water pump, timing belt, tensioner? Where are you getting your OEM parts- online or local?

If it was something easy like a power steering pump or something I didn't have to rip into the motor- yeah I would save money. I would not put a mystery water pump in my car.

So we need more info.

 

More Information for GATES TCKWP186

 

'Unitta' is the OEM belt, which is actually Gates or GatesUnitta.

 

What are your plans? How long do you plan to keep the car?

If you are looking at keeping it for another 60,000+ miles, I would go OEM on the water pump.

IMHO, a lifetime warranty that just cover parts swap is of no help for a labor intensive part install. I am lucky enough to be able to do the install myself- but having to install another water pump because the replacement prematurely fails is something I try to avoid.

**you may as well throw in a new thermostat and consider changing you upper/lower radiator hose because the system will be pretty empty and less messy**

 

I'll drive the car as long as I can - but maybe not forever....

I'm having some crank, no start issues (see "93 accord sputtering" thread) and I'm suspecting the timing belt.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated, though

 

It says right there in the description - "OEM Quality belt, tensioner, and pump"!



Everything Gates-brand I've used has been good, from their tensioners to belts to water pumps. I wouldn't worry about using their kit.

 

For something you do every ~8 years and ~100k miles is $280 spread out across that long really that big of an expense?

I went OEM when I did my stuff.

 

Everything in the GATES kit is OEM except the water pump.

 

Gates = Honda + much more $

Gates = Honda

Do the math

 

Do you really want to do another water pump in a year or two? Honda water pump Gates belts are fine.

 

I've gone ahead and purchased the Gates kit from RockAuto. Weighing the options and the potential costs, I'm okay with using Gates over OEM. Single income supporting a family doesn't leave much wiggle room or any disposable income....
It does not appear the differences between Gates & OEM will be material.