Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Prelude 1997-2002

2496 messages,  Last post on May 08, 2012 at 11:07 AM

You are in the Honda Prelude Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Prelude, Coupe

Messages Page 157 of 250

#1561 of 2496 Help! by linard

Apr 21, 2004 (6:14 pm)

Hello All,
 
I have a 1999 Prelude with 51 thousand miles and the timing belt tensioner has failed. The car sounds like the engine has a loose bolt rolling around in there at certain RPMs. Its disheartening! Anyhow, I was wondering if anyone else here has had that problem? Another guy who is in the same parking garage with a 2000 red SH with 45K stopped me yesterday to say how gorgeous my baby was and said, "you wouldn't believe it, my tensioner failed." After the shock that both of our cars have the same problem, he informed me that he knows of two other Preludes that had the problem and that the owners managed to convince Honda North America to repair their cars at no cost. Has anyone had this experience or got Honda to repair their cars?
 
They filed the claim for me yesterday and told me they'd call on Friday. I really hope they cover the repairs as that's totally expensive!
 
http://www.geocities.com/linhluu76/Prelude.jpg
 
And to comment on the rarity of Preludes, you'd never know how little they sold here in SoCal. I see at least 5 or 6 a day in varios colors and conditions.
 
Thanks...

#1562 of 2496 A Little Cardboard by nyccarguy

Apr 21, 2004 (6:47 pm)

Goes a long way. So after work I was messing around with this blinker assembly for about a half hour after work yesterday. My Dad comes by as he's about to leave and says: "let me take a look at this." He tries to screw it in and then takes another look at it and tells me he'll be right back. So I figure he's going to come back with some duct tape. Instead he takes a piece of cardboard and wedges it between the plastic bottom piece and the bumper...fits like a glove. No complaints from me.

#1563 of 2496 linard by nyccarguy

Apr 21, 2004 (6:47 pm)

Wish I could help! Definitely let us know what HOnda does for you. Either way, good luck!

#1564 of 2496 The White Prelude by nyccarguy

Apr 21, 2004 (6:53 pm)

SO I merged onto the highway behind a White base model with the Honda Ground effects kit. I flashed him and waved. I saw him look up in his mirror and give me the thumbs up out his sunroof:)
 
linard: That was the first 5th gen Prelude I've seen since Saturday!

#1565 of 2496 Timing Belt Tensioner by linard

Apr 22, 2004 (3:12 pm)

Hello all,
 
I received a surprising call from my local dealership, they offered a 200 dollar rebate which would bring the repair to around 400 with all the other "suggested" repairs, such as the outer belts, water pump, seals, cam belts, etc etc. So I called Honda of NA again, and they agreed that the entire timing repair belt repair should be done, which would then lower my out of pocket down to 230 or so. I will hopefully know if the dealer concedes later today.
 

My car just sitting at some car lot and no, she was just parked. Not for sale, yet...

#1566 of 2496 Happy Birthday by nyccarguy

Apr 27, 2004 (9:25 pm)

to my car! As of today I've owned my Prelude for exactly 2 years! I just hit the 25K moark on Sunday!

#1567 of 2496 Little Help Guys by pathfinder13

Apr 28, 2004 (1:38 am)

I'm between 2002 Acura Rsx with 18000 miles and 2001 Prelude SH with 45000miles for the same price but I have no idea which one is better or to chose since this is going to be my first FWD car.
 Also, the guy said the Prelude is SH but when I checked in carfax it just says honda prelude other than that I don't see anywhere mentioning SH. How would I know that I'm really buying SH not the base. Please can someone help me, I need to know as soon as possible.

#1568 of 2496 Re: Timing Belt Tensioner [linard #1565] by 98lude

Apr 28, 2004 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: linard (Apr 22, 2004 3:12 pm)
I have a 1998 Prelude with 63,000 and just found out yesterday that
I have the timing belt tensioner problem as well. I was quoted a price from the local Honda dealer of $880 to replace the tensioner along with the timing belt, balance shaft belt and water pump which seems outrageous to me. Plus they charged me $85 just to diagnosis the
problem. I found a shop that specializes in Honda repair that will do the same work for $650. Is this $200 rebate from Honda of NA available to anyone with this problem? Is it only valid if you have the work done at a Honda dealer?

#1569 of 2496 I LOVE HONDA and to 98lude... by linard

Apr 28, 2004 (4:33 pm)

To all Honda owners...
Honda agreed that the tensioner should not have failed at 50K and that since the new tensioner is different from the one that failed in my 1999 Prelude, there is an internally acknowledged problem. Therefore, they decided to repair the car for free which was about 560 on their end and gave me a rental. But in the end, my out of pocket costs was about 500 since I elected to performed the below-mentioned repairs and replace my weatherstrips which failed as they do in all Preludes and most Hondas.
  
To 98lude...
That is outrageous, I went to my local dealer (Norm Reeves Honda of Huntington Beach) and 3 private repair facilities and the dealership was the most expensive at 560 for just the tensioner and timing belt. The private repair shops quoted me about 420-460. But all the service advisors agreed that since I'm already replacing the timing belt, I should also replace the water pump, balancer belts, internal seals, and outside drive belts.
 

#1570 of 2496 timing belt tensioner by nyccarguy

Apr 28, 2004 (6:55 pm)

Hey guys
 
Is there any way I can prevent this from happening to my car down the road? Did they change the timing belt tensioner for '00 - '01? I guess I should just have my dealer check it out then next time I bring the car in for an oil change.
 
Now I know you're thinking "nyccarguy has got to be off his rocker to bring his car to the dealership for an oil change!" They charge me $18.95 for the labor, I supply my own MObil 1 5w30 (buy it at Target cheap), they give me a loaner car to use, and they know my Prelude better than Jiffy Lube does.

Messages Page 157 of 250

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement