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Found a low mileage 2005 NSX....question regarding maintenance

Having just recently bought an NSX (1995 with 125k miles) that passed PPI with flying colors, there is still a ton of maintenance to be done just due to the age of the car even if the mileage is low. The $5-10k in immediate repairs is a real thing. I just recently had a ton of service done to get things up to par, including a lot of the things Shawn mentioned.
It is true that most of the services on the maintenance schedule are recommended for intervals involving both mileage and time, whichever comes first. But the car you are referring to had 124K miles and was 18 years old, and most of the items you list are not scheduled maintenance. Those other items you had repaired either are not likely to be needed on an 8-year-old car with only 20K miles, or can be checked and only repaired if needed.

That's why I recommended having the car gone over by an experienced NSX mechanic, who can recognize what actually does need doing. Many repairs are far more likely to be needed after 124K miles and 18 years than after 20K miles and 8 years.
 
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ok found a pic i took

can you guess which one is brand new? you will never guess. one is from a 91 with 90K miles the other brand new from acura

2013-05-14_09-43-23_565.jpg
 
It is true that most of the services on the maintenance schedule are recommended for intervals involving both mileage and time, whichever comes first. But the car you are referring to had 124K miles and was 18 years old, and most of the items you list are not scheduled maintenance. Those other items you had repaired either are not likely to be needed on an 8-year-old car with only 20K miles, or can be checked and only repaired if needed.

That's why I recommended having the car gone over by an experienced NSX mechanic, who can recognize what actually does need doing. Many repairs are far more likely to be needed after 124K miles and 18 years than after 20K miles and 8 years.

Absolutely, I agree. I should have clarified that some of those items were done as preventative maintenance for my own peace of mind.
 
Pristine low mile NSX's are hard to find and becoming scarcer as time goes by. I bought a low mileage (12k)

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Pristine low mile NSX's are hard to find and becoming scarcer as time goes by. I bought a low mileage (12k) 2005 car this past spring. Get a ppi from a reputable NSX mechanic and you should have a good idea of what maintenance expenses to expect. Just because he did not do the tb/wp already would not automatically scare me away from buying the car.
 
I don't have access to cheap parts Bram. I'm a Honda dealer not Acura
Most of the cost of a timing belt change is the labor, not the parts. Total cost is typically anywhere from $1200 to $1700. The parts portion includes the water pump ($331 list, $248 discounted, $200 dealer cost), the timing belt ($206/$154/$120), and small amounts for the tensioner and coolant.
 
I seem to recall Kaz stating that after he does a timing belt job it probably does not need to be changed again for 10 years. So is he doing something special during his job that would be superior to what was done at the factory? I think not. Keep drinking the kool aid boys!

Don't listen to these clowns. It has been stated (AND WITH PICS) that the manual in other countries specifically Japan and Australia that the timing belt should be changed based on mileage. These other manuals also authorize the use of 40W oil. But you know Mericans.
 
low miles mean more maint needed.
I would never buy a low mile NSX. ever.
so your low mile NSX and price thats upwards of 50K+ now needs another 6-7K in parts and labor. add that to the price or have them take it off the price.

I do not understand this mind-set at all; "low miles mean more maint needed" :confused: huh?!?
How is it different than a 15-20 year old NSX which may also require the same maint. ?!?
In 2012 I completed the major service on my '05. So now.... my '05 which has 9k miles only needs routine maint. until 2019 when I will complete the major service again.

Additionally, you mentioned -
"if you change the clutch fluid to new the master and slave will fail in a month or less due to the new fluid kills the seals" <-- :confused: what ?!?!?!
This is an absurd statement to say the least. Do you have proof of this because when I had the major service completed on my '05 back in 2012,
(mind you it had just over 4k miles), the master and slave have not failed since.

"C/V boots all 4, prob need new valve springs as the car sat and 3-4 springs have been compressed for how many years in the same postions not as springy"
Another absurd assumption -

Again, I purchased my '05 with 2k miles when it was 5 years old at the time. Three years later, it still feels and drives like I just drove it off the showroom.

"oil, tranny fluid ( no one changes till they have tranny issues)" my transmission is slipping in 1-2 gear LOL has your oil ever been changed? now your wallet is hurting." :rolleyes:
Just because an NSX has low miles does not mean the owner allowed it to rot. In some cases, sure; but not every example.


