On 9/17 All Tube and Lube performed work as follows on my 2001 Honda Accord.
1) Replaced Timing Belt
2) " Balance Shaft Belt
3) " Cam, Crank & Oil Pump Seals
4) " Tensioner Bearing
5) " Water Pump
6) " Coolant
7) " Power Steering & Alternator Belts
8) " Spark Plugs
9) " Flushed and Replaced Brake & Power Steering Fluids
After the work was completed the car had an audible "loud whining / squealing sound" coming from the engine compartment. The"whining is present while the engine is idling and goes away uponacceleration. It should be noted that this "whining" was not presentbefore the timing belt was replaced. On October 14th I returned to AllTune's facility and discussed the problem with the mechanic, Andrew, who had performed the work on the car. After listening to the soundcoming from the engine compartment, Andrew told me that it was a timingbelt noise that would go away. He related that the automobile had an automatic belt tensioner which would adjust the timing belt automatically. I believed what Andrew had told me and agreed to wait and wait for the noise to go away. On November 11I returned to All Tune and met with Andrew. I told him that I haddriven the car extensively since I had last talked to him in Octoberabout the problem and that the issue was getting no better. I told him I wanted the whining issue to go away. Herelated that he had used factory replacement parts and there wasnothing he could or would do to correct the problem other than replacethe timing belt with a non-Honda belt. He said if he did this work I would be charged for the new belt and the labor to replace it. Itold him there was no way I would agree to this. It should also benoted that this mechanic has never lifted the hood of the car tophysically listen to the noise.
Today, I reviewed several web-sites on the internet and find several issuespertaining to whining of timing belts after replacement. Most postings suggest that the timing belt was improperly tightened upon installation. Ialso call the service depart of the local Honda dealer and related theproblem to them telling them exactly the parts that were replace. Theyadvised me that if there was excessive whining that the dealer shouldfix the issue, by whatever means necessary, at their expense. Theresolution is simple - - fix the problem without additional charges tome - - I have already paid for the repair once and will not pay to fixtheir incompetence.
Lastly the vehicle mileage at the time of the repair was 61,404 mile. The odometer today reads 62.879 - - plenty of time for a belt to be automatically adjusted.
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