Family mini-van - what to do?

[berettafan]

just checked. our Honda coupon is a Honda produced thing that has the dealer name stamped on it. $649 for 6cyl Hondas.

[kanadary]

I have an 02, closing in on its third timing belt. Only issue was a transmission at 111k which Honda picked up the parts cost. I was on the hook for the labour 900. Timing belts run around 550 here at an indy. 1k for the first one only cause I didn't shop around and just went to the dealer

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

Pretty unanimous feedback..

Well, I say, sell it and buy a new 911.. Kids are gone, why do you need a van now, grandpa?

[Bill Douglas]

Ah, the Honda Oddity.

A great multi purpose vehicle. If you sold it you would miss it. And I bet it hasn't cost much over the years to own it, so you sort of owe it to the Honda to keep it in good health

[lendaddy]

I am always curious about swapping timing belts out at that interval. I'm sure some engines have design issues but 100k seems silly to me. I have two Toyota 4.7Ls, one with 180K and the other over 400K...both on the original timing belts. Junk yard motors to drop in if they go are cheap enough IMHO to take the risk.

To the mechanics on here... how often do you actually see snapped or jumped belts on any motors? Maybe I'm just lucky but I wouldn't bother with the belt.

[Steve Carlton]

Is it even an interference engine?

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I am always curious about swapping timing belts out at that interval. I'm sure some engines have design issues but 100k seems silly to me. I have two Toyota 4.7Ls, one with 180K and the other over 400K...both on the original timing belts. Junk yard motors to drop in if they go are cheap enough IMHO to take the risk.

To the mechanics on here... how often do you actually see snapped or jumped belts on any motors? Maybe I'm just lucky but I wouldn't bother with the belt.

A matter of avoiding car trouble when my wife is driving through downtown Atlanta alone at night. I don't mind replacing the belt and water pump as a precautionary measure.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

A matter of avoiding car trouble when my wife is driving through downtown Atlanta alone at night. I don't mind replacing the belt and water pump as a precautionary measure.

I can't tolerate an unreliable car. Even if replacing the engine is just a cheap as replacing a timing belt (doubtful), the car will still eventually be stranded when the belt breaks.

[wayner]

I'm with many of you on this. Maintenance and peace of mind.

Many of my repairs are measured against the cost of a tow truck.
Stranded, tow truck =$300.00?

Just do the maintenance in advance.

Missed business meeting, a night in a hotel, sketchy area?
All the more reason to do the maintenance.

I "life" my cars the same way we used to life components on my race team.
The way I figure it, if I plan to keep it to 200, and the water pump made it the 1st 100 but not likely to make the second 100, I'll do it sooner rather than later.

Same with a 5 year old battery. You might get 7 or ten years, but at 5 years and 100k, it owes you nothing and for $100 bucks it passes the tow truck test for return on investment.

Everything mentioned in the first post of this thread was predictable at that mileage. If you took a "life-ing" approach to you vehicle and its components, you would have seen it coming and either sold it first, or decided that you were in for the long haul and there would be no question.

You also want to keep in mind the service interval or lifespan of the vehicle and components.

Some cars are done at 100, no matter how many parts you throw at them. Better ones are good for much more and at 100 you are just looking at consumables and a component refresh.

[BE911SC]

I spent 2800 on my bought-new '98 Accord V6 back in 2009 when it had 180K on the odo. Selling dealer did the work. Got it back and it was like a new(er) car. Still have it, kids drive it, still runs like a champ with 250K on the odo. Put a new Die Hard in it last weekend.

Wife's '07 Odyssey in the shop (dealer) as we speak. 180K miles. A couple of recalls in recent years but otherwise bullet-proof. Dealer costs a little more but we get a free loaner, usually a brand new Accord or Civic.

[fastfredracing]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I am always curious about swapping timing belts out at that interval. I'm sure some engines have design issues but 100k seems silly to me. I have two Toyota 4.7Ls, one with 180K and the other over 400K...both on the original timing belts. Junk yard motors to drop in if they go are cheap enough IMHO to take the risk.