To the OP:
Don't be afraid of a low mileage NSX. If you buy this '05, I am of the opinion completing the major service is a good idea. After that, enjoy it and
drive the crap out of it. :)
 
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My timing belt was 15+ years old at 100k miles. When they took it out it looked and felt brand new.

I've heard the biggest killer of belts is oil leaking on it:

making it slip/skip more easily
oil eroding the rubber.

I have a friend that is the original owner of an 89 Corvette with only 11K miles on it. A true garage queen. The car has the original tires on it. A month ago I talked my friend into driving it to the local coffee and rides. When he got there I took a look at his tires and they looked brand new with no cracks. Except that the normally soft rubber was hard as a rock. I told him those 24 year old tires were fossilized dinosaurs. He has had to replace all of the fuel injectors, cats, hoses, belts and just about every rubber seal in the car at 11K miles. The car sits in a climate controlled garage under a cover. My point is that rubber can look like new if it is out of the elements but it will get brittle over time. Honda engineers may have set the maintenance intervals out of an abundance of caution but my car is too valuable to me to let the timing belt slide. I look at this as the cost of owning a rare exotic car, just part of the package.
 
There is quite a difference between 10 years and 24 years, not to mention the difference between how a vette is put together and anything Honda engineers. My car may not have alot of miles but rest assured it is by no means on its original tires. It needs another pair of rears now. That will probably be the 4th set so far.I'm not the original owner Shawn, so I did all fluids since getting the car. They probably hadn't been done previously as there was only 9300 miles showing at the time. Guess what no leaks! Oh, and any Honda that I have ever owned got driven ever bit as hard as this car. I just didn't get there as fast! ( a little crazier in my younger years ). Shawn if you're ever in my neck of woods delivering parts with your Nsx, stop in and take mine for a rip. I would be interested to see if you think it's nothing but a lump from inactivity after your drive. I somehow doubt it. If you're too scared to drive it with that crusty belt ,all the better,as you can take care of that issue for me while you're here, in our shop. I can assure you that we know how to party around here. Give it some thought!
Some of you guys automatically think that I have put off doing the timing belt job because of the cost of the parts. This is not the case. I just think it is overkill at this point. There are no experienced Nsx techs in our area that I know of. My guys aren't exactly fighting over who gets to do it. Needless to say they have not done a belt in an Nsx before. They are, however, very experienced Honda techs, and when I do get around to do it, I'm confident they can do it .
 
Wagyshag makes the most sense. Find a nice low mile car. Make sure the service has been done or get it done yourself. Then enjoy the car. Seems like pretty straightforward common sense advice to me.
 
I can assure you that we know how to party around here.
For those who haven't been to Nova Scotia - he's right. Nova Scotia is a beautiful province, with the sophistication of a big city (Halifax), and amazing scenery of cliffs overlooking the ocean on Cape Breton Island, and the architecture of quaint fishing villages such as Lunenberg, and the biggest tides in the world on the Bay of Fundy. The King's dealership is located in an area (Wolfville) containing half a dozen wineries, and some of their wines are very good indeed - the perfect accompaniment for the local seafood (two-pound lobster dinners for $35, woo hoo!).
 
Some of you guys automatically think that I have put off doing the timing belt job because of the cost of the parts. This is not the case. I just think it is overkill at this point. There are no experienced Nsx techs in our area that I know of. My guys aren't exactly fighting over who gets to do it. Needless to say they have not done a belt in an Nsx before. They are, however, very experienced Honda techs, and when I do get around to do it, I'm confident they can do it .

This is the most important part. There are tricks and other things to consider when doing an NSX timing belt. I know of three owners who experienced engine failure after botched timing belt jobs and I was one of them.....long ago. I would consider this more important then rushing to get a timing belt job with inexperienced techs even if you were at 15 years.
 
well everyone's NSX is low miles, everyone's NSX is special to them, every NSX owner never lets his NSX see rain, belts last forever, hoses are known to never break and should be good for 650,000 miles, the oil most owners use is the best none can compare, transmission oil who needs it that for wussy's, wiper blades the NSX can keep the originals for 1000 miles or 24 years which ever come first per honda req. every NSX owner's NSX stays in a full climate controlled Vault with the perfect moisture and air ratio all year long.

