Honda: 2002 Honda Accord, honda timing belts, odometer button

Question
I have a 2002 Honda Accord that has 68,000 miles on it.  The SRS light and the Maintenance Required light both stay on.  I took the car to a Honda Dealer and they recommended replacing the timing belt ($655.00, getting the 60,000 mile service ($363.00 and they would diagnose the SRS light for $92.00.  Depending on what they find is causing the SRS light to stay on they couldn't tell me what that would eventually cost.  If they did the work, they would deduct the $92.00 from the repair.

I am reluctant to put that much money into a 2002 car.

What is your recommendation?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Doug,

The maintenance light can easily be reset, I forgot if its in the manual or not but requires pressing the odometer button while turning the ignition.

Honda Timing belts are good for 100k, shame on the dealership for offering to replace it. But maintenance is due such as fluid changes, transmission fluid, coolant etc. You may be due for spark plugs and cables as well.

If you live in the US, go to a local Autozone and have them do an OBD (On Board Diagnostic) Check, they give free diagnosis there and even print out the result for you. There is an OBD port on all cars made after 1996. SRS lights are usually seatbelt/airbag related, the code might tell you what the problem is as well.

It is a shame that dealerships would try to corner you for other services not necessary just to make a buck (or a ton of it) to unsuspecting customers.

Go to a local Autozone and then move on from there, they may even solve your problem for you for free most of the times.