To the mechanics on here... how often do you actually see snapped or jumped belts on any motors? Maybe I'm just lucky but I wouldn't bother with the belt.

It is complete and utter foolishness to skip timing belt replacement. Honda's are tough and have a nice wide timing belt, that will probably go longer than the maintanence interval, same with Toyota, and Nissan, but man, once they snap, you are out a motor. or at least an expensive valve job.
I always tell people $600 now, or $2500 later .
I see it more than you would think, but I always push timing belt service on my regular customers, so it is a little more infrequent with my regulars.
No way would I risk it much past the interval, water pump, tensioner, or roller failure will also put you out of commission

[vash]

the 4.7L toyota has timing belt(s)? not chains?

[jyl]

A friend bought a leather upholstery kit for her older Honda CRV and had a local upholsterer install it. I got in her car and was convinced she'd bought a new vehicle. Cost maybe $1K. A fresh interior, plus a detail, can really rekindle the like for an older car.

[porsche4life]

AAA Membership is $130 for 100miles free towing... Definitely worth it for the piece of mind!

[Jay Auskin]

I had the same dilemma this week. We bought my wife a new car last year, so I took over her 2006 Saab 9-3. The car has been dead-reliable, and has 105K miles which isn't horrible. Replaced brakes, tires, fluids, sway bar end links, and wiper blades since we bought it 5 years ago. Have been considering something new for myself.

But, suspension will need a slight refresh soon (strut mount bearings bad), and the driver's seat bolster needs fixing. It is pretty much depreciated. Not worth much, but won't be worth much less. I figure start with complete strut assemblies (an easy 3 bolts on top, 2 on the bottom, and swap with new OEM units), and then tidy other things up on the interior. Should save me some money, and be reliable for a few more years. Plus, it's fast (enough), comfortable, great in the snow, and gets 27 MPG in mixed driving.

My wife's car is under warranty and has free maintenance for the next 4 1/2 years, so this is the only thing I need to work on until then.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I'm with wayner on the PM approach. Also doesn't hurt that I work in aerospace, where everything is replaced on a schedule based on predicted reliability. With a new car, I replace stuff before I think it will break. With a used car, the first thing I do is to "baseline" the usual maintenance/repair stuff if I don't have recent receipts. So far the RX7 has had the fuel filter sock, spark plugs, wires, ground cleaning, air filter, battery, rebuilt shifter, and tires. This weekend will be fuel filter, oxygen sensor, Jet-Hot coated downpipe to replace the failure prone pre-cat, and an aftermarket ECU to protect against boost creep. After that will be transmission and diff fluid, coolant, brakes, suspension bushings, and dampers. Should be like a new car again!

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by vash

the 4.7L toyota has timing belt(s)? not chains?

Correct

[aschen]

Originally Posted by lendaddy

I am always curious about swapping timing belts out at that interval. I'm sure some engines have design issues but 100k seems silly to me. I have two Toyota 4.7Ls, one with 180K and the other over 400K...both on the original timing belts. Junk yard motors to drop in if they go are cheap enough IMHO to take the risk.

To the mechanics on here... how often do you actually see snapped or jumped belts on any motors? Maybe I'm just lucky but I wouldn't bother with the belt.

not that im condoning pushing the interval, but I changed the TB on my wrx @ 105k miles per the manual. It looked to be in near mint condition. Not a sign of a frey or cracking.

Im sure it could go another 50k miles, but for 140$ in parts and a few hours of labor the piece of mind is worth it.

[DanielDudley]

What could you buy for 2,500.00 that would even come close ?

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

Keep it and run the wheels off of it, you are at the prime time (in the vans life) to lose the most money while upgrading. In the first 5 years, most vehicles lose 50% of thier value, and only lose another 10-20% over the next 5 years. You are far better off keeping the van and fixing a few things that have come up rather than taking on a new, large loan.

this...my dodge mini vans have all gone over 200K miles. I'm on number 5 now..