when I dont know something I read and learn, then I try it out and things dont always work like the book says, and I am never afraid to ask, but most NSX owners know everything about everything
so there is no teaching know-it all's LOL

did you guys know that my 92,04,02,02,04,91,92 NSX's were all hovercrafts? yes it true they all could hover off the ground for more than 26.5 minutes before I had to refuel with MR.FUSION
I am not kidding

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edit: there are members that dont even post anymore cuz it pointless to try and help people or give advice its just shrugged off as stupid absurd assumptions

and I had this, I purchased that, my buddy had a, I read a book once it said,.................. rhetoric it gets boring

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there are like 11 members that do actually know it all...they are as follows not in an order

LarryB,
BrianK
RSO34
BRAM
TURBO2GO
NSXTASY
RYU
DOCJOHN
LUD
DOCL
and last but def not least BATMANs

im not even in the same league as these guys
 
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so there is no teaching know-it all's LOL

Has nothng to do wth being a "know-it-all" as I responded with a point-of-view from 20+ years NSX ownership.
My post specificaly refers from experience with my '05. I'm not really sure what you're implying other than you appear Furious
that someone doesn't agree with your stance towards low-mileage NSX's. I'm not a "know-it-all", very far this connotation actually.

In the same manner as you imply I am a "know-it-all", I wll simply state; provided the opportunity to drive a low-mileage '05,
you just might modify your stance.

Cheers
 
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there are like 11 members that do actually know it all...they are as follows not in an order
.
.
.
im not even in the same league as these guys
Yes, you are.

Most of us are particularly knowledgeable about specific areas having (mostly) to do with the car - Briank for the electronics, myself for tires and NSX history, RSO for legal issues, Lud for website technology, etc (and several of us with regard to track experience). You're certainly a resident expert in salvaging, body repair, and parts availability.
 
I knew it "The King" must be a salesman/service advisor/or manager of some sort at their dealer. I am a Honda tech at at a dealer in Vancouver and we service NSX's no problem. At the end of the day as long as you remember it is a Honda you can easily wrap your head around how it works and how to fix it. The new cars your techs work on are far more complex than an NSX, have you done any of the new electric accord training yet? The reason your techs do not want to touch your car because they do not want to get blamed for any possible problems that may occur afterwards. We had an NSX come in one time for a quick Type '2' service and after the tech was done he parked the car and the main relay failed. As you can imagine the customer was pissed but it was not the techs fault.

I take it I am gonna need to be on Prime for a few more years before I get on Shawns list, where do I send my resume and credentials, jk.

The King PM me and I will give you my contact info if your techs need info for when they work on your car. Don't you have any Platinum techs at your dealer? They usually have their heads on their sholders.
 
I did forget Mac Attack now thinking about it there are a couple others LOL

like Rodney King once said " cant cant um.. cant we all just get along "
 
I realize now that I am better off lurking on this forum as opposed to getting in on the conversation. I can find plenty of people walking through the doors of our dealership to argue with most days, so I don't need to find another venue. J Krib, I appreciate your offer for information on doing the timing belt and I may indeed take you up on it. Since getting the car three years ago, I have done extensive research in regards to this job. I have the shop manuals, the tools, the shop, and very well trained Honda techs. The one that will be doing the work has over 30 years of Honda training. You are indeed correct in your assumption that my guys are paranoid about messing something up while working on the car. I'm sure there are some "tricks" specific to doing the belt on an Nsx. I have tried to glean as much information as possible from this forum and from Kaz across the pond.
Oh, and not that it matters, but I am not a sales manager, service manager, etc. My wife and I have owned the place for 21 years. We have managed to pick up a few bits of information on maintaining Hondas in that time. Obviously not as much as you guys that are doctors, lawyers, and computer specialists though.
 
I realize now that I am better off lurking on this forum as opposed to getting in on the conversation. I can find plenty of people walking through the doors of our dealership to argue with most days, so I don't need to find another venue. .

Faron, don't worry about some of the advise on the Forum...it"s the Internet.... take the good with the ???

You know as an NSXCC Member you have access to our Club Technical Director, he is One of Canada's NSX Certified tech, that have been working on Acura's since 1989, So his help is just a Phone call away. Rob has guys driving up from the US to get their car worked on in Canada.
I'm sure he would be willing to walk your Guy thru the tricks and help with any questions that you will have during the process.

Bram
 
Our cars do tricks?
 
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