$200 to change out the thermostat?

IMO they are taking you for a big ride.

Shouldn't have been more than $100 or so, even at the
dealership.

I don't think I've ever seen anyone report a "hole in the
water pump" here I have heard of water pump's failing, but
not via a hole, and leaking coolant.

Monitor the engine's temperature. Never drive when it is in
the red zone or approaching it, according to the dashboard
temperature gage.

Start monitoring the coolant level by looking at the cooling
system reservoir's level. Check it when the engine is cool,
then hot. Check it again when the engine is cool, then hot.
The same levels should recur if the checks are done over a
day or so.

Please post when the timing belt was last changed. It might
be due anyway. It is standard operating procedure to
simultaneously change the water pump with the timing belt,
because the parts that need to be removed, and so the labor,
to get to each is nearly identical.

If your timing belt was never replaced, you are on borrowed time.  A
failure could mean a new engine.  If it was replaced at around 100K
miles, then there would be no reason to replace it now.  Honda water
pumps have about the same life as the timing belt, so it is customary
to change them both at the same time.  I know it's a lot of money, but
so is a new engine.

Dick

My Honda civic(1993)  mileage : 131000. I bought it at 111000 las
year.Thus, I've had it for a year now and done 20,000 miles

My car overheated today.I took it to the dealership and paid $120 fo
finding out the estimate and he said he'll apply it towards th
repair.Found out that the thermostat had to be replaced.Total cos
$200

The dealer also told me that there was a hole in the water pump and i
needed to be replaced.And that, if i was replacing the water pump
might as well replace the timing belt too.He said the total cost woul
be $720.Can't the hole be patched up or covered instead of replacin
the water pump?

SHOULD  i show it to another honda mechanic and get it done from ther
for a cheaper price?.There is an asian mechanic,and i have done man
jobs with him.I dont know why but i trust the dealer more than thi
mechanic.I am in a dilemma. Also, if ther is a hole in the water pump
how soon it should be replaced and what are the consequences i
replaced late?.I am a broke college student, but i use this car a lot.
thought hondas were reliable
what! $200 to change a thermostat ? thats downright outrages ouch

i changed mine on my civic using one from partsource came with Gasket
for  a cost of

- $20.00 and i changed coollant and bled coolling system. a jug of prestone was
- $12.00

for a grand total $32.00 Can

the only hole found in the water pump is the weap hole  that water pumps
have to leak out from when the seal go"s  Bad.  if youres is leaking from ther
then Yes get it repaired ASAP before it leaks out the coolant completely & overheats
your  engine! you dont necessarily need to take it to Honda for a $720 bill

there are good mechanics/Tecnitions out there that will do just as good of a jo
for much less make sure to also change that timing belt along with the
water pump and insist on them using Honda parts remember you whant durability/reliability on the work performed for the long run.

P.S
And yes HONDAS are reliable vehicles they just need someone willing
to give them some TLC that can take them along way!...... ;

--
johnin

That sounds all too expensive.

If you're in the SF Bay Area, try Larry Hopkins Honda.  Their prices are
decent and they'll do a good job too.  My only gripe is that they won't
fix intermittent problems unless they see it broken.  That seems to be
all too common among Honda dealerships.

NEVER take it to the frauds at Stevens Creek Honda.  They'll make up
wild stories about dangerous problems that need fixing at super-inflated
prices.  They once told me that my 16 day old Civic blew a little
coolant hose underneath the intake manifold due to vandals and I owed
them money for the repairs.  They tried to scam a friend for a $1600
brake system replacement on a perfectly healthy car brought in for an
oil change.

Too high. I had a timing belt package -- timing belt/balance, all drive
belts, water pump etc. replaced for right at $525 ona 98 Accord about 1 1/2
ago at our local Honda dealer.